Controller/ Director of Finance
Resume Sample
A real resume example showing how we transform financial leadership and operational impact into proof employers trust
Being qualified isn't enough — you need to be the obvious choice.
We fix your resume with one conversation
What Makes a Strong Controller / Director of Finance Resume?
A Controller/Director of Finance resume must prove you can lead financial operations, drive cost savings, and support strategic growth. Hiring managers scan for industry experience, team leadership, and operational improvements. This sample demonstrates 8+ years in manufacturing, 20% freight cost reduction, and oversight of multinational operations.
Why Do Controller / Director of Finance Resumes
Get Rejected?
Most controller / director of finance resumes get rejected not because of ATS software, but because they don't prove you're better than the other 24 applicants. Generic bullets like "managed construction projects" don't differentiate you — quantified achievements do.
See how we transform generic statements into interview-winning proof:
Periodically reviewed vendors to secure preferred pricing status."
20% freight cost reduction is a significant, quantified achievement. The emphasis on maintaining quality shows business acumen - not just cutting costs but protecting operations. This directly impacts bottom line.
Performed full-cycle accounting for 2 sister companies, while overseeing the accounting functions at 1 firm with 2 locations (Toronto and Shanghai, China). Supervised 2 direct reports."
Shows ability to build financial infrastructure from scratch. Multinational scope (Toronto + Shanghai) demonstrates international financial management. Being selected for a newly-created role signals high capability.
Strengthened authorized approval processes to better document and track activity in Accounts Payable, Purchasing, and Inventory areas."
ERP modernization is a complex, high-stakes project. Leveraging prior implementation experience shows valuable institutional knowledge. Strengthened controls in AP, Purchasing, and Inventory demonstrates risk mitigation.
How Do Finance Resume Writers Transform a Controller / Director of Finance Resume?
Professional resume writers transform controller / director of finance resumes by analyzing job postings for required keywords, extracting specific achievements through targeted questions, quantifying impact with dollar values and percentages, and positioning you as the solution to employer problems.
We Analyze Controller / Director of Finance Job Postings
We identify exactly what hiring managers search for:
- Budget management and cost control requirements
- Schedule recovery and timeline management skills
- Site safety compliance and OSHA standards
- Subcontractor coordination and vendor management
We Extract Your Achievements
Our 1-on-1 interview uncovers:
- Project values and budgets you've managed
- Team sizes and subcontractors you've coordinated
- Problems you've solved that others couldn't
- Metrics you didn't think to track or quantify
We Quantify Your Impact
We find the numbers that prove ROI:
- Dollar values of projects completed on time
- Percentage of schedule improvements achieved
- Cost savings from value engineering decisions
- Safety record improvements and incident reductions
We Position You as the Solution
Your resume proves you solve employer problems:
- Delivering projects on time despite site challenges
- Managing subcontractors and maintaining quality
- Controlling costs while meeting specifications
- Leading teams through complex project phases
Listen to a Real Resume Interview
Hear how our writers extract achievements from finance leaders.
What Does a Controller / Director of Finance Resume Interview Look Like?
A controller / director of finance resume interview is a conversation where our writer asks targeted questions about your projects, probes for specific details, and extracts achievements you'd never think to include.
Negotiated a 20% reduction in freight costs – all while maintaining peak quality levels.
Periodically reviewed vendors to secure preferred pricing status.
Every bullet on this resume was created through this same process.
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Watch How We Transformed Khoi's Resume
See how our interview process uncovered achievements and turned them into interview-winning proof.
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What a Controller / Director of Finance Resume Example That Gets Interviews Looks Like
A complete controller / director of finance resume is typically 1-2 pages and includes a professional summary, core competencies, detailed work experience with quantified achievements, education, and certifications. Here's an actual resume created through our interview process.
Which Controller / Director of Finance Resume Example
Do You Need?
The controller / director of finance resume you need depends on your career stage:
Becoming a Controller
Your resume needs to prove readiness for full financial leadership and operational scope.
Questions We Ask in Your Interview:
- What is your largest scope of financial responsibility?
- Have you led teams or departments?
- What cost savings or improvements have you driven?
What We Highlight on Your Resume:
- Team supervision experience
- Process improvements and cost savings
- Full-cycle accounting capability
- Cross-functional collaboration
Advancing to CFO
Your resume needs to demonstrate strategic impact beyond financial operations.
Questions We Ask in Your Interview:
- What strategic initiatives have you led?
- How have you influenced business decisions?
- What is your experience with M&A or capital planning?
What We Highlight on Your Resume:
- Strategic financial leadership
- Business transformation impact
- Executive collaboration
- Capital and growth planning
How Do You Write a Controller / Director of Finance Resume That Gets Interviews?
To write a controller / director of finance resume that gets interviews, focus on four key sections:
- Professional Summary — highlighting your experience level and specialty areas
- Skills Section — matching keywords from your target job postings
- Work Experience — quantified achievements using the Problem-Solution-Result format
- Credentials — relevant certifications and education
Most controller resume guides focus on listing responsibilities. We interview you to find the cost savings, process improvements, and operational achievements that prove you can lead financial operations effectively.
What Should a Controller/Director of Finance Put in Their Professional Summary?
Your summary must establish both technical credibility and operational impact.
Lead with CMA/CPA credential, years of industry experience, key capabilities, and distinguishing attribute (cost reduction, transformation leadership).
