Finance Assistant CV Example
A finance assistant CV should demonstrate your ability to support the finance team with day-to-day tasks such as processing invoices, reconciling accounts, and preparing basic financial reports.
Recommended template: Compact
Key Skills to Include
Quick Tips
- Highlight the volume of transactions you process regularly to demonstrate your efficiency.
- Include any AAT qualifications or other accounting certifications you are working towards.
- Demonstrate your accuracy by mentioning error rates or quality metrics.
- Show willingness to develop by mentioning any additional finance training undertaken.
Ready to build your CV?
Start with the Compact template and customise it for your banking & finance role.
How to Write Your Finance Assistant CV
A finance assistant CV should highlight your reliability, numerical accuracy, and eagerness to learn. This is typically an entry-level or early-career role, so employers look for candidates who can handle high volumes of routine financial transactions while maintaining attention to detail. Whether you are entering finance for the first time or building on existing experience, your CV should emphasise practical skills and a methodical, organised approach.
CV Structure
Use a reverse-chronological format starting with your profile, then work experience, education, and skills. If work experience is limited, consider placing qualifications and skills higher on the page. Each role should include four to five bullet points for responsibilities and one to two achievements. Keep the CV to one or two pages depending on your experience level.
CV Format
Choose a clean, professional template that is easy to read quickly. Finance recruiters prefer clarity and structure over creative design. Use consistent bullet point styles and ensure your contact details are clearly visible. Save as PDF unless the employer requests a Word document.
CV Profile Examples
Experienced Finance Assistant
Reliable finance assistant with three years of experience supporting busy finance departments in the property and construction sectors. Proficient in processing purchase and sales invoices, reconciling bank accounts, and preparing expense reports using Sage 50 and Microsoft Excel. Currently studying towards AAT Level 3 with a strong commitment to accuracy and meeting month-end deadlines.
Junior Finance Assistant
Enthusiastic junior finance assistant with AAT Level 2 and twelve months of hands-on experience within a fast-paced logistics company. Skilled in data entry, invoice matching, and basic bookkeeping tasks with a keen eye for detail. Eager to build on practical experience and progress towards a full accounting qualification while contributing to a supportive finance team.
Finance Assistant — Career Changer
Organised professional transitioning into finance from an administrative background, bringing strong numerical skills and recently completed AAT Level 2 qualification. Experienced in managing budgets, processing expenses, and handling financial paperwork in previous office management roles. Looking to apply transferable skills in accuracy and process management to a dedicated finance assistant position.
Write a concise three-sentence profile stating your experience level, key software skills, and current qualification status. Mention the volume of work you handle to give context to your capabilities.
Key Skills for Your Finance Assistant CV
Invoice Processing
Accurately coding, matching, and posting purchase and sales invoices into accounting software within agreed deadlines.
Account Reconciliation
Matching ledger entries to bank statements and supplier records to identify and resolve discrepancies.
Purchase & Sales Ledger
Managing supplier and customer accounts including invoice posting, payment allocation, and statement reconciliation.
Expense Management
Processing employee expense claims, verifying receipts, and ensuring compliance with company expense policies.
Basic Reporting
Preparing simple financial reports such as aged debtor and creditor analyses and cash position summaries.
Accounting Software
Using platforms such as Sage 50, Sage 200, Xero, or QuickBooks for day-to-day financial transaction processing.
Spreadsheet Skills
Creating and maintaining Excel spreadsheets for tracking, reporting, and data analysis within the finance function.
Data Entry Accuracy
Entering high volumes of financial data with precision and attention to detail to maintain reliable records.
Month-End Support
Assisting with accruals, prepayments, and journal entries as part of the monthly financial close process.
Work Experience Examples
Focus on the volume and types of transactions you process. Mention specific accounting software, the number of invoices handled, and any accuracy metrics. Include at least one achievement per role — even small wins like reducing a backlog or identifying duplicate payments show initiative and attention to detail.
Finance Assistant
Whitmore Construction Group
Supported the finance team of a £22M turnover construction company, handling transactional processing for 150 supplier accounts and 80 customer accounts.
Responsibilities
- Processed an average of 400 purchase invoices and 200 sales invoices per month, coding entries to the correct project and nominal accounts in Sage 200.
- Performed weekly bank reconciliations across two company bank accounts, resolving discrepancies within agreed timescales.
- Managed employee expense claims, verifying receipts and ensuring compliance with company expense policy before authorising payment.
- Assisted with month-end procedures including posting prepayments, accruals, and intercompany journal entries.
- Maintained filing systems for invoices, bank statements, and supplier correspondence in both physical and digital formats.
Achievements
- Reduced invoice processing time by 20% through implementing a batch scanning and coding system for high-volume suppliers.
- Identified and recovered £4,800 in duplicate payments through careful reconciliation of supplier statements.
Accounts Administrator
Parkfield Lettings Agency
Provided accounts support for a growing lettings agency managing over 300 rental properties, processing rent receipts and landlord payments.
Responsibilities
- Processed monthly rent receipts and reconciled tenant payment records against bank statements.
- Prepared and issued landlord statements and payment summaries on a monthly cycle.
- Maintained the purchase ledger, processing supplier invoices for maintenance and property management costs.
- Assisted the office manager with VAT return preparation and basic management reporting.
Achievements
- Reduced landlord payment processing time from five days to three days by streamlining the reconciliation process.
- Earned praise from the office manager for maintaining zero reconciliation errors over a twelve-month period.
Education & Qualifications
List your AAT qualification status first, including the level achieved and any papers in progress. Follow with GCSEs or A-levels, highlighting maths and English grades. If you hold a degree, include it but give priority to your AAT credentials for relevance.
AAT Level 2
Foundation-level qualification covering basic bookkeeping, double-entry accounting, and cost recording principles.
AAT Level 3
Advanced bookkeeping qualification demonstrating competence in accounts preparation and ethical practices.
AAT Level 4
Professional diploma covering management accounting, financial statements, and credit management.
GCSE Maths (Grade 4/C or above)
Demonstrates the numerical competence employers expect for entry-level finance positions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I include on a finance assistant CV with no experience?
How important is accounting software experience?
Should I mention my AAT studies on my finance assistant CV?
How long should a finance assistant CV be?
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