Finance Graduate CV Example
A finance graduate CV showcases your numerical aptitude, financial analysis skills, and understanding of markets for roles in banking, accounting, or corporate finance.
Recommended template: Compact
Key Skills to Include
Quick Tips
- Highlight relevant finance modules and any professional qualifications you have started, such as ACCA or CFA.
- Include internship experience at financial institutions or accounting firms.
- Mention participation in investment societies, trading simulations, or case competitions.
- Demonstrate strong numerical skills and attention to detail throughout your CV.
Ready to build your CV?
Start with the Compact template and customise it for your graduate role.
How to Write Your Finance Graduate CV
A finance graduate CV must convince employers that you possess the numerical rigour, analytical skills, and commercial awareness to succeed in a demanding financial environment. Whether you are targeting investment banking, corporate finance, asset management, or accountancy, your CV should demonstrate a strong understanding of financial concepts, practical modelling experience, and a genuine interest in financial markets.
CV Structure
Use a reverse-chronological format with your profile at the top, followed by internship or work experience, education, and skills. If you have relevant extracurricular activities such as investment society involvement, include these in a dedicated section. Place your technical skills prominently, listing software proficiencies and financial certifications. Keep the CV to one page for banking applications, or two pages for other finance roles.
CV Format
Select a conservative, professional template with minimal design elements. Finance recruiters expect precision and clarity. Use a standard font, consistent formatting, and clear headings. Proofread meticulously — errors on a finance CV are especially costly. Save as a PDF unless the application system requires a different format.
CV Profile Examples
Investment Banking Graduate
Finance graduate from the University of Bath with a first-class degree and a spring week internship at a bulge-bracket investment bank. Proficient in financial modelling, valuation methodologies, and company analysis using Bloomberg and Excel. Seeking a graduate analyst position in investment banking or corporate advisory.
Corporate Finance Graduate
Analytically rigorous finance graduate from the University of Exeter with a 2:1 degree and an eight-week summer internship in the corporate finance team of a mid-market advisory firm. Experienced in building DCF models, conducting due diligence reviews, and preparing client pitch materials. Targeting a graduate role in corporate finance or M&A advisory.
Accounting-Track Graduate
Numerate and detail-oriented finance graduate from the University of Leeds with a 2:1 degree and a strong foundation in financial and management accounting. Currently studying towards ACCA qualification with three papers completed. Seeking a trainee accountant or audit role in a Top 20 practice.
State your degree, university, and classification. Mention any internship experience and your key technical competencies. Include the specific area of finance you are targeting. Keep it concise and impactful — finance profiles should be no more than three sentences.
Key Skills for Your Finance Graduate CV
Financial Analysis
Analysing financial statements, ratios, and performance metrics to evaluate company health and investment potential.
Accounting Principles
Applying UK GAAP and IFRS standards to understand and interpret financial reporting and disclosure requirements.
Excel Modelling
Building structured financial models using advanced Excel functions, scenario analysis, and sensitivity tables.
Financial Reporting
Preparing and interpreting income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements for management and external reporting.
Risk Assessment
Identifying and evaluating financial, operational, and market risks using quantitative and qualitative frameworks.
Data Analysis
Processing and interpreting financial data sets to identify trends, anomalies, and actionable insights.
Bloomberg Terminal
Using Bloomberg for market data analysis, equity screening, fixed income analytics, and financial research.
Attention to Detail
Maintaining precision in financial calculations, data entry, and document preparation to ensure accuracy and compliance.
Valuation Methods
Applying DCF, comparable company analysis, and precedent transaction methods to estimate business and asset values.
Work Experience Examples
Detail internship experience thoroughly, describing the types of analysis you performed, the tools you used, and any live transactions you contributed to. For investment society roles, treat them as professional experience and include specific outputs. Quantify achievements wherever possible, such as portfolio returns or model accuracy improvements.
Summer Analyst Intern
Rothschild & Co, London
Completed an eight-week summer internship in the Global Advisory division, supporting deal teams on M&A transactions in the consumer and healthcare sectors.
Responsibilities
- Built and maintained financial models including DCF, comparable company analysis, and precedent transaction analysis for live client engagements.
- Conducted industry research and prepared market overview slides for client pitch books and management presentations.
- Assisted with due diligence processes, reviewing financial statements and identifying key commercial risks for acquisitions.
- Prepared weekly deal tracking summaries for senior bankers, monitoring progress across multiple concurrent transactions.
Achievements
- Received a graduate offer based on internship performance, with positive feedback on financial modelling accuracy and attention to detail.
- Independently created a sector comparison template that was adopted by the team for subsequent consumer sector pitches.
Investment Society Analyst
University of Bath Investment Society
Managed a virtual portfolio of £100,000 and presented weekly stock pitches to the society committee of 20 members.
Responsibilities
- Conducted fundamental analysis of UK and US equities, preparing detailed investment theses with target prices and risk assessments.
- Presented weekly stock pitches using Bloomberg data, company filings, and industry reports to defend buy, hold, or sell recommendations.
- Monitored portfolio performance against the FTSE 100 benchmark and recommended rebalancing actions based on market developments.
- Mentored first-year members on financial statement analysis, valuation techniques, and presentation skills.
Achievements
- Generated a simulated portfolio return of 14% over the academic year, outperforming the FTSE 100 benchmark by 6 percentage points.
- Awarded best stock pitch of the term for a buy recommendation on a mid-cap renewable energy company.
Education & Qualifications
List your degree with classification and highlight finance-specific modules such as corporate finance, derivatives, or portfolio management. Mention any academic prizes or distinctions. If you have started professional qualifications such as CFA or ACCA, include your progress. Follow with A-levels emphasising Maths.
BSc Finance / Accounting & Finance
An undergraduate degree providing comprehensive training in financial theory, accounting, and market analysis.
CFA Level 1
The first level of the Chartered Financial Analyst programme, covering investment tools, asset valuation, and portfolio management.
ACCA (Papers in Progress)
Progress towards the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants qualification, demonstrating commitment to professional accounting.
Bloomberg Market Concepts
An online certification covering economic indicators, currencies, fixed income, and equity market fundamentals.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a finance graduate role without internship experience?
Should I keep my finance graduate CV to one page?
What technical skills are most valued on a finance graduate CV?
How important are extracurricular activities on a finance CV?
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