In today’s competitive job market, finance professionals need to possess a diverse range of finance skills to stand out to employers. Whether you are applying for a role in accounting, financial analysis, or financial management, showcasing the right skills on your resume is crucial to securing the position. Employers in the finance industry are constantly on the lookout for candidates who can not only manage numbers but also analyze data, forecast trends, and effectively communicate financial insights to drive business decisions.
To succeed in this field, it is essential to master both technical and soft skills. These include a strong understanding of accounting principles, proficiency in financial analysis, expertise in financial reporting, and the ability to use modern financial tools. Additionally, employers highly value candidates with skills in budgeting, forecasting, risk management, and data interpretation.
By demonstrating these skills on your resume, you can greatly enhance your chances of impressing hiring managers and securing your next finance role. In this article, we will explore the top seven finance skills employers are seeking in today’s candidates.
What Are Finance Skills?
Finance skills refer to the ability to understand, manage, and analyze financial data to make informed decisions. These skills are essential for roles in finance, accounting, financial analysis, and management. They encompass both technical abilities, like proficiency in financial software, accounting principles, and data analysis, and soft skills, such as communication, problem-solving, and decision-making.
Finance skills enable professionals to handle budgeting, forecasting, risk management, financial reporting, and investment analysis, helping organizations manage resources effectively and make strategic financial decisions. In today’s job market, having a strong set of finance skills is crucial for success in the finance industry.
Also Read: What Is Long-Term Finance?
7 Finance Skills Employers Look for on a Resume
When applying for finance-related roles, showcasing the right skills on your resume is crucial to stand out to potential employers. Below are seven finance skills employers look for:
1. Accounting Skills
Accounting skills are among the most essential finance skills employers seek. While you do not need to have prior experience as an accountant, you should be proficient in understanding and interpreting financial documents such as:
- Balance sheets
- Income statements
- Cash flow statements
- Annual reports
These financial documents provide insight into a company’s financial health, helping leadership predict cash flow, identify debts, and plan for the future. For instance, cash flow management allows companies to forecast the amount of money available to cover operational expenses and debts. Employers value these Finance Skills, offering competitive salaries to finance professionals who excel in this area.
Also Read: HUF Tax Benefits
2. Analytical Thinking Skills
In finance, it’s not enough to simply create financial statements you must also be able to analyze and leverage this data. Financial statement analysis involves examining performance metrics and ratios such as:
- Current ratio (short-term obligations)
- Quick ratio (liquid asset capabilities)
- Debt-to-equity ratio (financial stability)
Employers, especially large organizations like PNC Bank, Citigroup, and JPMorgan Chase, highly value employees with analytical thinking skills, as they are essential for assessing a company’s financial performance and stability.
3. Financial Decision-Making Skills
The ability to make informed financial decisions is critical, especially in leadership roles. This includes evaluating the financial impact of business initiatives, often by calculating return on investment (ROI).
Data-driven financial decision-making helps guide company strategies and often paves the way for intuition-based decisions that drive long-term success.
4. Management Skills
Employers also seek candidates with management skills. These finance skills are crucial for managing both people and resources, such as overseeing budgets and financial reporting.
Good management ensures smooth collaboration across departments and aids in developing strategic financial plans. High-level finance roles, such as financial managers and investment analysts, often require expertise in managing projects and teams.
Also Read: Financial Management Scope And Career Opportunities
5. Financial Reporting Skills
Accurate financial reporting is essential for tracking and predicting a company’s financial future. Professionals who can forecast future revenues, expenses, and cash flow will play a key role in strategic decision-making.
Financial forecasting helps organizations plan for future hiring, budgeting, and growth. Finance skills in cash flow forecasting are especially valuable, as they ensure a company has the resources to meet its obligations.
6. Communication Skills
In finance, communication is just as important as technical finance skills. Whether it is explaining complex financial concepts in meetings or writing clear financial reports, effective communication is critical.
Finance professionals must be able to convey their analysis in simple terms, particularly when working with non-financial stakeholders. Strong communication is an increasingly important skill that employers look for in finance candidates.
7. Investing Skills
As companies look for long-term growth, investing plays a key role in generating additional capital. Employers value finance professionals who can assess investment opportunities, analyze risks, and make informed decisions. The rise of sustainable investing also highlights the need for professionals who understand environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors when making investment decisions.
Also Check: Fintech Banking vs Traditional Banking
Format of Finance Skills Employers Look for on a Resume
When crafting a resume for a finance job, it’s essential to highlight key qualifications and experiences that align with the role you’re targeting. Here’s how you can structure your career objective for a finance resume and other key sections of your resume.
