Finance, accounting & banking CV guide
State professional qualifications and licences (CPA, ACCA, CA, CFA, FRM; FINRA or FCA registrations). Quantify: portfolio size, cost savings, audit scope, close-cycle time.
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Sections to include
| Section (in this order) | How important |
|---|---|
| Profile | Recommended |
| Experience | Expected |
| Education | Expected |
| Professional qualifications & licences | Recommended |
| Skills | Recommended |
Tips
- State professional qualifications and licences (CPA, ACCA, CA, CFA, FRM; FINRA or FCA registrations).
- Quantify: portfolio size, cost savings, audit scope, close-cycle time.
- Name systems (SAP, Oracle, Xero, Bloomberg, Excel modelling).
Registration by country
Regulated jobs need the local registration or licence on the CV, or a note that the application is in progress. Confirm current requirements with the regulator.
| Country | Profession | Registration or licence |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Accountants | ICAEW / ACCA / CIMA / ICAS membership |
| United States | Accountants | State CPA licence |
| Canada | Accountants | CPA (Canada) designation |
| Australia | Accountants | CA ANZ / CPA Australia / IPA membership |
| New Zealand | Accountants | CA ANZ membership |
| Ireland | Accountants | Chartered Accountants Ireland / CPA Ireland / ACCA |
| Germany | Accountants | Steuerberater / Wirtschaftsprüfer |
| Singapore | Accountants | ISCA membership (CA Singapore) |
| United Kingdom | Financial advisers | FCA approval and Level 4 diploma (e.g. CII) |
| United States | Financial advisers | FINRA registrations (Series 7, 65/66) or CFP |
| Canada | Financial advisers | Provincial securities registration / CFP |
| Australia | Financial advisers | ASIC Financial Advisers Register |
Accountant CVs by country
- Accountant CV for the United Kingdom
- Accountant CV for the United States
- Accountant CV for Canada
- Accountant CV for Australia
- Accountant CV for New Zealand
- Accountant CV for Ireland
- Accountant CV for Germany
- Accountant CV for Austria
- Accountant CV for Switzerland
- Accountant CV for the Netherlands
- Accountant CV for France
- Accountant CV for Sweden
- Accountant CV for Norway
- Accountant CV for the United Arab Emirates
- Accountant CV for Saudi Arabia
- Accountant CV for Qatar
- Accountant CV for Kuwait
- Accountant CV for Oman
- Accountant CV for Singapore
- Accountant CV for Japan
Questions
What should a finance and accounting CV include?
A finance and accounting CV needs your contact details, experience and education, and usually profile, professional qualifications and licences and skills. Lead with what employers in this field check first, and back it up with specific examples. State professional qualifications and licences (CPA, ACCA, CA, CFA, FRM; FINRA or FCA registrations). The CV Atlas readiness check flags anything this field expects that your CV is missing.
What order should the sections of a finance and accounting CV be in?
Use this order for a finance and accounting CV: Profile, Experience, Education, Professional qualifications & licences and Skills. Put the most important evidence for this field near the top, and list entries within each section with the most recent first. Contact details and your name always come first, in the header. Some countries change the order, for example Japan lists history oldest first, and CV Atlas applies that automatically.
How long should a finance and accounting CV be?
It depends on the country more than the job. A finance and accounting CV in the United States should be 1–2 pages; in the United Kingdom, 2 pages; in Australia, 2–4 pages. Keep recent roles detailed and older ones brief, so your strongest evidence sits on the first page. Pick your target country in CV Atlas and it applies the local length and paper size.
How do I make a finance and accounting CV stand out?
Quantify: portfolio size, cost savings, audit scope, close-cycle time. Name systems (SAP, Oracle, Xero, Bloomberg, Excel modelling). Be specific: name the systems, settings and results, start each bullet with a verb, and keep it to one line where you can. Employers in this field look for measurable achievements, so use numbers. Tailor the first lines of your profile and each role to the job advert.
Which jobs does the finance and accounting CV guide cover?
This guide covers 43 job titles, including Accountant, Chartered / certified public accountant, Auditor, Internal auditor, Tax advisor / tax accountant, Management accountant, Financial controller and Chief financial officer. They share the same CV structure and checks. If your exact title is not listed, type it into CV Atlas and pick the closest field. Country rules such as photos, length and references are added on top when you choose where you are applying.
Jobs this guide covers
Accountant · Chartered / certified public accountant · Auditor · Internal auditor · Tax advisor / tax accountant · Management accountant · Financial controller · Chief financial officer (CFO) · Finance manager · Financial analyst · FP&A analyst · Bookkeeper · Accounts payable / receivable clerk · Payroll specialist · Credit controller · Treasury analyst · Investment banker · Investment analyst · Portfolio manager · Fund manager · Equity research analyst · Trader · Quantitative analyst · Risk analyst · Risk manager · Compliance officer · Anti-money-laundering (AML) analyst · Financial advisor / planner · Wealth manager · Bank teller / cashier · Personal banker · Relationship manager (banking) · Loan officer · Credit analyst · Underwriter · Actuary · Claims adjuster · Insurance broker · Economist · Fintech product manager · Private equity associate · Venture capital analyst · Debt collector
Country guides
Photo, date of birth, length and paper size change by country. Start with United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Netherlands, or see all 200 countries.
Open the builderYour first CV is free. The builder applies these rules and checks your CV before you download it.
Guidance checked October 2026. General information for most employers, not legal or immigration advice. A job advert’s own instructions always come first. CV Atlas is not affiliated with any regulator or professional body named.