How to Write a Senior Financial Assistant Resume (With Tips)

A senior financial assistant provides support to an organization's financial department. They usually work with accountants, bookkeepers, auditors, and financial planners. Learning how to create an effective senior financial assistant resume may help you showcase your skills and experience effectively. In this article, we explain how to create a senior financial assistant resume, provide relevant skills for the role, share some tips, and review a template and example to help you create your own document.

How to create a senior financial assistant resume

Here's how you can create an impressive senior financial assistant resume:

1. Add your contact details

Start by adding your contact details at the top of your resume. Include your full name, phone number, and e-mail address so potential employers can easily contact you. Ensure your phone number and e-mail address are active, and you can receive calls and messages.

Related: How to Include and Format Contact Information on a Resume

2. Include a professional summary

After your contact details, add a professional summary, which comprises a brief statement that summarizes your skills and experiences. Use two to three sentences and mention your years of experience working in finance and your key strengths and abilities. For example, a Senior financial assistant with four years of experience working in finance. Excellent accounting, bookkeeping, auditing, and budgeting skills. Strong ability to work independently and meet deadlines.

Related: A Guide to Writing a Resume Summary with Samples

3. List your work experience and skills

Start by listing your previous job titles and employers. Include the dates of your employment and a brief description of your duties and responsibilities. You can use this section to highlight your most relevant experience and skills, such as budgeting. Mentioning these skills and including a section to show your best abilities demonstrate that you've had the qualifications to do the job.

Related: How to Describe Your Work Experience on a Resume

4. Highlight your education

In this section, include your highest level of education and any financial qualifications you may have. If you're a recent graduate or have little work experience, you can use this section to highlight relevant volunteer work or internships. For instance, if you're applying for a job in auditing, include any experience working with financial reports.

Related: How to List Education on Your Resume (With Examples)

5. Proofread your resume

After writing your resume, check for any spelling or grammar mistakes. Hiring managers might discard resumes with errors, so it's important to ensure that yours is error-free. Ask a friend or family member to read your resume and look for any mistakes you may have missed.

Related: Reviewing a Bad Example of a Resume (With Ways to Fix It)

Important skills and qualities for senior financial assistant

Some certain skills and qualities are important for senior financial assistants:

Analytical skills

Senior financial assistants analyze financial reports and data. They may often identify trends and make recommendations based on their findings. For instance, they may recommend ways to reduce costs or increase revenue so the company can achieve its financial goals.

Related: What Are Finance Assistant Responsibilities? (With Skills)

Communication skills

Excellent communication skills are important for senior financial assistants as they're responsible for explaining their findings to those who may not have a background in finance. They may also give presentations or write reports, so communicating clearly and concisely is essential. For instance, they may explain complex financial concepts to non-financial staff or provide senior management updates on the company's financial status.

Organizational skills

Organizational skills help senior financial assistants track all the data and information they're reviewing. They often manage multiple tasks and ensure they meet deadlines. For instance, they may prepare reports, develop budgets, and reconcile accounts.

Attention to detail

Attention to detail helps senior financial assistants identify errors in financial reports or data. They often review large amounts of information, so it's important that review carefully each report. For instance, they may detect a mistake in a report that can lead to an incorrect decision.

Technical skills

You may manage many financial statements as a senior financial assistant. It's essential for you to be proficient in using spreadsheet software. Familiarity with coding languages can help you automate some tasks.

Interpersonal skills

Working closely with other members of the finance team is important when you're a senior financial assistant, so it's crucial that you have good interpersonal skills. This includes building relationships and working as part of a team. For instance, you may collaborate with others when preparing a report or budget.

Problem-solving skills

As a senior financial assistant, you may encounter many problems. It's important for you to be able to identify the root cause of the problem and develop a solution. For instance, you may troubleshoot an issue with a financial statement or costs report.

