Intro
Finance roles are becoming more competitive and tech-driven. A resume that stood out in 2020 might now be outdated. In this guide, we’ll show you what hiring managers in 2025 look for, what skills to showcase, and how to format your resume to pass applicant tracking systems (ATS).

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1. Start with a Strong Summary

Gone are the days of bland objective statements. Replace it with a Professional Summary that highlights your expertise and measurable achievements.

Example:
Detail-oriented Financial Analyst with 3+ years of experience in forecasting, variance analysis, and building BI dashboards. Reduced reporting errors by 27% through automation.

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2. Focus on Skills That Matter in 2025

Recruiters look for a mix of technical and soft skills. Include:

Technical:

• Excel (Power Query, VBA, Pivot Tables)
• Power BI or Tableau
• SQL
• Financial modeling
• Forecasting techniques

Soft Skills:

• Stakeholder communication
• Strategic thinking
• Problem solving
• Time management

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3. Quantify Your Impact

Use metrics wherever possible. Instead of writing “responsible for monthly reporting”, write:
“Led monthly P&L reporting process, reducing errors by 18% and improving delivery time by 2 days.”

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4. Format for ATS Systems

• Use standard fonts like Calibri or Arial
• Avoid complex graphics or columns
• Save as PDF or Word doc
• Include relevant keywords from job listings

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5. Bonus: Add a “Certifications & Tools” Section

Example:
Certifications: FPAC, CFA Level I, Excel for Finance (Coursera)
Tools: Excel, QuickBooks, Oracle ERP, SQL, Power BI

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Conclusion
Your resume is your first pitch. Make it sharp, targeted, and data-driven. Want help? Download our free Finance Resume Template optimized for 2025 hiring practices.