A financial controller is the lead accountant of a company and is responsible for the company’s accounting processes and statements. In a smaller company, a financial controller role and the CFO role are merged into one. In larger companies with revenue above $35million, the roles are usually separated with the financial controller handling the internal financial processes and the generation of financial statements.
Financial controllers of today are having to adapt to the changing industry and technological advancements. The increased reliance on AI for data and financial processes means financial controllers may find themselves working with smaller teams. In addition, the Covid pandemic has seen a transformation in the way people work, with more and more workers choosing to work from home. Financial controllers are having to find new ways to ensure that their remote teams continue to work efficiently and diligently.
This guide will show you resume samples of financial controller titles and give you some tips to help you craft a resume that is particularly attractive to recruiters.
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A financial controller is in charge of the company’s books and records, and oversees and manages the accountants and bookkeepers that generate them. Some of the tasks you can expect include budgeting, ensuring law compliance, approving invoices, handling payroll, etc. A financial controller must be incredibly detail-oriented, analytical, and must be a strategic thinker. You also need to have strong interpersonal and communication skills as you will be the representative of your accounting department to other departments or external stakeholders.
Educational history in accounting is highly expected, as is a CPA. Recruiters will also be looking to see extensive experience in the industry and managerial experience. Take a look at this successful financial controller resume.
To land a senior-level role, you need to show leadership and initiative. As a financial controller, you will be in charge of a sizeable number of people, so you need to be a strong leader. Pointing out promotions at past jobs shows that you are a leader as well as an exemplary employee who is committed to their professional growth.
Notice how this applicant highlights their ability to introduce and facilitate large projects that improve the productivity of the company. E.g. ‘Led the transition to a paperless practice by implementing enterprise resource planning software that reduced the cost of labor by 40%, and operational overhead expenses by 15%.’ Accomplishments like these show hiring managers you have strong organizational skills which are critical for a financial controller, so try to do this in your own resume too.
Business controllers manage the financial health of the business. It is a high-level and well-paying position. Business controllers often advance to a chief financial officer position. Your tasks will include managing budgets, coordinating with auditors, managing the accounting team, ensuring the accuracy of financial statements, etc. This position requires you to be very analytical, detail-oriented, and communicative.
Educationally, a bachelor’s degree is required in accounting, finance, or a related field. Any further education, like an MBA, or certification, like a CPA, would be a huge plus as well. Take a look at this successful business controller resume.
Recruiters want to know that your output will be worth your salary. To prove that to them, highlight how many audits, performance reviews, business policies, etc. you have completed. This applicant does a great job of doing this in the experience section of their most recent job.
Enrich your resume by showing any activities that are finance-related that you have partaken in outside of your job. This applicant has become a certified cryptocurrency expert and volunteered in a financial education program. This shows recruiters your passion for the field and your drive to elevate yourself and keep learning.
An assistant controller provides support for their corporate controller. You will consult your superiors to address accounting problems and establish procedures to ensure financial law compliance. Your tasks may also include preparing financial reports and financial statements, preparing tax documentation, etc.
Like a financial controller, you will be expected to have a bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, or a related field. Some recruiters will also require a master's degree or CPA as well. Beyond that, your previous experience will play a big role in attracting recruiters. Here is a strong assistant controller resume.
The assistant controller position is not an entry-level position. You will need years of experience and success to be get employed in this position. Pointing out promotions at past jobs shows that you are an exemplary employee who is committed to your professional growth, and is trusted by employers.
Show recruiters that you are passionate about finance and are eager to continue to grow in the industry, by listing any additional certifications or courses you have taken to elevate yourself. This applicant has listed the Harvard online courses they have taken and the finance certification they have earned. It is an easy way to spotlight you amongst your competitors.
A corporate controller is in charge of a company’s financial functions. Your tasks will include preparing budgets, making financial forecasts, establishing financial policies, and assessing financial risk.
This is a high-level position and a high level of expertise and educational background is expected. You will be expected to have a bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, or a similar field, with a master’s and CPA being strongly preferred. Recruiters will also expect you to have a high level of financial management and familiarity with accounting and finance tools. Lastly, as you will be leading a team and potentially a department, your management and leadership skills will need to be stellar and highlighted in your resume. Take a look at this successful corporate controller resume.
Notice how the applicant highlights their ability to manage large projects, e.g. ‘Developed financial models for more than 185 subsidiary branches…’ Accomplishments like this, show hiring managers you have strong organizational skills which are critical to being a successful corporate controller, so try to do this in your resume too.
By the time you are being considered for this position, it is already expected that you have expertise using all the industry-standard tools. Your level of experience and success is what recruiters will concentrate on. So don’t waste space on your resume writing an extensive list of tools you are familiar with. List the most popular and industry-standard tools as well as the newest tools to be efficient.
We spoke with hiring managers from leading companies like Deloitte, Ernst & Young, and KPMG to gather their advice on what they look for when reviewing Financial Controller resumes. They shared valuable insights on how to effectively showcase your skills and experience to stand out in this competitive field. The following tips will help you craft a compelling resume that grabs the attention of potential employers and increases your chances of landing your dream Financial Controller position.
Employers seek Financial Controllers who can prepare accurate and timely financial reports. Showcase your experience in this area by providing specific examples of the types of reports you have generated, such as:
By demonstrating your proficiency in financial reporting, you will show potential employers that you have the necessary skills to excel in a Financial Controller role.
When applying for a Financial Controller position, you may wonder if you need to include a resume summary. While a summary is optional, it can be a great way to provide additional context about your career journey and highlight key skills that make you an ideal candidate. This is especially useful if you are a career changer or have a lot of experience that may not be immediately relevant to the role.
However, it's important to avoid using an objective statement, as they are outdated and focus on what you want rather than what you can offer the employer. Instead, craft a concise summary that showcases your unique value proposition and entices the reader to learn more about your qualifications.
The work experience section is the most important part of your resume as a financial controller. It's where you show hiring managers how you've applied your skills and knowledge to real-world situations, and what kind of impact you've had in your previous roles.
In this section, we'll break down the key steps you need to follow to craft a compelling work experience section that will grab the attention of hiring managers and help you land your next financial controller job.
From, budgeting to ensuring compliance to handling payroll, the financial controller position is multifaceted with a range of tasks. Using action verbs that talk about each of these tasks is an easy way to indicate your achievements.
This list of action verbs is focused on the technical tasks of the position as well as the managerial/leadership tasks that you can expect for a financial controller. Using the right action verbs can help showcase your most relevant skills in a few words.
For more related action verbs, visit Management Action Verbs.
For a full list of effective resume action verbs, visit Resume Action Verbs.
When you are creating the skills section for a financial controller, you will want to address both the technical skills and managerial skills needed to succeed in the position.
Here is a list of skills recruiters would expect to see in a financial controller’s resume. Using skills like these can help you get past the filters from resume screeners that some employers use to shortlist candidates. They will also serve to make recruiters confident in your abilities to succeed in the position.
You can include the above skills in a dedicated Skills section on your resume, or weave them in your experience. Here's how you might create your dedicated skills section:
This word cloud highlights the important keywords that appear on Financial Controller job descriptions and resumes. The bigger the word, the more frequently it appears on job postings, and the more 'important' it is.
Thank you for the checklist! I realized I was making so many mistakes on my resume that I've now fixed. I'm much more confident in my resume now.
