CFO Resume: Sample and Complete Writing Guide [20+ Tips]

CFO Resume Sample

Trying to show CFO on a resume? See our guide: Career Change Resume

Is a CFO resume really what you need? See these other guides:

• Executive Resume
• Management Resume
• Business Resume
• Investment Banking Resume
• CEO Resume

Want to save time and have your resume ready in 5 minutes? Try our resume builder. It’s fast and easy to use. Plus, you’ll get ready-made content to add with one click. See 20+ resume templates and create your resume here.

Sample CFO Resume—See more templates and create your resume here.

Here’s how to write a CFO resume that gets jobs:

1. Select the Best CFO Resume Format

CFOs are executive-level officials who manage the financial side of a corporation or other organization. They track a company’s cash flow and handle financial planning and analysis. A CFO resume must show strong leadership skills and skills in creating sound fiscal strategies.

You only get one shot to make a first impression.

Make your CFO resume as crisp as a freshly-tailored Kiton.

To get there, follow these formatting tips:

• Use the ideal resume format for CFOs. The chronological format of a resume should go last job first, first job last.
• In the header of your resume, list your name in large font, title (CFO), and address information (including phone, LinkedIn, and email.)
• A good font for resumes is Cambria in 10 or 12 point size. Just like in a financial report, leave a little white space for tired eyes.
• Send a professional resume file in PDF. Don’t send an MS Word chief financial officer resume. Word resumes can lose value in transit.

Pro Tip: Do PDFs conflict with ATS hiring software? Not in 2019. But double-check the job description to see if it forbids them.

2. Make a CFO Resume Objective or Resume Summary

Six seconds.

That’s how long most hiring teams look at each CFO resume.

Yours should stand out like Jack Welch in a McDonald’s.

Do that with a resume summary. That’s the top-line info in your resume, restated.

Here’s the key: fund it with your most impressive CFO achievements.

Pro Tip: Your summary is just the elevator pitch—not the full presentation. Write it after you’ve done due diligence on the rest of your resume for CFO jobs.

3. Tailor Your Resume to the CFO Job Description

The board doesn’t want to hire the wrong candidate.

They’ll pay close attention to which resume fits the CFO job best.

Make your CFO resume do that.

Show the right side of your work experience.

• With each position, list your work title and name of company.
• Stack the deck with professional achievements. But—
• List only the ones that prove the skills this hiring team is after.
• Add measures like “28%” so they know you’re no piker.

Pro Tip: A good resume for CFO positions uses action verbs to keep the board from losing focus.

4. Redesign Your CFO Resume Education Section

Important:

A resume education section should show more than a degree.

It should add more evidence of CFO skills.

So, break it into a bullet list of educational accomplishments.

List honors, clubs, passion projects, or publications.

Pro Tip: If your schooling was a long time ago, two bullet points is plenty. If you graduated recently, list more.

5. Show CFO Skills in Your Resume

Use this CFO resume skills list.

CFO Resume Skills

Hard Skills:

• Financial planning
• Finance
• Budgeting
• Corporate strategy
• Generating reports
• Investment management
• Accounting
• Business skills
• GAAP
• SEC
• Taxes
• Cash management
• Management information systems
• Investor relations

Soft Skills:

• Leadership
• Written and spoken communication
• Interpersonal skills
• Collaboration
• Organization
• Detail oriented
• Time management
• Critical thinking
• Problem solving
• Adaptability
• Accuracy

But—

Home in on the CFO skills the hiring team mentions in the job ad. Focus on both your hard and soft skills.

Pro Tip: Show a mix of soft skills and technical skills in a resume for CFO jobs. The board wants to know you’re a well-rounded applicant.

When making a resume in our builder, drag & drop bullet points, skills, and auto-fill the boring stuff. Spell check? Check. Start building your resume here.

Create my resume now

When you’re done, Zety’s resume builder will score your resume and tell you exactly how to make it better.

6. Add Other Sections to Your CFO Resume

Maybe you’ve got the work experience.

But are you C-level material?

Show you are with added resume sections in your CFO resume.

Choose from:

• Activities
• Projects
• Associations
• Commendations
• Fitness pastimes
• Awards & honors
• Conventions
• Publications
• Resume pro bono work
• Hobbies
• Resume language skills

List certifications on a resume in a separate section below education.

7. Send a Cover Letter With Your CFO Resume

Should you write a cover letter for your CFO resume?

Without question.

Many hiring teams don’t read them, but they’re necessary for C-suite jobs.

But you need to wow them from the start.

• The right format for a cover letter is the 3-paragraph format.
• Start your cover letter opening paragraph with something you’ve done that will knock them out of their Magnanni Marcos.
• In your middle paragraph, cite achievements that lock into their fondest hopes.
• Make an offer in your cover letter closing paragraph. “I’d be glad to show you how I raised revenue to $26 million” is a nice touch.
• How long are cover letters? The sweet spot is half a page.

Pro Tip: When following up on a job application, keep it positive and short. Give them three days, then a week before you check back in.

That’s it!

That’s how to write a resume for CFO positions.

Be honest: will your CFO resume wow them or leave them wanting? What’s the hardest part for you about writing a resume for CFO positions? Give us a shout in the comments. We’d love to talk!