1. Career Objective for Finance Resume
Your career objective should reflect your career aspirations, the value you can bring to the company, and your passion for the finance industry. For example:
“A highly motivated finance professional with strong analytical skills and proficiency in financial modelling, seeking an entry-level position as a financial analyst. Eager to contribute to the financial success of the company through data-driven decision-making and strategic planning.”
This career objective demonstrates enthusiasm and positions you as a result-oriented candidate for finance jobs.
2. Resume Format for Finance Job
When creating your finance resume, it’s important to use a clean, professional format. Stick to a reverse chronological layout, listing your most recent experience first. Here’s a general finance resume format to follow:
- Header: Your name, contact details, and LinkedIn or portfolio links.
- Objective: A brief and impactful statement about your career goals.
- Education: Mention your relevant degrees, certifications (e.g., CFA), and any specialized financial coursework.
- Work Experience: Include relevant internships, part-time jobs, or any previous finance roles, specifying your accomplishments and responsibilities.
- Skills: List both financial skills and soft skills that are required for finance jobs.
- Certifications: Any relevant finance certifications (CFA, FRM, etc.) should be added here.
Also Read: Top 12 Crucial Finance Skills That Employers Value in 2024
3. Financial Skills Resume
When writing a financial skills resume, focus on both hard and soft skills. Some of the most important skills required for finance jobs include:
- Financial Analysis: Ability to interpret financial data and provide insights.
- Accounting: Knowledge of accounting principles like GAAP or IFRS.
- Financial Modeling: Creating financial models to predict outcomes and assess performance.
- Excel Proficiency: Expertise in using Excel for budgeting, forecasting, and analysis.
- Communication: Strong verbal and written communication skills to report financial data effectively.
4. Entry-Level Finance Resume
For an entry-level finance resume, it’s important to focus on any relevant academic achievements, internships, or projects. Highlight transferable skills, such as data analysis, attention to detail, and proficiency with financial software like Excel or QuickBooks.
Example bullet points for entry-level roles:
- “Completed a comprehensive financial analysis project, resulting in a 10% improvement in forecasting accuracy.”
- “Assisted in managing and analyzing financial data for budgeting and reporting.”
- “Collaborated with senior analysts to evaluate investment opportunities.”
5. Finance Resume Format
The finance resume format should follow a straightforward and professional structure. Here’s how to organize it:
- Contact Information: Full name, phone number, email, LinkedIn.
- Career Objective: Brief description of your goals and expertise.
- Education: Highlight relevant coursework and certifications.
- Professional Experience: Focus on internships, roles in finance, or related positions.
- Skills: Include key financial skills like financial modeling, analysis, and forecasting.
- Certifications and Tools: Mention certifications like CFA and financial software expertise.
By using the right resume format for finance jobs and emphasizing the necessary skills required for finance jobs, you will be able to demonstrate your qualifications effectively and stand out to potential employers.
Also Check: Accenture Senior Analyst–Financial Planning and Analysis Jobs
Learn Finance, Tax and Accounting With PW Skills
If you’re looking to strengthen your finance and accounting skills, the PW Skills Certification Program in Finance, Tax, and Accounting (CPFTA) is an excellent choice. This 4-month online course, created with PwC India, covers everything from finance and tax to accounting, preparing you for a successful career in the finance sector.
Here are the top features of the CPFTA Course:
- Industry-Relevant Curriculum: Created with PwC India to ensure you learn the latest skills.
- Certification: Receive a recognized certificate from PwC India, boosting your career prospects.
- Expert Guidance: Learn from experts with real-world expertise.
- Hands-on Case Studies: Apply your knowledge to real-life financial scenarios.
- Training on Finance Tools: Gain practical skills with tools like Excel and Zoho Books.
Start your career in finance today with the PW Skills CPFTA Online Course!
While a finance degree can be helpful, many of these skills can be gained through experience, online courses, or certifications. Practical knowledge and demonstrating these abilities are equally important. You can improve financial reporting by practicing with real-world financial statements, participating in accounting or finance workshops, and learning how to use financial software like QuickBooks or Excel. Effective communication is crucial in finance because it allows professionals to explain complex financial data to non-financial stakeholders, ensuring clear decision-making and collaboration. Analytical thinking helps you evaluate financial data, identify trends, and make informed decisions, which are vital for strategic planning and financial forecasting in any finance role.7 Finance Skills Employers Look For On A Resume FAQs
Do I need a degree in finance to showcase these skills?
How can I improve my financial reporting skills?
While a finance degree can be helpful, many of these skills can be gained through experience, online courses, or certifications. Practical knowledge and demonstrating these abilities are equally important. Why is communication important in finance?
How can analytical thinking improve my finance career?
