What are the most effective metrics to include on a finance resume?

1 Why metrics matter

Metrics matter because they provide evidence of your abilities and accomplishments. They show that you can handle complex financial tasks, solve problems, and deliver outcomes. They also help you stand out from other candidates who may have similar qualifications or experience, but lack the numbers to back them up. Metrics can also help you highlight your specific contributions to your team, department, or organization, and show how you align with their goals and expectations.

2 How to choose metrics

To choose the most effective metrics for your finance resume, you need to consider your target role, industry, and employer. You should research the job description, the company website, and the industry trends to identify what skills, competencies, and results are most valued and relevant. Then, you should select metrics that match those criteria and showcase your strengths and achievements. For example, if you are applying for a financial analyst role, you may want to include metrics such as financial modeling, forecasting, variance analysis, or return on investment.

3 How to format metrics

When formatting metrics on your finance resume, it is important to use clear, concise, and consistent language. Quantifying your metrics with numbers, percentages, or dollar amounts is essential, and avoiding vague or generic terms such as "increased", "improved", or "managed" is recommended. Action verbs should be used in present tense to describe your current role, and past tense to describe your previous roles. Additionally, metrics should be placed near the beginning of your bullet points with bold or italic fonts to draw attention to them. For example: generating $5M in annual revenue by developing and implementing new financial strategies for 10 clients; reducing operating costs by 15% through optimizing budget allocation and expense management; achieving 98% accuracy in financial reporting and compliance by applying advanced data analysis and quality control techniques.

4 How to customize metrics

To customize metrics on your finance resume, you should tailor them to each job application. Review the job requirements and keywords, and adjust your metrics accordingly. Additionally, use the same terminology and units as the employer, and align your metrics with their mission, vision, and values. For instance, if you are applying for a non-profit organization, consider including metrics that demonstrate your support of their social or environmental impact, such as securing $2M in grants and donations by creating and presenting financial proposals to donors and partners; increasing financial transparency and accountability by establishing best practices for financial reporting and auditing; or enhancing financial sustainability and efficiency by implementing cost-saving and revenue-generating initiatives.

5 How to avoid pitfalls

When crafting your finance resume, it’s important to use metrics that are relevant, specific, and verifiable, as well as recent, consistent, and comparable. Additionally, you should focus on metrics that are positive, impactful, and meaningful. Avoiding irrelevant, vague, or exaggerated metrics can help you create a powerful and persuasive finance resume that highlights your value and potential to employers.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?