Finance director CV example

How to add contact details to your finance CV

To ensure employers can reach you easily, double-check that all your contact information is included before submitting your application. Consider using a slightly larger or bolder font for clarity and easy access for this section. Make sure to include the following:

• Full name – both your first name and surname
• Location – simply the city or country where you’re based (mention if you’re willing to relocate)
• Phone number – provide the best number to contact you
• Email address – use a professional, work-appropriate email address

Example of a correctly formatted contact section

Create a personal statement that makes you stand out

A strong personal statement is a key way to begin your CV and make an impactful first impression. This brief section, usually three to four sentences long, allows you to showcase your leadership experience, financial expertise, and the value you can bring to the organisation.

Your personal statement should provide a snapshot of your career achievements and core skills, positioning you as an asset to the company. Focus on how your financial acumen, strategic thinking, and team leadership will contribute to the business’s success. Tailor your statement to the specific role by emphasising key qualifications and skills that align with the job description.

What else should you keep in mind when writing your personal statement?

• Be concise—aim for around 50-70 words, ensuring every sentence adds value.
• Highlight your key strengths.
• Refer to the job’s specific requirements to demonstrate that you meet them.
• Where possible, include quantifiable achievements (e.g. “Led financial strategy, resulting in a 15% reduction in costs over two years”).

Example of a personal statement for a finance director

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Add your work experience to your CV

As a finance director, your work experience will be the primary focus for recruiters, as it directly reflects your ability to manage high-level financial responsibilities and lead teams. Employers will be looking for someone who can drive improvements and deliver results with minimal training and supervision, making your proven track record essential for securing a senior role like a finance director.

For your finance director CV, list your previous positions in reverse-chronological order, and for each role, outline key responsibilities and accomplishments. Whenever possible, back up your responsibilities and accomplishments with quantifiable results. For instance, rather than simply stating that you “managed financial reporting,” specify “managed financial reporting for a company with £57M annual revenue,” or highlight cost-saving initiatives with metrics like “reduced departmental costs by 17% through process improvements.”

As a finance director holds a senior position within a company, employers will expect you to have strong leadership skills, including the ability to manage teams effectively. In your work experience section, be sure to highlight your experience in overseeing departments and managing teams to demonstrate your suitability for this high-level role.

We recommend you format this section in the following way:

• Job title
• Company name
• Company location
• Employment start and end dates
• List of responsibilities
• Achievements, awards, and promotions (optional)

Whenever possible, aim to cover a broad range of duties to demonstrate the full scope of your abilities. For example, if you’ve already mentioned “financial forecasting,” consider adding “leading strategic financial planning” or “spearheading corporate budgeting.” This will help your CV stand out and show the hiring manager the full extent of your skills.

Example of work experience for a finance director

Top skills for your finance director CV

As a finance director, your CV will be checked for both technical expertise and leadership abilities. Employers typically review the skills section to assess whether you meet the requirements for such a senior role. This section also plays a key role in passing through Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), which often filter CVs based on specific keywords. We recommend highlighting 6-8 key skills, blending hard (technical) and soft (personal) skills.

Hard skills are job-specific technical abilities gained through experience or training. These include areas such as financial forecasting, budgeting, and proficiency with financial software like SAP or Oracle.

Soft skills, on the other hand, are crucial for leadership and team management. Traits like strategic thinking, communication, and decision-making are essential in a Finance Director role, as they enable you to lead teams and influence company-wide financial decisions effectively.

Outlining education on a finance CV

For a senior position like a finance director, work experience will be the primary focus of hiring managers, as it directly demonstrates your ability to manage teams, make critical financial decisions, and contribute to the organisation’s success. While education is still important, it takes a backseat to your extensive work history and leadership accomplishments. As such, your CV education section will not be examined as closely, but it’s still essential to include relevant qualifications to demonstrate your formal training and foundation in finance.

In this section, list your highest level of education, such as your degree or any advanced financial certifications. For a finance director role, employers are more likely to focus on professional experience, so make sure the education section remains concise and highlights only the most relevant qualifications. You don’t need to include every qualification you’ve achieved, especially if it doesn’t relate directly to the role or is from many years ago.

Here are a few details you might include:

• Name of school, college, university, or other awarding body
• Study start and end dates
• Degree or qualification title (e.g., Master of Business Administration, Chartered Financial Analyst)

Example of an education section for a finance CV