Assistant Controller Resume Example
Starting a career as an assistant controller gives you the chance to gain experience in preparing financial reports and supporting month-end close. For a successful assistant controller application, you'll want to submit a professional resume that showcases your relevant skills. In this article, we'll outline how to write a winning resume to boost your chances of success in your assistant controller applications.
This complete guide to an assistant controller resume will equip you with the tools you need to compete in your applications. You'll find valuable tips on writing a resume that best showcases your unique skills and achievements. There is also extensive guidance on how to structure your resume to match the job description, and to reflect your experience levels to impress HR specialist and employers. Read on to learn the tips Jobseeker careers experts recommend as the best for your assistant controller resume.
Core sections to include in an assistant controller resume
The key sections to include in an assistant controller resume are similar to those for any role or profession. For junior candidates with little work experience, other sections of the resume take on more prominence and might be placed before the work experience section. These could include education, skills, projects, hobbies and volunteer work.
You will have some choice over your resume layout and structure, but be sure to include these sections as the core of your document:
Header and Personal Information
Your assistant controller resume header is the place to add your contact details. Start by adding your full name and underneath, include your email address, phone number and location. Adding your LinkedIn profile, if you have one, can help the employer get a better insight into your skills and industry expertise. You don't need to include any additional personal information or a photo. Make sure your resume header is as brief as possible and doesn't take up too much valuable space. Choose a clear, professional design that sets the tone for your application.
Make sure your email address appears as professional as possible, and doesn't include anything like nicknames, inappropriate language or personal information. If it does, set up a new email account with an address based on your name or initials, and use that for your job applications. Always double-check your contact details are up-to-date before sending your resume.
Randy Morales
randy.morales@example.com
(111) 222 33 444 55
1313 Webfoot Walk, Duckburg, CA
linkedin․com/in/randy–morales123
Resume Profile
Your resume personal profile is a short, concise paragraph to highlight two or three key skills and achievements in assistant controller roles. You may also see this section named as 'resume summary' or 'resume objective'. Resume summaries tend to focus on your career experience, while resume objectives cover your ambitions and plans for the future. Furthermore, when writing your profile, focus on two or three key skills and achievements that showcase your suitability for assistant controller roles.
Alternatively, use this summary to introduce your personal career ambitions and explain why assistant controller roles are a good fit for you at this stage of your career.
A good resume summary reflects the job description and highlights some of the key skills required for assistant controller roles, while leaving the reader with an impression of your unique qualities and strengths. The most effective resume summaries also provide evidence to back up the claims made in them. You can see some positive examples of a resume summary for assistant controller jobs below.
Dynamic financial professional with extensive experience in overseeing financial operations, including budgeting, forecasting, and financial analysis. Proven track record in managing financial reporting, implementing process improvements, and ensuring regulatory compliance. Adept at leading cross-functional teams and enhancing operational efficiency. Strong analytical skills complemented by a solid background in financial management and strategic planning
Financial professional with experience in handling various financial tasks like planning and analysis. Worked on reports and tried to make processes better while following rules. Led teams to improve how things work. Good with numbers and has a background in managing finances and planning strategies
Alternatively, a poor resume summary would include bland, generic information that does little to prove your suitability for the role, while failing to provide any useful insights on you as a person or as a candidate. The visual above includes some examples of what not to do with your assistant controller resume summary
Hard and Soft Skills
Listing your key skills can help to prove your suitability for assistant controller jobs. These could be budgeting and forecasting, MS Office proficiency or various other relevant skills. Again, refer to the assistant controller job description for an indication of the types of skills the employer is looking for, and make sure your skills section reflects these.
Highlighting your hard skills
Hard skills are specific skills related to the job you're applying for. They include particular abilities, technical skills and industry knowledge that relate directly to jobs as an assistant controller. Furthermore, these skills are essential for an assistant controller resume as they showcase your expertise in the field. Include around four or five key hard skills that are listed in the job description. These skills will help to convince the hiring manager that you're a good fit for the position.
You'll make more impact with your resume hard skills list if you focus on technical skills that reflect your unique expertise and specialism, and that match the key requirements in the job description. See the graphic below for some tips on hard skills for an assistant controller resume.
- Financial statement preparation
- GAAP compliance knowledge
- Advanced Excel skills
Listing soft skills on your assistant controller resume
In your soft skills list, include any personal characteristics that make you a good fit for an assistant controller job. Soft skills tend to be more universal than hard skills, but they're no less important. Indeed, transferable skills are growing in importance in the modern world of work, so make sure you include several of these in your resume. Think of your best soft skills and add up to five that match the requirements of the job description.
A good soft skills section would include skills that match the job description, and also reflect your key strengths and qualities. See the graphic below for an indication of what to include in a strong soft skills section for an assistant controller resume.
- Attention to detail
- Communication skills
- Problem-solving abilities
Education
In your education section, include details of your most relevant assistant controller qualifications and educational achievements.
