Chief Financial Officer CV Example & Expert Tips | CV Pilots UK

Chief Financial Officer CV Example & Expert Tips | CV Pilots UK

Chief Financial Officer CV Sample & Expert Tips to Elevate Your Finance CV

If you’re aiming for the top of the finance ladder – whether as a CFO, Finance Director, or aspiring Finance Manager – your CV needs to do more than list responsibilities.

Recruiters and boards expect a strategic, achievement-driven document that proves your ability to deliver results: driving profitability, strengthening governance, and leading high-performing teams.

In this guide, you’ll find:

  • A CFO CV sample designed to highlight measurable impact

  • Expert tips on what recruiters in finance look for at every level

  • Practical ways to reframe your career story to stand out in a competitive market

By applying these insights, you’ll be able to strengthen your finance CV – whether you’re targeting your first leadership role or positioning yourself for the boardroom.

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How to Structure a High-Impact CFO CV

At the executive level, recruiters expect more than tidy formatting. Your CV must prove commercial impact – showing not just what you did, but how your decisions drove growth, profitability, and shareholder value.

Below we’ve broken down each section of a strong CFO CV, with do’s and don’ts to guide you.

Career Summary

✅ Do use concise bullet points that highlight major achievements and set the tone for the CV.
❌ Don’t waste space on vague clichés such as results-driven finance executive or proactive team player.

Example

  • 20+ years’ international finance leadership across healthcare, consulting and media (BMI Healthcare, Bupa UK, EY, Sony, Warner Bros.)

  • CFO of BMI Healthcare with full P&L for £1B+ revenue; led post-acquisition integration after Circle Health buyout

  • Grew Bupa UK operating income by £150K+ through facility integration and cost management

  • Delivered M&A strategy and FP&A process improvements for FTSE 250 clients at Ernst & Young

Areas of Expertise

✅ Do focus on board-level skills that map directly to your target role.
❌ Don’t list generic soft skills – they’re assumed at executive level.

Example

  • Post-Acquisition Financial Integration

  • Revenue Growth & Turnaround Strategy

  • Corporate Governance & Risk Management

  • M&A Due Diligence, Audit & Compliance

  • Global Finance Leadership

Professional Experience

✅ Do separate responsibilities (short paragraph) from achievements (bullet points). Quantify results with £, %, or growth metrics.
❌ Don’t list duties as “responsible for” – it adds no value.

Sample Entry
BMI Healthcare | London, UK
Chief Financial Officer | 2018 – Present

  • Partner to CEO on £1B+ revenue operations; lead finance team of 50 with six direct reports

  • Consolidated reporting systems post-acquisition; implemented governance processes across budgeting, accounting and risk management

  • Negotiated supplier contracts saving £20M+ and integrated 12 new care facilities, increasing revenue by £50M

  • Delivered EBITDA growth of 15%+ while improving cash flow and financing strategy

💡 Pro tip: Recruiters care most about the past 10 years. Condense early roles into an “Early Career” section.

Board Memberships

✅ Do include board and non-executive roles to demonstrate external leadership.
❌ Don’t over-describe unless applying for board positions.

Example

  • Global Leadership Council, Saïd Business School – University of Oxford

  • Board of Directors, The Access Project

Certifications & Education

✅ Do highlight respected qualifications (CFA, ACA, MBA).
❌ Don’t list minor training courses that dilute impact.

Example

  • Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), CFA Institute

  • MBA, University of Cambridge – Judge Business School

  • BA (Hons) Economics & Management, University of Oxford

In Summary

A CFO CV should read like a strategic blueprint of your impact:

  • Use a sharp executive summary to position yourself at board level

  • Lead with achievements, not responsibilities

  • Quantify results wherever possible (£, %, market share)

  • Keep formatting clean and ATS-friendly

By following these principles, you’ll present yourself not just as a finance leader, but as a board-level strategist ready to steer the business through growth, transformation and change.

To find out more, visit our website www.cvpilots.co.uk If you have any further questions, you can either book a consultation call with one of our team, or get in touch via email on team@cvpilots.co.uk