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Finance Controller resume examples for 2025

Updated January 8, 2025
8 min read
Quoted Expert
Kim Tan Ph.D.

Finance controller resume research summary. We analyzed 1,527 finance controller resumes to determine which ones land the most jobs. Below you'll find example finance controller resumes that can help you get an interview (and a job offer) from companies like Microsoft and Dell. Here are the key facts about finance controller resumes to help you get the job:

  • The average finance controller resume is 637 words long
  • The average finance controller resume is 1.4 pages long based on 450 words per page.
  • Cpa is the most common skill found on resume samples for finance controllers. It appears on 6.9% of finance controller resumes.

After learning about how to write a professional resume for a finance controller, make sure your resume checks all the boxes with our AI resume builder.

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Finance Controller resume example

Choose from 10+ customizable finance controller resume templates

Choose from a variety of easy-to-use finance controller resume templates and get expert advice from Zippia’s AI resume writer along the way. Using pre-approved templates, you can rest assured that the structure and format of your finance controller resume is top notch. Choose a template with the colors, fonts & text sizes that are appropriate for your industry.

Finance Controller Resume
Finance Controller Resume
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Finance Controller Resume
Finance Controller Resume
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Finance Controller Resume
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Finance Controller Resume
Finance Controller Resume
Finance Controller Resume
Finance Controller Resume
Finance Controller Resume

Finance Controller resume format and sections

  1. 1

    1. Add contact information to your finance controller resume

    Your name should be the biggest text on the page and be at or near the top of the document. Your address doesn't need to include your street name or house number - listing your city and state works just fine. Your email address should be professional, but not your current work email address. It's not a good look to use your work email for personal projects (job-searching). Your social media can be included if you have a fully-fledged LinkedIn page or another social media page that showcases your relevant skill set.

    Finance Controller Resume Contact Information Example #1

    Hank Rutherford Hill

    St. Arlen, Texas | 333-111-2222 | hank.hill@gmail.com

    Do you want to know more?
    How To Write The Perfect Resume Header
  2. 2

    2. Add relevant education to your finance controller resume

    Your resume's education section should include:

    • The name of your school
    • The date you graduated (Month, Year or Year are both appropriate)
    • The name of your degree

    If you graduated more than 15 years ago, you should consider dropping your graduation date to avoid age discrimination.

    Optional subsections for your education section include:

    • Academic awards (Dean's List, Latin honors, etc. )
    • GPA (if you're a recent graduate and your GPA was 3.5+)
    • Extra certifications
    • Academic projects (thesis, dissertation, etc. )

    Other tips to consider when writing your education section include:

    • If you're a recent graduate, you might opt to place your education section above your experience section
    • The more work experience you get, the shorter your education section should be
    • List your education in reverse chronological order, with your most recent and high-ranking degrees first
    • If you haven't graduated yet, you can include "Expected graduation date" to the entry for that school

    Check More About Finance Controller Education

    Majors
    14.6%
    Show More

    Finance Controller Resume Relevant Education Example #1

    Master's Degree In Accounting 2006 - 2007

    Monroe College Bronxville, NY

    Finance Controller Resume Relevant Education Example #2

    Master's Degree In Accounting 2004 - 2005

    University of Maryland - College Park College Park, MD

  3. 3

    3. Next, create a finance controller skills section on your resume

    Your resume's skills section should include the most important keywords from the job description, as long as you actually have those skills. If you haven't started your job search yet, you can look over resumes to get an idea of what skills are the most important.

    Here are some tips to keep in mind when writing your resume's skills section:

    • Include 6-12 skills, in bullet point form
    • List mostly hard skills; soft skills are hard to test
    • Emphasize the skills that are most important for the job

    Hard skills are generally more important to hiring managers because they relate to on-the-job knowledge and specific experience with a certain technology or process.

    Soft skills are also valuable, as they're highly transferable and make you a great person to work alongside, but they're impossible to prove on a resume.

    Example of skills to include on an finance controller resume

    • Payroll Skills.
       

      Payroll is the sum of all the compensation that an organization has to pay to employees at a specified time. Payroll is managed by the finance or HR department while small business owners may handle it themselves. Payroll isn't fixed as it varies every month due to sick leaves, overtime, etc.

    • Close Process Skills.
       

      A close process is the necessary closing steps required to prepare the accounts for recording the transactions of the next period. Its purpose is to reset or close the temporary account balances on the general ledger, and the accounting system for a company's financial data including income statement and accounts payable.

    • Journal Entries Skills.
       

      Journal entries can be defined as an act of keeping or making records of any transactions either economic or non-economic. The journal entries are made in the accounting systems of an organization. The entries are filled with two main fields; debit and credit. The debit and credit must be equal at the end of a journal entry else it is not considered correct. The journal entries also keep the date of transactions and the names of the accounts that were affected by the transactions.

    Top Skills for a Finance Controller

    • CPA, 6.9%
    • Payroll, 6.8%
    • Financial Controller, 6.7%
    • GAAP, 5.4%
    • Other Skills, 74.2%
    Not sure which skills are really important?
    3 Big Tips For Listing Skills On Your Resume
  4. 4

    4. List your finance controller experience

    The most important part of any resume for a finance controller is the experience section. Recruiters and hiring managers expect to see your experience listed in reverse chronological order, meaning that you should begin with your most recent experience and then work backwards.

