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Table of contents

Financial Controller Resume Examples
More Resume Examples
Choosing a Resume Format
How to Write a Financial Controller Resume in 5 Steps
Include a Cover Letter
Key Takeaways
FAQ for Your Job Search

Financial controllers are responsible for overseeing an organization’s financial operations, ensuring compliance and driving strategic financial planning.

To get this job, your financial controller resume needs to reflect your ability to execute such responsibilities effectively.

Your skills and experience, along with the other components of your resume, should grab the attention of hiring managers, making it easy for them to see why you are the best candidate for the position.

We’re here to help make that happen. With our financial controller resume examples and writing tips, you’ll be ready to start applying to jobs today.

This guide will provide you with:

Controller resume examples for different career levels.
Essential elements of effective resumes.
Ways to emphasize your financial operations skills.
Step-by-step help for each part of your resume.
Tips on choosing the best resume format and appearance.

Want to make your financial controller resume right now? Use our AI Resume Builder to create a professional resume in minutes. Start from scratch or upload your current resume and get tailored content suggestions you can add to any of our template designs with a click.

Financial Controller Resume Examples

Entry-level controller resume example

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What makes this an excellent entry-level controller resume sample?

Uses efficient one-column design
The resume effectively employs a one-column layout, allowing the information to be presented quickly and in detail, including a clear career objective.
Organizes professional skills effectively
It includes a well-structured professional skills section, divided by headers such as “strategic account management,” “customer relationship-building” and “market research and analysis.” This makes it easy to scan at a glance.
Ensures content is scannable
Using bullet points throughout the resume, and starting each item with dynamic action verbs like “developed,” “conducted” and “provided,” enhances readability.

Experienced controller resume example

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What makes this a great example resume for a controller?

Kicks off with an eye-catching header
The resume features a bold header that’s likely to grab a hiring manager’s attention. This distinct style sets the tone and makes the document stand out.
Includes comprehensive work history
The work experience section is thorough and thoughtfully formatted, with job titles in bold and a clear progression from financial assistant to controller, showcasing their career growth.
Highlights certifications
The resume emphasizes important certifications, including a Management Accountant certification, showing the candidate’s expertise and proficiency in managing accounting and finance.

More Resume Examples

Looking for more resumes to help you get started? Explore our complete library of resume examples to find one that meets your needs.

Browse other popular samples

Professional Controller Cover Letter Sample & Writing Guide

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Choosing a Resume Format

When managing financial reports, highlighting your expertise and successes in project planning and auditing is crucial for career progression. Use your resume’s organization to show these strengths and tell your career story to your advantage. That’s where resume formats come into play.

You can choose from three main resume formats, each suited to different career stages:

Chronological: This format is ideal for experienced financial controllers. A chronological resume will focus on your work history, listing your roles in reverse-chronological order to show your career progression. Employers can quickly see how your expertise has developed over time and assess your impact in previous roles.
Functional: A functional resume highlights your skills and qualifications rather than your job titles and employment dates. This format is particularly useful if you’re transitioning into a financial controller role or have gaps in your work history.
Combination: A combination, or hybrid, format blends aspects of the chronological and functional resumes, offering a balanced approach. This format allows you to present both your technical skills and career history with equal emphasis. This allows employers to see your accomplishments in context while understanding the depth of your abilities.

The chronological resume is typically the preferred choice for many controllers, as it is straightforward for hiring managers to follow and effectively shows your career progression. However, everyone’s career journey is different and you may be served by another format better.

Regardless of the format you choose, your resume should be clean, well-organized and easy to read. Use professional fonts, clear headings and consistent formatting to ensure your qualifications pop off the page.

This has the added benefit of making your resume more ATS-friendly, meaning it can be scanned by the applicant tracking systems that filter candidates before being passed on to the hiring manager.

Use a template

Create your resume

As a controller, you must select a resume template that best represents your professional identity.

Choosing the suitable template is similar to selecting the optimal strategy for financial planning:

For roles within traditional organizations, a simple resume template is best. It demonstrates your emphasis on precision and the efficient completion of projects.
If you’re seeking positions in more modern companies, a contemporary resume could better showcase your forward-thinking approach and expertise in financial management.

Many templates are made to be easy to use and compatible with both Microsoft Word and Google Docs, simplifying the process of creating your resume.

Let’s design a resume that positions you as an outstanding controller in the industry.

How to Write a Financial Controller Resume in 5 Steps

Creating a great resume means making it specific to each job you apply for. The good news? You can do this in five easy steps.

