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Finance specialist skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

6 min read

Quoted experts

Raymond Peters,

Abby Xin Liu Ph.D.

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical finance specialist skills. We ranked the top skills for finance specialists based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 22.9% of finance specialist resumes contained customer service as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a finance specialist needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 finance specialist skills for your resume and career

1. Customer Service

Customer service is the process of offering assistance to all the current and potential customers -- answering questions, fixing problems, and providing excellent service. The main goal of customer service is to build a strong relationship with the customers so that they keep coming back for more business.

Here's how finance specialists use customer service:

Foster a more cohesive operational environment, leading to better customer service communication and more successful collection efforts.
Provided customer service support regarding account activity, statement information, and general product and service information.

2. Phone Calls

Phone calls are a wireless or wired connection made over a telephone or a mobile phone between two people. Two parties are involved in a phone call, the caller and the receiver. A caller dials the number of the one he wants to call, and the recipient hears a bell or a tune to which he picks up the call. The call establishes a connection between them through which they can communicate. The voice is converted into signals and is transmitted through wired or wireless technology.

Here's how finance specialists use phone calls:

Processed phone and fax registrations for courses; fielded and answered multiple phone calls regarding course offerings and programs.
Assisted and handled all incoming phone calls as well as making outgoing calls to vendors and customers when needed.

3. Cash Handling

Here's how finance specialists use cash handling:

Cash handling of cash drawers, filing and organization of work section.
Processed bank deposits and cashed checks demonstrating accurate cash handling skills.

4. Customer Inquiries

Here's how finance specialists use customer inquiries:

Determined solutions to customer inquiries, promoted new product information, and maintained internal account records through documentation of customer interactions.
Responded effectively to customer inquiries and resolved customer complaints.

5. Patients

Here's how finance specialists use patients:

Conducted telephonic outreach to patients and provided education on available community programs, which resulted in prevention of Emergency Room visits.
Maintained collections records accuracy, verifying payments, and fostering open communications with hospitals, insurance company representatives and patients.

6. Financial Reports

Here's how finance specialists use financial reports:

Prepared financial reports of the Student Union business activities comparing actual revenues and expenses against budgeted expectations identifying variances.
Provided expert financial guidance regarding monitoring revenue and analyzing quarterly financial reports in order to bolster bank operations.

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7. Mutual Funds

Here's how finance specialists use mutual funds:

Developed new business by providing detailed product information such a family Mutual funds and providing financial analysis and tracking to client.
Top producer in life insurance/annuities/and mutual funds.

8. Team-Oriented Environment

Here's how finance specialists use team-oriented environment:

Provided exceptional member services and demonstrated the ability to work in a team-oriented environment.

9. Financial Services

Financial services are economic services that are offered by the finance sector, which includes banks, financial institutes credit-card agencies, insurance companies, accountancy firms, and others that handles assets. Organizations in the financial services sector are concerned with money and risk management.

Here's how finance specialists use financial services:

Promoted and educated clients on financial services available through relationships with local partner banks and other financial institutions.
Build relationships with small and mid-cap corporations and offered recommendations for current assets and financial services.

10. Life Insurance

Here's how finance specialists use life insurance:

Presented proposals focusing on financial planning including life insurance and retirement programs.
Developed and delivered advanced life insurance concepts workshop, receiving strong reviews.

11. Payroll

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.

Here's how finance specialists use payroll:

Developed initial business processes and operating procedures in external MIS, cash management, payroll, and financial management relationships.
Performed accounting duties in preparation, processing, and maintenance of payroll and salary administration, calculation and distribution.

12. Financial Analysis

Here's how finance specialists use financial analysis:

Performed reporting and operational/financial analysis.
Created financial analysis reports for multiple departments across numerous regions in a number of foreign currencies using existing technologies.

13. PowerPoint

Here's how finance specialists use powerpoint:

Designed and prepared PowerPoint presentations for briefing university staff and faculty on matters pertaining to the university's financial aid administration.
Developed PowerPoint presentations, daily and weekly reports that were praised for their quality, comprehensiveness and timeliness.

14. Loan Applications

A loan application is a form of request presented by a person to a financial institution for the approval of a loan. This application form carries detailed information regarding the petitioner's identification information, financial competence, and sources of income that indicate whether he can return the loan back or not.

Here's how finance specialists use loan applications:

Processed loan applications: gathered pertinent customer information, created/updated records in multiple databases, and administered follow-up and tracking activities.
Opened customer accounts, processed loan applications, and processed cash transactions and ensured accuracy according to guidelines.

15. Financial Data

Here's how finance specialists use financial data:

Perform and review monthly analysis of financial data and preparation of financial strategic reports, used by upper management.
Ensured integrity of financial data by performing period end closings in existing accounting software and Microsoft Great Plains simultaneously.

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What skills help Finance Specialists find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What skills stand out on finance specialist resumes?

Raymond Peters

MBA Director & Leadership Instructor, Nicholls State University

We repeatedly hear from employers that "essential/soft" skills remain high on their recruiting wish list. As someone who has hired professionals for over 40 years, you generally assume that if an applicant has experience at a reputable institution, they should have the technical qualifications for the role. What you are looking for is credential separation. What makes them stand out? Have they been in parts to practice his/her communication skills? Similarly, with conflict resolution and problem-solving skills. Internships and applied work experience are always beneficial. Lastly, the customer service experience is desirable.

What hard/technical skills are most important for finance specialists?

Abby Xin Liu Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, Pacific Lutheran University

Software skills.

What finance specialist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

David M. Lang

Professor, California State University - Sacramento

The job market will reward people that require as little supervision and training as possible. Our pandemic times and likely, our post-pandemic times will involve a fair amount of remote working. As such, employers will want to make sure that the individuals they hire are self-motivated, quick learners who can hit the ground running without a lot of hand-holding. If taking a year off, I would make sure that job applicants devote some time to learning about the industry standards in which they plan to work. Does the industry use a particular software? Start learning about how to use that. Does the occupation use specific data or require coding? Devote some time to learning the basics of that as well. As always, don't forget the soft skills of communication (orally and written) and interpersonal relationships.

What type of skills will young finance specialists need?

Karyl Leggio Ph.D.

Professor of Finance, Loyola University Maryland

For the past several years, it is a given that graduates will have strong financial skills. In addition, new employees need to work effectively in teams, be strong critical thinkers, be self-directed, and be able to present their views in a persuasive and well-documented way.

What soft skills should all finance specialists possess?

Charles Makar

Instructor of Business, Misericordia University

Communications skills (oral and written).

Do you want to know more?

List of finance specialist skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for a finance specialist resume and required skills for a finance specialist to have include:

Customer Service
Phone Calls
Cash Handling
Customer Inquiries
Patients
Financial Reports
Mutual Funds
Team-Oriented Environment
Financial Services
Life Insurance
Payroll
Financial Analysis
PowerPoint
Loan Applications
Financial Data
Patient Accounts
Financial Statements

Financial Management
Grants Management
Reconciliations
Financial Assistance
CPT
HR
Medicare
Outbound Calls
Journal Entries
Purchase Orders
General Ledger
Credit Card
Customer Accounts
Financial Transactions
Payment Arrangements
GAAP
Internal Controls

Bank Products
ACH
Balance Sheet
Federal Regulations
Financial Products
PeopleSoft
Client Relationships
Customer Relationships
Earned Value Management
Financial Aid
FAFSA
Financial Institutions
A/R
Annuities
Fixed Assets
Expense Reports

Updated January 8, 2025

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.

Updated January 8, 2025

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