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15th May 2022

How to get a job in finance: Writing a good CV for finance

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Working in finance can provide a lot of benefits.

You will receive highly-specialised training in a range of financial jobs and services, can earn a great salary, and have a ton of room for career advancement within the financial sector.

There are so many benefits to working in finance that it’s no wonder so many people want to start their career in it.

However, trying to get a job in finance can be very competitive. As a result, you need to have a strong finance CV in order to get your foot in the door and make a good first impression.

The key to a strong CV and resume is showing the hiring managers and recruiters what they want to see.

In an effort to help you with that, this blog post is going to serve as a guide to helping you write a high-quality finance CV.

Ready to kick-start your finance career and apply to graduate jobs?

Check out our finance jobs and our junior accountant jobs page for the best finance roles in London and across the UK!

One of the main purposes of a resume or CV is to show why you are qualified to do a certain job. A great way to do this is to highlight your education and qualifications.

Go over your finance related degree, when you received it, and be sure to include the university or institution it is from.

While education is important, there are other qualifications you should be sure to mention.

This could be an internship, a certain certificate or license, a finance-related project you worked on or anything else you think qualifies you and helps recruiters believe you are the right person for the job.

This section is especially important if you are a new graduate wanting to work in finance, as you may not have other work experience to list.

If you’re looking for help structuring your CV check out our finance CV templates for graduates.
Many of the other new finance graduates applying to positions will have similar education and qualifications.

This can make it hard to stand out from the crowd.

As a result, you need to be specific about how you can help the company succeed and grow.

Based on your experience or education, find things that set you apart from other applicants. T

his could be an award you got, an area you specialise in, or a certain type of work you have done and/or completed during your studies.

Of course, be sure to tie this to how it can help the company succeed going forward.

If you have a work history, be specific about how you helped the last firm you worked for, relating it back to the financial industry, to show how you can help the next.

Instead of being general, use numbers, statistics, and other measurable results to show just what you can do to help the firm.

While you want to paint yourself in the best light possible, it is important not to lie on your resume.

The last thing you want to do is build yourself up as the perfect candidate in the finance industry, only to end up failing to meet the high expectations you have set for yourself.
Of course, your skills will also play a major role in whether or not you get hired.

These skills can show your proficiency and ensure you are a match with the duties required of the particular job.

When it comes to finance CVs, there are plenty of skills that are worth mentioning that can show just what you bring to the table.

These skills may differ depending on the type of finance job you are applying for.

If possible, try to quantify your skills in some way. If there is a certain mark or score you can use to back up your skills, it can be a good idea to include them.

If your specific skill within the financial sector has helped to lead to a specific result in the past, it can’t hurt to make a note of that too.
Because CVs and resumes are being made, delivered, and read online more than ever before, the use of finance-related keywords is becoming very important.

Many companies will use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to sift through and judge the CVs they get.

Some of these will auto-reject or deny CVs and resumes that don’t contain certain words.

So including the right keywords can not only show that you are the right person for the job but can also make sure your resume actually gets seen by recruiters.

If you are unsure about what keywords to include, it can be valuable to look back in the job description and include many of the words frequently used there.

Of course, there are some common finance keywords that can never hurt to include in your resume or CV.

What are some common finance keywords to include in your CV?

Analyse
Auditing
Assets
Budget
Business Planning
Compliance
Cost Analysis
Data Processing
Data Management
Due Diligence
Equity
Excel
Forecasting
Financial Reporting
Interpreting Data
Performance
Productivity
Profitability
Research
Review
Statistics
Strategy
Valuation

How to write a Finance Analyst CV?

In terms of a Finance Analyst CV, some of the crucial skills you will need to highlight are mathematics, experience with financial software, data analysis, investment instruments and having a sharp eye for detail.

In the Finance industry, there are many career opportunities, so it is likely that you will find a role that suits your preferences.

A Financial Analyst is one of the job titles that you might come across during your job search.

You can also find Accountant, Bookkeeper, Budget Analyst, Finance Administrator, Investment Banker, among many others.

It is important to structure your Finance CV correctly ensuring it has a clear and distinct format that is easily readable.

Start with your name, contact details, and a striking personal statement. Since this is the first thing employers will read about you, you want to make sure it gives a good first impression.

It is also important to point out your academic qualifications since many employers in the financial field have specific academic requirements.

Now include your career history and any professional accomplishments ensuring you quantify your achievements as well as your skills, and relevant extra-curricular activities.

The end of your finance CV is a good place to include your hobbies and interests, prioritising relevant aspects that will make you stand out as a candidate.

In conclusion, we hope that this article has been able to help guide you through the writing of a high-quality finance CV.

You can find our best tips for finance interview questions and answers and our free CV templates for students and graduates.

Check out our graduate blog on why you should pursue a career in the financial sector