Step 1

Tailor your resume to the job

In budget planning, paying attention to details is important. This is also true for your resume. Many companies use systems — known as applicant tracking systems (ATS) — to scan resumes for keywords related to the job. Use the same language found in the job ad to make your resume as effective as possible.

Take a close look at the job listing and identify key skills and responsibilities mentioned — such as “financial statement preparation,” “training and coaching clients,” “approving monthly financial statements” and “cleaning up accounting records.”

These terms are more than just jargon — they’re keywords that ensure your resume matches what the job requires. Including these keywords means your resume is more likely to bypass the ATS and reach a human recruiter, showing them you possess the skills they seek in a controller.

Step 2

Start with an introduction

Begin your resume with a profile, either a professional summary or an objective, tailored to highlight your expertise and accomplishments in controller roles.

Professional summary: A professional summary is ideal for candidates with relevant experience in financial roles. It provides a snapshot of your career, emphasizing your key accomplishments, leadership skills and technical expertise.
Resume objective: A resume objective is best for entry-level candidates or those transitioning into a financial controller role. It focuses on your career goals and the value you bring to the position, showcasing your enthusiasm and transferable skills.

Here are examples for both:

Controller professional summary example:

Results-driven controller with over 10 years of experience in financial management and accounting. Proven track record of implementing strategic financial initiatives to drive profitability and efficiency. Successfully shortened the monthly closing process by 20% through automation and process optimization, resulting in significant time and cost savings.

Controller resume objective example:

Motivated accountant eager to leverage academic background in accounting and finance to secure a position as a controller. Seeking an opportunity to apply theoretical knowledge and gain practical experience in financial management, reporting and analysis. Committed to learning and development to advance into a leadership role within the organization.

Step 3

Highlight your controller skills

In finance, you oversee a wide range of responsibilities. You want to focus on your most relevant abilities for the job on your resume.

Combine hard skills, like knowledge of specific process methods, with soft skills, showing your ability to lead projects effectively. By highlighting your most relevant hard and soft skills, you show the hiring manager how you are a well-balanced and qualified candidate.

Here are essential skills for a controller resume:

Hard Skills

Financial reporting and analysis
Internal controls
Risk management
Taxation
Financial systems

Soft Skills

Collaboration
Attention to detail
Problem-solving
Decision-making
Leadership and integrity

Example of a strong skills section for a controller:

Proficient in using financial software.
Skilled in developing budgets.
Experienced in collaborating with cross-functional teams.
Knowledgeable in regulatory compliance and policies.

Pro tip

Computer skills are a must. In the financial industry, especially at the planner level, proficiency in relevant software and technology, such as SAP and Oracle, is essential. Highlight these skills on your resume.

Step 4

Detail your work experience

Your work history is where you can highlight the financial projects you’ve played a key part in. While every project has its unique aspects, your resume’s objective remains consistent: to demonstrate your value.

Highlight your most recent initiatives, beginning with your current or previous role, and employ bullet points to delineate your contributions, enhancing the readability of your resume. Throughout, emphasize your enthusiasm for financial planning and demonstrate your adeptness in project management and execution.

Top-tier resumes leverage action verbs to infuse past achievements with a sense of dynamism and relevance. This technique is exemplified quite effectively in the example provided below.

Example for a controller resume:

Controller, Baldwin Accounting CPA
Independence, CA
Jan. 2018 – Dec. 2024

Oversaw the preparation and analysis of monthly financial statements, resulting in a 10% reduction in reporting errors and a 15% increase in accuracy.
Led the annual budgeting process, resulting in a 10% increase in forecast accuracy compared to the previous year.
Managed cash flow to meet operational needs while maximizing investment returns, resulting in a 15% increase in interest income.
Established and maintained internal control policies and procedures to safeguard company assets and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.

Pro tip

Quantify your responsibilities and achievements as much as possible. Specific numerical figures enhance clarity and measurability. In a field where precision and quantifiable results are essential, leveraging concrete metrics effectively underscores the impact of your contributions.

Step 5

Outline your education

In the education section, controllers exhibit a blend of foundational knowledge and practical skills crucial to financial management and planning. Academic degrees underscore your educational background, while certifications prove your preparedness to tackle real-world economic challenges.

When listing your degrees — including unfinished diplomas — detail how your studies and any certifications prepared you for developing and managing the company’s budget.

