Six Tips for Writing a Powerful CFO Executive Resume

Designing a crafted resume can improve your job search results to land that highly coveted Chief Financial Officer position.

Successful CFO’s use their executive resumes as marketing collateral to position themselves as engaging leaders that are ahead of the pack. Making your resume visually stand out is the best way to make a strong initial impression as an effective Chief Financial Officer. Harnessing the impact of visual impression, effective language, and concrete fiscal achievements into a streamlined story told on a dynamic, branded resume can increase the opportunities to land that coveted position, as seen here in this Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Resume Sample - VP Finance Executive Resume. Here’s how to create an effective branded resume with the following six steps:

1. Ditch the "objective" statement. Write a captivating summary of your achievements and how the prospective employer will benefit from hiring you.

In this competitive market, companies want to hire chief financial officers who can demonstrate the results they can deliver to an organization, not just a list of past accomplishments. Replace your objective statement with a forward-looking executive summary of your skill set and the results achieved from that skill set.

The summary should include up to five situation-achievement statements that demonstrate how you have achieved concrete results through the actions you implemented. Draw these points out from your story and create your authentic brand. This summary section is “prime real estate” where you make your best first impression as a CFO, so use it wisely and in an impactful manner. An effective executive resume summary will improve placement in search results, make a positive visual impact to keep hiring managers reading your document, increase the number of phone calls for interviews, and make you look like the leader among other CFO resumes.

2. Showcase soft skills alongside strong financial achievements.

Don’t have readers get lost in your resume with a high volume of numbers. Your executive resume will be read by both financial and non-financial audiences, so you must cater to both. We know you have impressive credentials and achievements, but don't let the metrics overshadow your human capital accomplishments.

3. Highlight your ability to attract talent and manage teams to achieve results.

Effective Financial Executives not only manage the numbers but also manage people to achieve desired results. Successful CFOs move past number crunching and deal setup; they influence key decision-makers, nurture financing relationships, possess sharp negotiation skills, and attract key talent to their teams. Do not lose sight of the importance of your people skills contributing to your past and future success.

4. Right size the context of your achievements for your prospects.

Talking about your most significant achievement isn't always the best approach. Ensure you showcase your achievements in a way that is digestible for the prospective employer. If you saved $15 million on one initiative within a $200 million employer, but now you are applying to a $20 million firm, you may be perceived as being overqualified for this next opportunity. Either choose achievements that are within the fiscal scope of the prospective company, or consider using percentages to outline your accomplishments. Another tactic is to focus on downplaying or highlighting the size of regional budgets, global budgets, business lines, or other business entities to match the prospects.

5. Speak simply about results and downplay financial jargon.

Outline your financial and human capital achievements in a universal language and not just financial jargon. Appeal to the many types of audiences by whom your resume will be read. You may be most comfortable speaking in acronyms, such as ROI or  DSOs, but not all CEOs and executive hiring teams are comprised of finance people. While they may understand the finance jargon, you want to speak about finance in approachable terms to be understood by many types of executive management. This will demonstrate your ability to work with non-finance types in a subliminal manner. For example, consider changing phrases like reduced DSOs by 9 days to reduced accounts receivable by 14% and improved positive cash flow with tighter payment terms.

6. Stand for something and be yourself in your resume. Content on your resume, social media profiles, and communications should be congruent with your personality, beliefs, and work style. 

If you are an extroverted personality, making bold, promotional statements on your resume can support your first in-person impression. However, if you are more of an introvert, you may want to use a document that is heavily grounded in factual content and avoids robust, colorful language. You need to ensure your resume aligns with the person who shows up for the interview. Always be who you are on paper, online, and in person.

The resume of a successful Chief Financial Officer must not only demonstrate that you know the why and how behind the numbers, but it also must outline how you have communicated effectively with managers, lenders, shareholders, vendors, and other key financial partners.  Frankly, the best CFOs will demonstrate strategic thinking, design and implement business plans, and inspire leadership within financial departments and with the executive management team to solidify the company's future.

Be Well!

Lisa