For those targeting Controller, emphasize growing scope.
Expert Questions We Ask:
- "What is your largest financial responsibility?"
- "What improvements have you driven?"
For experienced Controllers, lead with transformation impact.
Expert Questions We Ask:
- "What is your most significant achievement?"
- "How do you partner with operations?"
What Skills Should Controllers Highlight?
Show both technical accounting and operational business partnership.
Lead with full-cycle accounting, compliance, and financial statement preparation. Add operational skills (cash flow, budgeting) and cross-functional capabilities.
Technical excellence is the foundation.
Expert Questions We Ask:
- "What is your GAAP/IFRS expertise?"
- "What systems do you know?"
Operational skills differentiate for larger roles.
Expert Questions We Ask:
- "What strategic planning have you done?"
- "How do you support business decisions?"
How Should Controllers Describe Their Experience?
Show operational impact, not just financial reporting.
Start with scope (departments, direct reports, locations), then list Key Achievements separately. Quantify everything possible.
Show progression toward full-scope leadership.
Expert Questions We Ask:
- "What departments do you oversee?"
- "What improvements have you made?"
Emphasize transformation and strategic contribution.
Expert Questions We Ask:
- "What cost savings have you achieved?"
- "What systems have you implemented?"
What Education Matters for Controllers?
Professional designation should be immediately visible.
CMA or CPA is paramount - include in header. List degree and any relevant Big Four or public accounting background.
CMA/CPA is often required for Controller roles.
Expert Questions We Ask:
- "What professional designations do you hold?"
- "What is your accounting foundation?"
Additional certifications show continued development.
Expert Questions We Ask:
- "What executive education have you completed?"
- "What industry certifications do you have?"
Skip the guesswork — let our expert resume writers ask these questions for you.
Schedule Your Resume InterviewHow Does a Resume Interview Extract
Your Controller / Director of Finance Achievements?
A professional resume interview extracts controller / director of finance achievements by probing into specific projects, uncovering the goals you were trying to achieve, documenting the systems and processes you implemented, and surfacing challenges you overcame.
What Projects Should You Include
on a Controller / Director of Finance Resume?
Include projects that demonstrate scope, stakes, and significance. We probe to understand the project value, team size, and your specific role.
How Do You Show Business Impact
on a Resume?
Connect your work to business outcomes by documenting the company's objectives and how your contributions achieved them.
What Systems and Processes
Should You Highlight?
Document the specific systems, processes, and strategies you implemented. This is where your expertise becomes visible.
How Do You Present
Challenges Overcome?
Describe challenges you faced and how you solved them. Problem-solving examples prove you can handle obstacles.
The Power of a 1-on-1 Resume Interview
No cookie-cutter calls. Your interview length matches your career complexity. We ask the questions you can't ask yourself.
Telephone Interview
Telephone Interview
Telephone Interview
Telephone Interview
Telephone Interview
How Competitive Is the
Controller / Director of Finance Job Market?
Controller / Director of Finance jobs are lowly competitive, averaging 25 applicants per position. With most job seekers applying to 20+ roles, you're competing against approximately 500 candidates for the same jobs.
Controller / Director of Finance Job
Jobs Posted (30 Days)
Per 20 Applications
Hardest to Land
Most competitive finance rolesEasier to Land
Less competitive finance rolesData based on LinkedIn job postings, updated January 2026. View full job market data →
Here's the math most job seekers don't do:
Your resume needs to stand out against 500 other finance professionals.
Most of them list the same projects. The same certifications. The same responsibilities.
What makes you different is the story behind the projects.
Finance Professionals We've Helped Are Now Working At
From general contractors to specialty trades, our clients land roles at top finance firms across North America.
Reach Finance's Hidden Job Market
80% of finance positions are never advertised. Get your resume directly into the hands of recruiters filling confidential searches.
Finance Recruiter Network
When you purchase our Resume Distribution service, your resume goes to 400+ recruiters specializing in finance — included in Advanced & Ultimate packages.
Robert Half
Nationwide
Kforce Finance
Tampa, FL
Sample Finance Recruiters
400+ Total| Agency | Location |
|---|---|
RH Robert Half |
Nationwide |
KF Kforce Finance |
Tampa, FL |
VA Vaco |
Nashville, TN |
CR CPA Resources |
Chicago, IL |
HF Hays Finance |
Nationwide |
Frequently Asked Questions About
Controller / Director of Finance Resumes
Include industry experience, team size, cost savings achievements, and systems expertise. This sample shows 8 years manufacturing controllership, 20% freight cost reduction, and ERP modernization leadership.
Highly valuable. CMA signals management accounting expertise - particularly important for manufacturing and operations-focused controller roles. This sample prominently displays CMA designation.
Moderately competitive - averaging 25 applicants per position. Industry specialization (manufacturing, healthcare, tech) and cost reduction achievements differentiate top candidates.
Absolutely. Big Four audit experience establishes credibility and technical foundation. This sample mentions PwC Senior Auditor experience with Fortune 500 companies.
Quantify team size and scope. This sample shows oversight of 3 departments, 5 direct reports, and multinational operations (Toronto + Shanghai). Cross-functional collaboration is also key.
Quantified cost savings, process improvements, and operational impact. 20% freight reduction in this sample is memorable and directly relevant to manufacturing employers.
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Schedule your 60-minute interview and get a resume that proves you're the obvious choice.
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