How to list your education for a controller:

EDUCATION

Master of Business Administration in Finance
University of Pennsylvania, Wharton, PA
Thesis: “Optimizing Financial Performance: Strategic Approaches for Controllers in Dynamic Markets”

Bachelor of Science in Accounting
Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY
Key Courses: Financial Accounting, Auditing, Taxation, Corporate Finance

Certifications:

Certified Public Accountant (CPA), American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), CFA Institute
Certified Management Accountant (CMA), Institute of Management Accountants

Optional sections for your controller resume

Professional associations and memberships

Professional affiliations demonstrate your commitment to staying connected with the latest trends and developments within the financial industry.

How to list professional affiliations on your controller resume:

Member of the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA)
Affiliate of the Financial Executives International (FEI)

Special projects

Highlighting special projects you’ve overseen or played a significant role in can demonstrate your ability to handle challenging tasks and achieve successful results.

How to format special projects on your controller resume:

Implementing a new Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system: Led the project to implement a new ERP system across the organization, assessing the current financial systems, selecting the appropriate ERP software, coordinating with IT and finance teams for implementation, and ensuring data integrity and accuracy during the transition, resulting in a 20% reduction in processing time for financial transactions and a 15% increase in reporting accuracy.
Cost reduction initiative: Spearheaded a cost reduction initiative to improve the company’s profitability, resulting in a 10% reduction in overall operating expenses within the first fiscal year.

Volunteer experience

Volunteer work to add to a controller resume could include initiatives that involve leveraging your financial expertise and management skills to support nonprofit organizations, community groups or educational institutions.

If you include your volunteer experience in your work history section, you can format it like any other job. If you create a separate section, format it differently, like below.

How to list volunteer experience on your controller resume:

United Way: Volunteered as a treasurer to provide services to homeless individuals. Implemented improved financial processes resulting in a 20% reduction in administrative costs, allowing more funds to be allocated directly to programs benefiting the homeless community.
Community Development Project: Led a volunteer project to provide pro bono financial consulting services for a community development project to revitalize a disadvantaged neighborhood, increasing secured funding and enabling the organization to implement additional initiatives and further enhance the neighborhood’s revitalization efforts.

Honors and awards

Awards and honors for your work as a controller emphasize your expertise, innovation and professional excellence.

How to list awards on your controller resume:

Community Service Excellence Award – 2023: Received from the National Association of Community Volunteers for contributing over 500 hours of volunteer service to various nonprofit organizations and community initiatives.
Financial Leadership Award – 2022: Awarded by the Association of Financial Professionals for driving financial performance, optimizing processes and ensuring the organization’s fiscal health.

Languages

Proficiency in additional languages can be a significant asset in the finance industry, especially in diverse and multinational project environments.

How to list languages on your controller resume:

English: Native proficiency
Mandarin Chinese: Fluent (C1)
Spanish: Intermediate (B2)

Include a Cover Letter

Create your cover letter

Creating a powerful job application requires more than just a compelling resume — it’s also about presenting a comprehensive cover letter emphasizing your skills and experience.

Sharing a brief story about your professional journey or a key success can help employers see you as more than just a list of skills — they’ll see you as a valuable addition to their team.

Considering diving in and writing ASAP? Our Cover Letter Builder is your go-to tool to ensure your cover letter aligns seamlessly with the professional presentation of your resume. With our cover letter templates, you can skip the worry of starting from scratch or grappling with formatting issues.

Key Takeaways

Select a visually appealing template

The presentation of your resume holds equal weight to its content. A meticulously structured, flawless resume underscores your professionalism and carefulness.
Pick an appropriate format

You can use the chronological, functional or combination format for your financial controller resume. Which one is right for you depends on your level of experience.
Begin with a captivating summary

As a controller, encapsulate your essence, highlighting your major accomplishments and aspirations. This is your chance to leave a lasting impression from the get-go.
Support your achievements with concrete numbers

Quantifying your successes with specific figures illustrates your contributions, whether in cost reduction, efficiency improvement or completing projects ahead of schedule.
Highlight significant projects

Your resume should highlight major projects you’ve managed or played a key role in, especially those that presented noteworthy challenges or achievements.
Incorporate honors and awards

Enrich your resume by listing any awards or recognition you’ve received in the finance industry. These honors validate your expertise and leadership within the field.

FAQ for Your Job Search

Last Updated: November 18, 2024

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Karla is a content writer dedicated to guiding job seekers to career success with compelling articles, resumes and cover letters. Her M.S. in Screenwriting and B.S. in Comparative Literature equip her to create engaging job application materials.