Financial Controller CV, Template & Examples

Financial Controller CV, Template and Examples

A financial controller is in a position of leadership. Different companies have different structures. The financial controller is usually close to the very top of the finance and accounting departments. Because of this, financial controllers must prove their leadership abilities. They must also show core finance, accounting, budgeting, planning, and reporting skills.

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Result Orientation 

Professionals in finance and accounting may need help filling their resumes with flashy bullet points. They may need to do this, like someone from the sales department. In contrast, a salesperson may mention how much income he produced last fiscal year in a half-sentence. Financial controllers and other department employees frequently provide vague or subjective explanations.

That shouldn’t pull one down, though. Remember that the person looking at the resume has a pretty good idea about what the role entails and what achievements to look out for. It is always better to make objective statements with a numerical reference point. This is preferable to using generic and subjective views. For example, saying that you managed four subsidiaries across three continents is more impactful. It’s more impactful than saying that you managed many entities across geographies. Objective and numerical data points always pop out. The focus should be on the results achieved whenever possible.

Bare-Minimum Skills vs Differentiators

Many resumes mention minimum skills like “strong analytical skills,” attention to detail, etc. These skills are necessary for a financial controller. Yet, they are essentially the bare minimum skills, not differentiators. You aim to stand out as an expectational candidate, not being drowned out in the crowd.

Therefore, the first thing you should always highlight is extraordinary or exceptional features. Even better, state results that can be measured scientifically. Have you been able to save €5 million using optimisation? That must come first, in bold, followed by a summary of how it was completed. Instead of just saying you have analytical skills, use a real-world example or mini-case study to show your abilities.

Team Management, Leadership, and Inter-Departmental Relations

Once the core finance and accounting skills are taken care of, leadership and people management are next up. Financial controllers usually have a few accounting or finance people reporting to them. Mentioning that you managed a team of people is a reasonable statement to include in your CV. However, financial controllers must work closely with other departments, and being a team player is vital to the job. You might also want to mention joint projects with other departments on your CV. Going above and beyond your regular duties to achieve a positive outcome could be worth a bullet point.

Financial controllers must provide leadership to the finance department. They must also establish financial control over the entire organisation. You will have a head start if you demonstrate your ability to do that better than the other candidates.

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