Typically, working as an assistant controller requires a university or college degree, which you'll need to list on your resume. If you're working in this sector, it's usually a good idea to highlight your Bachelor of Science in Accounting degree or other relevant qualifications. Focus on qualifications that showcase your financial statement preparation or GAAP compliance knowledge.
Include any qualifications relevant to the role. For each, add the name and level of the award, the institution name, its location and your dates of study. If you have space, include some bullet points outlining any specialist areas of study, awards or high grades, so the employer can learn more about your unique skill set and knowledge.
If you organized or participated in any clubs or societies while at university, or you took part in any voluntary work, you could also mention these here.
Bachelor of Science in Accounting, 2017 - 2020
University of Georgia, Athens, GA
Certifications and Training
Under this section, list any relevant certifications or licenses that are relevant to assistant controller jobs. These could be official licenses required for the job or certifications that improve your employability. Therefore, make sure you list the dates of your certifications and licenses, so employers can see they're up-to-date and valid.
Review the list below for some suitable certifications for an assistant controller resume:
- CPA License, 2022
- CMA Certification, 2022
- CIA Certification, 2022
Work Experience
Under your work experience section, add any jobs you've had in the past that are relevant to the position of an assistant controller. For each entry, list the job title, the name of the employer, its location and the dates you worked there. Add each job in reverse-chronological order, starting with your current or most recent role.
In addition, include a few bullet points under each job, highlighting your key achievements, so the hiring manager can see how they led to successful outcomes. Back up each point with evidence to show how you meet the job description.
A successful resume work experience section will always showcase skills and experience relevant to the job description, and how you put each to good use in your previous roles. Offering quantifiable evidence in an assistant controller resume proves you're a strong candidate for the job, such as client feedback, project outcomes, KPIs or financial results. Review some strong examples of resume work experience sections in the graphic below.
Financial Operations Manager, January 2022 - Present
Quantum Financial Solutions, Toledo
- Reduced operational costs by 15% through process optimization and vendor negotiations, enhancing overall financial efficiency
- Implemented automated financial reporting system, decreasing monthly closing time by 40% and improving data accuracy
- Led cross-functional team in successful integration of ERP system, resulting in seamless financial operations and 20% productivity increase
Financial Operations Manager, January 2022 - Present
Quantum Financial Solutions, Toledo
- Improved processes to enhance efficiency and reduce costs, contributing to better financial management
- Managed financial reporting tasks to ensure timely and accurate data delivery
- Collaborated with teams to integrate systems for smoother operations and increased productivity
In the graphic above, you can see a great example of what to avoid when writing your resume work experience section. A poor resume work experience section would typically use vague descriptions of activities in previous jobs, while focusing too much on responsibilities rather than achievements. Failing to focus on the skills and experience that match the job description is likely to harm your chances of success.
Expert Tip:
Emphasize hands-on experience and relevant skills, such as customer service, teamwork, or problem-solving, to showcase your readiness for the role. (1) Use bullet points to organize your resume and keep it easy to read, especially for hiring managers scanning for key qualifications. (2)
Additional Information
To provide further information on your suitability for the role, you could add some optional sections to an assistant controller resume. Pick from the optional sections below to help show the employer you have the skills and experience for the job.
Hobbies and Interests
Including your hobbies and interests can be a valuable way of showing your key skills and qualities. Consider listing hobbies and interests to help your resume stand out, or to provide the employer with some insight into your personality and wider interests. They're perfect for candidates who might lack genuine work experience as an assistant controller. Don't include hobbies and interests in your resume unless they showcase a specific interest or aspect of your personality. You'll want them to add something to your application that you can't add elsewhere.
Voluntary Work
Adding voluntary roles can be a useful way of showing relevant experience and skills for assistant controller roles beyond your main employment history. Write your volunteer section in a similar format to your work experience, including your role, the organization name, relevant dates and the details of your contribution.
References
References aren't a standard assistant controller resume section, but employers do sometimes ask for them. Check the job advert and only include them if requested. Be sure to prepare your referees in advance, so they've agreed to provide a reference and are ready to be contacted.
Please contact me for a list of references.
Best strong verbs for your an assistant controller resume
Using strong action words to make your resume resonate with the employer. Choose from the list of words below to make the best possible impression.
- Managed
- Analyzed
- Prepared
- Supervised
- Reconciled
- Implemented
- Coordinated
- Developed
- Reviewed
- Ensured
Jobseeker's resume templates were created by careers experts to help you produce a professional resume in minutes. You can also find cover letter templates to complete an eye-catching job application that gets you noticed.
Example resume for assistant controller applications
The assistant controller resume example below incorporates all the information from above into a full-designed resume template, so you can see how a final resume will look:
1313 Webfoot Walk, Duckburg, CA
•
randy.morales@example.com
•
(111) 222 33 444 55
•
linkedin․com/in/randy–morales123
Detail-oriented Assistant Controller with extensive experience as an Assistant Financial Controller. Skilled in financial reporting, budgeting, and auditing with a strong background in managing financial operations and ensuring compliance with regulatory standards. Proven ability to streamline processes, enhance accuracy, and support strategic decision-making in dynamic business environments.