Research skills

Conducting research is essential for financial assistants, as this involves researching new laws and regulations. It might also require you to look for ways to improve the finance team's processes. Research skills help senior financial assistants stay up-to-date on the latest developments in their field.

Writing skills

Writing skills are important for senior financial assistants who often prepare reports. These reports may be for internal use or external audiences, such as shareholders, so it's necessary to produce well-written and error-free documents. For instance, a senior financial assistant may write a report on the company's financial performance or future cash flow levels.

Related: A Guide to Finance Skills: Definition and Examples

Tips for creating a resume for senior financial assistants

Here are some tips to consider when writing your resume:

Write a clear and concise resume

You may compete against candidates with similar experience, so writing an appealing document is important. One way to do this is by being clear and concise in your writing. Use bullet points and short sentences to communicate your message quickly and effectively. You can also use simple language to ensure your resume is easy to read.

Related: How to Tailor a Resume for a Job Description (With Tips)

Highlight quantifiable accomplishments

When listing your experience, highlight any accomplishments that you can quantify. For instance, if you increased efficiency in a previous role, mention a percentage or if you saved the company money, mention the amount of money you saved. This gives employers a better understanding of how you can benefit the company.

Use keywords

When writing your resume, be sure to use industry-specific keywords. For instance, if you're applying for a job in the financial sector, include keywords such as financial analysis, data analysis, and reporting. This helps employers notice you and can help you pass the initial screening stage.

Use strong action verbs

Action verbs, such as analyzed, developed, implemented, and managed, help attract employers' attention. When listing your experience, use strong action verbs to describe your accomplishments. They make your resume more dynamic and help you highlight your proficiencies and achievements. Other action verbs you can use on your resume are:

• Created

• Designed

• Evaluated

• Executed

• Improved

• Investigated

• Launched

• Organized

• Oversaw

• Planned

• Processed

• Researched

• Reviewed

• Streamlined

• Supervised

Resume template for senior financial assistant

Here's a template you can use to create your own resume:

[First name] [Last name], [Degree or certification, if applicable]

[Phone number] | [E-mail address] | [City], [Province or territory]

Professional Summary

[Two to three sentences that highlight years of experience, relevant skills, education, or certifications and achievements as a professional.]

Experience

[Job Title] | [Employment dates]
[Company Name] | [City], [Province or territory]

• (Strong verb) + what you did (more detail) + reason, outcome, or quantified results

• [Job duty]

• [Job duty]

• [Job duty]

• [Job duty]

[Job Title] | [Employment dates]
[Company Name] | [City], [Province or territory]

• (Strong verb) + what you did (more detail) + reason, outcome, or quantified results

• [Job duty]

• [Job duty]

Skills

[Skill] | [Skill] | [Skill] | [Skill] | [Skill] | [Skill]

Education

[Degree and major] | [Name of school or university] [City], [Province or territory]

[Certification name], [Host organization] - [Year completed or expiration date]

Sample resume for senior financial assistants

Here's a sample resume for senior financial assistants:

John Smith

123-456-7890 | john.smith@email.ca | Toronto, Ontario

Professional Summary

Over ten years of experience as a Senior Financial Assistant. Proven ability to analyze financial reports and data, identify trends, and make recommendations. Strong communication and organizational skills.

Experience

Senior Financial Assistant | January 2020–Current
Berg Corporation | Toronto, Ontario

• prepare monthly financial reports for management

• provide analysis and explanations of findings to non-finance staff

• develop and implement new financial processes

• manage the invoicing process

• assess and recommend improvements to accounting software

Senior Financial Assistant| January 2018–December 2020
Simple Accounts | Toronto, Ontario

• completed monthly bank reconciliations

• maintained accurate records of invoices and receipts

• prepared financial reports for management and board meetings

Skills

Communication skills | Spreadsheet software | Reporting

Education

Bachelor of Commerce, Major in Accounting | Green Hills University
Mississauga, Ontario

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