CV Advice - Get noticed for the right reasons

Your CV is often your first introduction to a potential employer, and first impressions matter. It should give a clear, confident snapshot of your experience, your strengths, and your potential.

Whether you’re just starting out or bringing years of experience to the table, a strong CV can open doors. It doesn’t need to be flashy – it just needs to be clear, tailored, and relevant to the role you're going for.

If you’d like a second opinion or some guidance on structure and content, speak to one of our consultants. We review hundreds of CVs a month and we’re always happy to help yours stand out for the right reasons.

Quick tips to make your CV work harder:

Length matters - and detail counts

You’ll often hear that CVs must be two pages. We don’t buy into that. In finance, particularly for mid to senior-level roles, clients want detail. They want to understand the size and scope of your role, the systems you’ve worked with, and how you’ve added value.

If your experience justifies it, use the space. Be clear, be relevant, and avoid fluff - but don’t cut useful content for the sake of fitting some outdated two-page rule.

Start with the basics

Full name, mobile, email, general location (city is fine), and a LinkedIn link. If you’re including LinkedIn, make sure it’s actually up to date.

Include a short intro

This is your elevator pitch. A few lines to explain what you do, where your strengths lie, and what kind of roles you're targeting.

Education and qualifications

Include dates, subjects, grades, and key qualifications. If you passed first time, say so. It matters.

Systems and software

This bit gets overlooked, but it can be a deal breaker. List the tools you’ve used: Excel (and your level), Xero, SAP, Power BI, NetSuite - whatever fits the roles you're aiming for.

Languages

List them, and be honest about your level. Especially relevant in international or client-facing roles.

Experience

Work backwards from your most recent job. For each role, include:

Dates
Job title
Company name
One-liner on what the company does
Your responsibilities (bullet points work best)

Projects and achievements

What did you improve? What did you deliver? Where did you add value? Use numbers where you can - they bring your results to life.

Gaps in employment? Own them

Whether it was travel, study, redundancy or family, a short line of explanation is always better than leaving a blank space.

Be honest

Facts get checked. Stay truthful and avoid inflating titles or responsibilities.

Don’t undersell yourself

If you’ve led change, delivered results, improved processes, supported growth - say it. This is your moment to highlight the impact you’ve made.

Tailored, not templated

We’re not fans of generic CVs. They’re fine for sketching out your career, but they often miss the stuff that really matters.

That’s why we like to speak to you before sending your CV anywhere. We want to understand your background, your goals, and how you work - so we can help your CV line up perfectly with the job you're aiming for.

We’ll help highlight what matters most for that specific role - whether it’s commercial impact, systems experience, leadership style, or career progression.

What to include - Section by section

Name and Contact Details

Full name
Nationality (e.g. British, Australian)
Visa or passport status (e.g. British passport or Working Holiday May 2025 to May 2027)
City or general location
Mobile number, email address, LinkedIn profile (if relevant and up to date)

Personal Statement

A short paragraph that sums up what you do, your core strengths, and what you're looking for next. Keep it tailored to the kinds of roles you’re targeting.

Qualifications

Your accounting qualification (ACA, ACCA, CIMA), the year you qualified, and if you passed first time.

Education

Dates of study
Institution and location
Degree or subject studied
Grades or classification

Languages

Mention any languages and your level of fluency - fluent, business, conversational etc.

Systems Experience

Be specific. Mention the tools you’ve used and your level - e.g. advanced Excel with pivot tables and macros, or intermediate Power BI. Don’t just write “proficient.”

Career History

List roles starting with the most recent. For each role include:

Dates
Company name and a short description
Job title
Responsibilities (bullet points)
Key projects you led or contributed to
Your individual achievements (not just the team’s)

Tip: focus detail on your most recent and most relevant roles. Older roles can be shorter.

Interests / Extra-Curricular

Go beyond “football” or “travel.” Mention volunteering, captaincy, community involvement, or anything that adds a bit of colour. It helps show who you are outside of work.

Need a second opinion?

We’re always happy to review your CV and offer advice - whether you’re actively looking or just getting ready. Reach out to one of our consultants for a quick CV health check.

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