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Finance Student CV Example

A finance student CV demonstrates your quantitative skills, understanding of financial markets, and experience with financial analysis and modelling.

Recommended template: FreshPro

Key Skills to Include

Financial AnalysisExcel ModellingAccounting PrinciplesBloomberg TerminalValuation MethodsRisk AssessmentData AnalysisReport Writing

Quick Tips

  • Highlight relevant finance modules such as corporate finance, derivatives, and portfolio management.
  • Include any internship or placement experience in banking, consulting, or asset management.
  • Detail proficiency with financial tools like Bloomberg, Excel modelling, or Python.
  • Showcase involvement in finance societies, investment clubs, or trading competitions.

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How to Write Your Finance Student CV

A finance student CV must demonstrate your quantitative ability, financial knowledge, and genuine interest in markets. Employers in banking, asset management, and corporate finance are looking for students who combine strong analytical skills with commercial awareness and a proactive approach to learning. Your CV should present evidence of academic excellence alongside practical experience and extracurricular engagement with finance.

CV Structure

Use a reverse-chronological format with your profile, internship or work experience, education, and skills. Include a dedicated section for finance society involvement if it is substantial. List technical skills prominently, including software and financial certifications. For banking applications, keep to one page.

CV Format

Choose a conservative, professional template. Finance recruiters expect precision and clarity. Use consistent formatting, proofread meticulously, and save as a PDF. Avoid creative designs.

CV Profile Examples

Banking-Track Student

Final-year finance student at the University of Edinburgh with a predicted first-class degree and a spring week at a leading investment bank. Proficient in DCF modelling, comparable company analysis, and financial statement interpretation. Active member of the university investment society with a track record of outperforming the FTSE 250 benchmark in simulated portfolio management. Seeking a graduate analyst role in investment banking.

Asset Management Student

Third-year finance and economics student at the University of Warwick with a predicted 2:1 and a summer internship at a boutique asset management firm. Experienced in equity research, portfolio construction, and risk analysis using Bloomberg and Excel. Targeting a graduate role in asset management or equity research.

Corporate Finance Student

Second-year accounting and finance student at the University of Bath with a strong academic record and part-time experience in a financial planning firm. Skilled in financial modelling, report writing, and client communication. Seeking a summer internship in corporate finance or advisory to develop commercial finance skills.

State your degree, university, year of study, and predicted classification. Mention any internship experience and your key technical skills. Specify the area of finance you are targeting. Keep it to three sentences.

Key Skills for Your Finance Student CV

Financial Analysis

Interpreting financial statements, calculating ratios, and assessing company performance and investment potential.

Excel Modelling

Building financial models for valuation, forecasting, and scenario analysis using advanced Excel functions.

Accounting Principles

Understanding double-entry bookkeeping, financial reporting standards, and the preparation of financial statements.

Bloomberg Terminal

Accessing market data, conducting equity screening, and performing fixed income analytics using Bloomberg.

Valuation Methods

Applying DCF, comparable company, and precedent transaction analysis to estimate company and asset values.

Risk Assessment

Identifying and quantifying financial risks using statistical methods and scenario analysis.

Data Analysis

Processing financial datasets to identify trends, outliers, and investment-relevant insights.

Report Writing

Producing clear equity research reports, investment memos, and analytical summaries for professional audiences.

Market Awareness

Staying informed about macroeconomic trends, market movements, and sector-specific developments.

Work Experience Examples

Detail internship experience with specific descriptions of analytical work, tools used, and deliverables produced. For investment society roles, include portfolio performance data and pitch outcomes. Quantify achievements wherever possible.

Summer Intern (Equity Research)

Rathbones Investment Management, London

Completed a six-week summer internship in the equity research team, supporting fund managers with company analysis and sector research.

Responsibilities

  • Analysed quarterly earnings reports for FTSE 100 companies, summarising key financial metrics and management guidance for the research team.
  • Built comparable company analysis spreadsheets in Excel, calculating EV/EBITDA, P/E, and dividend yield multiples across sector peers.
  • Attended daily morning meetings, presenting a brief market summary and one stock observation to the research team.
  • Conducted sector research on UK renewable energy equities, producing a 10-page report with investment recommendations.

Achievements

  • The renewable energy sector report was circulated to fund managers and used to inform a portfolio allocation decision.
  • Received positive feedback from the head of research for the quality and clarity of financial analysis work.

Investment Society Portfolio Manager

University of Edinburgh Investment Society

Managed a virtual equity portfolio of £50,000, presenting investment theses to the society committee and tracking performance against benchmarks.

Responsibilities

  • Conducted fundamental analysis on UK and European equities using company filings, Bloomberg data, and broker research.
  • Presented weekly stock pitches defending buy, hold, or sell recommendations to a committee of 15 members.
  • Monitored portfolio performance and produced monthly performance reports comparing returns against the FTSE 250 index.
  • Mentored first-year members on financial statement analysis and valuation techniques.

Achievements

  • Generated a simulated return of 11% over the academic year, outperforming the FTSE 250 benchmark by 4 percentage points.
  • Won the society's best stock pitch award for a contrarian buy recommendation on a mid-cap industrials company.

Education & Qualifications

List your degree with predicted classification and highlight finance modules. Mention any professional exam progress. Include A-levels with Maths grade.

BSc Finance / Accounting & Finance

An undergraduate degree providing rigorous training in financial theory, markets, and accounting.

CFA Level 1 (In Progress)

The first level of the Chartered Financial Analyst programme, demonstrating finance career commitment.

Bloomberg Market Concepts

An online certification covering economic indicators, currencies, fixed income, and equities.

A-Level Mathematics

An advanced-level qualification demonstrating the numerical foundation for a finance career.

Frequently Asked Questions

How competitive are finance internships?
Finance internships, particularly at investment banks and top-tier firms, are highly competitive. Apply widely and early, typically during your second year for summer internships. Prepare thoroughly for numerical reasoning tests, video interviews, and assessment centres. Joining finance societies, attending networking events, and participating in case competitions strengthen your application significantly.
Is Bloomberg experience essential for finance students?
Bloomberg experience is highly valued but not always essential at the student level. If your university has Bloomberg terminals, make time to learn the platform. Complete the Bloomberg Market Concepts certification, which is free for students and demonstrates foundational market knowledge. Mentioning Bloomberg proficiency on your CV distinguishes you from other candidates.
Should I start CFA exams as a student?
Starting CFA Level 1 as a final-year student or recent graduate demonstrates commitment to a career in investment. However, it requires significant study time, so consider whether it is manageable alongside your degree. If you are targeting asset management, equity research, or portfolio management, CFA progress is particularly valued by employers.
How do I stand out on a finance student CV?
Combine strong academics with practical evidence of financial skills. Join an investment society and manage a portfolio. Complete relevant certifications such as Bloomberg or CFA Level 1. Participate in case competitions or trading simulations. Secure internship experience, even at smaller firms. Demonstrate genuine market interest through informed references to current financial events.

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