Finance Resume & Cover Letter Guide
Investment banking, asset management, corporate finance, and financial services firms managing capital and driving economic growth. Get industry-specific resume templates, cover letter examples, and ATS-optimized keywords to land your next Finance role.
Industry Insight: Finance is numbers-driven, so your resume should be too. Hiring managers expect to see specific deal values, returns generated, and quantified impact. Technical proficiency in financial modeling and relevant certifications are often minimum requirements—make them easy to find.
Finance Resume Tips
Follow these expert tips to create a resume that gets noticed by Finance hiring managers:
Lead with deal experience and transaction values for investment banking roles
List financial certifications (CFA, CPA, Series licenses) prominently
Quantify everything: AUM managed, revenue generated, costs reduced
Include specific financial tools and modeling software proficiency
Highlight regulatory compliance experience (SOX, Basel, Dodd-Frank)
ATS Keywords for Finance
Include these keywords throughout your resume to pass Applicant Tracking Systems and catch recruiters' attention:
Pro Tip: Don't just list keywords—weave them naturally into your achievement statements. For example: "Implemented Financial Modeling solution that reduced processing time by 30%."
Finance Cover Letter Example
Start your cover letter with a compelling opening that demonstrates industry knowledge:
"Having executed $500M+ in M&A transactions and built financial models that drove strategic decisions at [Previous Firm], I am drawn to [Company Name]'s innovative approach to [specific focus area]. Your recent [deal/initiative] demonstrates the caliber of work I am eager to contribute to."
Structure Your Cover Letter
- 1.Opening: Hook with industry knowledge or company-specific insight
- 2.Body: 2-3 achievements demonstrating Financial Modeling and DCF Analysis skills
- 3.Alignment: Why this specific Finance company excites you
- 4.Close: Clear call to action and availability for interview
Finance Achievement Examples
Use these examples as inspiration to quantify your own Finance achievements:
Built DCF and LBO models for $750M acquisition, identifying $50M in synergies
Managed $200M fixed income portfolio, outperforming benchmark by 150 bps annually
Reduced quarterly close time from 15 to 8 days through process automation
Identified $3M in cost savings through variance analysis and budget optimization
Led due diligence for 5 transactions totaling $1.2B in enterprise value
Mistakes to Avoid
Don't make these common Finance job application mistakes:
Not quantifying deal sizes, AUM, or financial impact
Omitting specific financial modeling tools (Excel, Bloomberg, FactSet)
Forgetting to list relevant licenses and certifications
Using generic language instead of finance-specific terminology
Not tailoring experience to the specific finance sector (IB vs. asset management vs. corporate finance)
Finance Roles to Explore
Get role-specific resume tips and application strategies:
Software Engineer
Design, develop, and maintain software applications and systems using modern programming languages and frameworks.
Data Scientist
Analyze complex data sets to inform business decisions, build predictive models, and uncover actionable insights.
Product Manager
Lead product strategy, prioritize features, and collaborate with engineering and design to deliver products that solve customer problems.
UX Designer
Create user-centered designs for digital products through research, wireframing, prototyping, and usability testing.
Financial Analyst
Analyze financial data, build models, and provide insights to support investment decisions and business strategy.
Sales Representative
Sell products or services to customers, build relationships, and achieve revenue targets through prospecting and closing deals.
Frequently Asked Questions
What format should my Finance resume be?
Use a clean, ATS-friendly format with clear section headers. For Finance, a reverse-chronological format typically works best. Include a professional summary, work experience with quantified achievements, skills section featuring keywords like Financial Modeling, DCF Analysis, LBO Models, and relevant certifications. Save as PDF unless the employer requests a specific format.
What are the most important keywords for a Finance resume?
Key ATS keywords for Finance include: Financial Modeling, DCF Analysis, LBO Models, M&A, Due Diligence, Bloomberg Terminal, Excel VBA, SQL. Mirror the exact language from job postings and place keywords naturally in your professional summary, skills section, and throughout your work experience descriptions.
How do I write a cover letter for Finance?
Start with a compelling opening that shows industry knowledge. Highlight 2-3 achievements demonstrating Financial Modeling and DCF Analysis expertise. Show why you're interested in this specific company. Keep it to one page (250-400 words) and end with a clear call to action.
What mistakes should I avoid in my Finance application?
Common mistakes include: Not quantifying deal sizes, AUM, or financial impact; Omitting specific financial modeling tools (Excel, Bloomberg, FactSet); Forgetting to list relevant licenses and certifications. Take time to customize each application and proofread carefully before submitting.
How do I stand out to Finance employers?
Finance is numbers-driven, so your resume should be too. Hiring managers expect to see specific deal values, returns generated, and quantified impact. Technical proficiency in financial modeling and relevant certifications are often minimum requirements—make them easy to find. Focus on quantified achievements, demonstrate knowledge of current industry trends, and tailor your application to each specific role and company.
Ready to Apply These Insights?
Transform your career narrative with our intelligent application builder.
Begin Your Story€5 · One-time payment · Cancel anytime