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Finance CV templates

Three structures for banking and finance applications: graduate and entry-level, experienced banking and compliance professional, and career-changer or international applicant. Use the one that fits, then tailor it to each role.

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BEFORE YOU START

CV rules for every template

  • Keep it to one page for students and graduates, two pages maximum for experienced professionals.
  • Use a clean, plain layout with one font and consistent spacing.
  • Put your strongest evidence first: relevant experience, results, qualifications.
  • Start bullet points with action verbs and include numbers where you can (amounts, percentages, team size, time saved).
  • Match keywords from the job description honestly.
  • Check spelling and dates carefully. Accuracy matters in finance.
  • In the UK, do not include a photo, date of birth or personal details unless the employer asks for them.
  • Save as PDF unless the employer asks for Word.
TEMPLATE 1

Graduate and entry-level finance CV

For students and recent graduates applying for analyst, graduate scheme or banking roles.

Header
[Full name] · [City, Country] · [Phone] · [Email] · [LinkedIn URL]
Professional summary
2–3 lines: your degree, your interest in banking or finance, and one specific strength. e.g. "Finance graduate with strong analytical skills and internship experience in retail banking, seeking an analyst role in [area]."
Education
Degree, university, dates · result (First / 2:1 / GPA) · relevant modules (Corporate Finance, Financial Markets, Risk Management, Accounting) · dissertation title and one-line result
Experience
Role, company, dates · 2–3 bullets: [Action verb] [what you did] resulting in [measurable result]
Skills
Technical (Excel modelling, SQL, Python, Bloomberg, Power BI) · finance knowledge (analysis, budgeting, KYC/AML awareness) · languages
Certifications and activities
Courses with provider and year · finance society, case competitions, volunteering, leadership
TEMPLATE 2

Banking and compliance professional CV

For experienced staff in retail banking, risk, compliance or operations.

Header
[Full name] · [City, Country] · [Phone] · [Email] · [LinkedIn URL]
Profile
3 lines: years of experience, area, regulatory knowledge and your key achievement.
Core competencies
Risk assessment · Regulatory compliance · KYC and AML · Process improvement · Stakeholder management · Reporting and analysis
Professional experience
Led or supported [process] that [result with figures]. Monitored [risk or controls area], reducing [issue] by [__%]. Prepared [reports] for [senior management or regulators].
Qualifications
Degree · professional qualifications such as ICA, CISI, ACAMS or CFA levels
Regulatory and technical knowledge
UK: FCA rules, Money Laundering Regulations · US: Bank Secrecy Act, FINRA (as relevant) · systems and tools
TEMPLATE 3

Career-changer or international applicant CV

For people moving into finance from another field or another country.

Header
[Full name] · contact details · right-to-work status if relevant and accurate, e.g. "Eligible to work in the UK"
Profile
2–3 lines on your background, why you are moving into finance and the transferable skills you bring.
Transferable skills
Numeracy and analysis · customer or client management · project or team leadership, each with an example and result
Finance-relevant experience
Achievements that relate to finance, with numbers
Education and training
Degree and country, with a note on the equivalent UK or US level if helpful · finance course or certification in progress
Languages and international experience
Languages and levels · experience across regions or currencies

Bullet point formulas

  • Action + task + result: "Reconciled [__] accounts weekly, reducing errors by [__%]."
  • Action + tool + purpose: "Built an Excel model to forecast [__], supporting [decision]."
  • Action + scale + outcome: "Handled [__] client queries per day with a [__%] satisfaction rating."

Strong action verbs for finance CVs

Analysed · audited · budgeted · forecasted · reconciled · modelled · assessed · monitored · reported · streamlined · negotiated · implemented · reviewed · improved · presented

Final checklist

Want a second pair of eyes?

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These templates are guidance only. WDR does not guarantee interview or job outcomes.

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