    Don't just list your job duties below each job entry. Instead, make sure most of your bullet points discuss impressive achievements from your past positions. Whenever you can, use numbers to contextualize your accomplishments for the hiring manager reading your resume.

    It's okay if you can't include exact percentages or dollar figures. There's a big difference even between saying "Managed a team of finance controllers" and "Managed a team of 6 finance controllers over a 9-month project. "

    Most importantly, make sure that the experience you include is relevant to the job you're applying for. Use the job description to ensure that each bullet point on your resume is appropriate and helpful.

    What experience really stands out on Finance Controller resumes?

    Kim Tan Ph.D.Kim Tan Ph.D. LinkedIn Profile

    Professor, Accounting, Chair, California State University - Stanislaus

    Membership in student clubs. Leadership position in a student organization. Recipient of scholarship. Some work experience or internship.
    Don't have any experience?
    How To Show Your Experience On a Resume... Even When You Don't Have Any
    Work History Example # 1
    Senior Auditor
    Cox Enterprises
    • Led in other special projects that included generating Business Objects reports used in mining data from the Oracle system.
    • Provided Deloitte & Touch audit assistance on an internal basis that reduced annual audit fees by $250,000.
    • Maintained communication with customers and fellow team members in a routine and professional manner ensuring prompt customer support.
    • Executed Sarbanes Oxley Section 404 Controls Assessment, testing and reviews using CoBIT.
    • Verified bi-weekly payroll and wage garnishments for all of Dallas County.
    Work History Example # 2
    Auditor
    Deloitte
    • Managed the collection, analysis and verification of managerial payroll information to detect fraud and/or unethical practices.
    • Served a mix of public and private clients including quarterly reviews, financial statement audits, and SOX 404 compliance.
    • Conducted financial statement audits prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP and PCAOB requirements for a leading Private Equity firm.
    • Utilized audit standards set forth by the AICPA and PCOAB to execute integrated audits, and quarterly reviews.
    • Researched GAAP issues when necessary before preparation of financial statements.
    Work History Example # 3
    Accounts Receivable Assistant
    Monro
    • Handled large accounts such as ARI (Automotive Resources), Enterprise Fleet Services, and Goodyear.
    • Coordinated daily activities including managing timekeeping procedures processing weekly payroll
    • Tracked payroll information and corrected payroll discrepancies accordingly.
    • Retrieved and processed income from company maintained vending machines.
    • Maintained customers files and ensured continued client follow-up.
    Work History Example # 4
    Accounts Receivable Assistant
    Robert Half International
    • Processed payroll garnishment and deductions.
    • Corrected and processed daily punch details and bi-weekly payroll for a staff of approximately 1000 associates, both hourly and salaried.
    • Performed various accounting contracted assignments with various companies throughout Northern Colorado.
    • Requested Medicare Records for ADR's (Additional Development Review) for Medicare.
    • Reconciled monthly ledgers accounts in accordance with GAAP Performed Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable functions
  5. 5

    5. Highlight finance controller certifications on your resume

    Specific finance controller certifications can be a powerful tool to show employers you've developed the appropriate skills.

    If you have any of these certifications, make sure to put them on your finance controller resume:

    1. Certified Management Accountant (CMA)
    2. Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA)
    3. Certified Resume Specialist: Accounting and Finance (CRS+AF)
    4. Project Management Professional (PMP)
    5. Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA)
    6. Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)
    7. Certified in Financial Management
  6. 6

    6. Finally, add an finance controller resume summary or objective statement

    A resume summary statement consists of 1-3 sentences at the top of your finance controller resume that quickly summarizes who you are and what you have to offer. The summary statement should include your job title, years of experience (if it's 3+), and an impressive accomplishment, if you have space for it.

    Remember to emphasize skills and experiences that feature in the job description.

    Are you a recent grad?
    Read our guide on how to write a resume summary statement

Common finance controller resume skills

  • CPA
  • Payroll
  • Financial Controller
  • GAAP
  • General Ledger
  • Internal Controls
  • Reconciliations
  • External Auditors
  • Close Process
  • Financial Analysis
  • Strong Analytical
  • Financial Data
  • Journal Entries
  • Cash Flow
  • Balance Sheet Accounts
  • Treasury
  • SOX
  • Financial Forecasts
  • Cash Management
  • ERP
  • Variance Analysis
  • Financial Performance
  • Fixed Assets
  • Financial Management
  • Securities
  • Accruals
  • A/P
  • Human Resources
  • QuickBooks
  • IFRS
  • R
  • Internal Audit
  • Account Reconciliations
  • Revenue Recognition
  • Financial Results
  • Process Improvement
  • Financial Operations
  • Hyperion
  • Management Reports
  • Tax Returns
  • Tax Filings
  • Financial Policies
  • Financial Transactions
  • Due Diligence
  • Direct Reports
  • Sarbanes-Oxley

Finance Controller Jobs

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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