Assistant Financial Controller
2020
-2022
Pinnacle Financial Solutions (Raleigh)
- Reduced operational expenses by 15% through strategic budgeting and cost control initiatives
- Implemented automated financial reporting system, reducing monthly close time by 30%
- Led a team in the successful audit of financial statements, achieving zero discrepancies
Financial statement preparation
GAAP compliance knowledge
Advanced Excel skills
Attention to detail
Communication skills
Problem-solving abilities
CPA License
CMA Certification
English - Fluent
Spanish - B2
Key tips for an assistant controller resume
- Use a clear resume format with professional elements, including suitable headings, line spacing, fonts and margins, to make your resume as readable as possible for hiring managers.
- Make a strong first impression with a concise, impactful assistant controller resume summary that showcases your key qualities.
- Aim for a brief, concise assistant controller resume. One page is ideal for junior roles, while two pages are more suitable for senior positions.
- Use action verbs to showcase how you've put your assistant controller skills to use in your career (e.g. 'managed', 'analyzed', 'prepared').
- Mention key skills that show you're suited to the job throughout your resume, as well as in the dedicated skills section.
- Don't use complex and elaborate formatting that can make your assistant controller resume less readable and more difficult for Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to scan.
- Don't include personal details beyond your name, location and contact details. Adding your age, gender, nationality or a photo can create unwanted hiring bias.
- Don't include hobbies unless they help you prove a skill or experience that's necessary for the job.
- Don't use passive language because it can switch off the reader. Adapt phrases like 'the work was completed' to 'I completed the work'.
- Don't lie or exaggerate any information on your assistant controller resume, as this can cause you problems further down the line.
Guide to making your resume ATS-friendly
Applicant tracking systems (ATS) are increasingly taking responsibility for the management and processing of job applications, helping hiring practices to become more efficient. This can include screening resumes by scanning and ranking each application according to how closely it matches the job description. When writing your assistant controller resume, a few simple tips can help you pass the ATS stage with a higher-ranking resume, giving you a better chance of success with your applications.
Follow these simple rules when writing your resume, to make sure it's ATS compliant:
- Choose a resume structure that matches the traditional, reverse-chronological layout or alternatively, the functional resume structure. This should make your resume more readable for ATS applications.
- Add keywords throughout your resume that help ATS software match your application to the job description. A higher match means your application is more likely to proceed to be reviewed by human eyes.
- Include clear headings that make it easy to identify each section of your resume. This will help any ATS software navigate your resume during the scanning process.
- Utilize a clean, clear resume design that helps make your content more readable. Use simple fonts and subtle color accents and design elements that don't detract from the written content.
- Make sure your resume is as concise as possible, so ATS applications can easily scan and identify the required details.
For advice and guidance on creating the perfect resume, read our expert career blog and check out our detailed resume examples.
Frequently Asked Questions about an assistant controller resume
As well as writing a professional assistant controller resume, you'll need a cover letter to introduce yourself and emphasize your credentials.
Before you write your cover letter, think about whether you need a formal, professional letter or if a brief, less formal email might be more suitable.
A traditional cover letter should follow formal letter-writing conventions and structure, including a header, the recipient's address and professional greetings and sign-offs. For the main body of the letter, open with a short paragraph introducing yourself and explaining your reasons for applying for the assistant controller role. Follow that with an explanation of your skills and experience and how they're relevant to the position. Close by expressing your gratitude and enthusiasm, and leaving a call to action that encourages the employer to open a dialogue with you.
Jobseeker's HR-approved cover letter templates can help you produce a cover letter that really catches the eye of employers.
For an experienced assistant controller, the resume is an account of your achievements and the skills you've gained through your career. Your assistant controller resume is likely to have a longer work experience section than resumes for less experienced candidates, any you may wish to go back further than the standard 10 to 15 years of employment history, depending on your experience levels. In your assistant controller resume, think about any optional sections you could add to help prove your standing and reputation in your industry. Sections such as awards, achievements and projects can build a picture of your career successes to date.
If you want to create a strong first impression in your assistant controller application, a resume headline can help. Resume headlines are also helpful for the ATS stage of the recruitment process, as they can help you reference the job title and one or two keywords for the role. Write a concise headline including the job title, a reference to your experience or track record and one or two key skills.
Here's an example of a strong resume headline:
- Aspiring Junior Assistant Controller Specialist
- Financial Management and Operational Oversight Expert
- Senior Assistant Controller Seeking Opportunities
The best resume format for you depends on two things. Firstly, it depends on your experience level. Secondly, it depends on the type and level of position you're applying for. For entry-level roles, or situations where you're changing to a new career, a functional resume is often the best option. This places your skills and education above your work experience. For more senior roles where you have plenty of relevant experience, use a reverse chronological format. This resume structure places work experience at the heart of the document, using it as a showcase for your skills and achievements.
Key takeaways for your assistant controller resume
The key to a strong resume is to showcase your relevant skills and achievements through your work experience and other activities. Choose the most suitable resume format for your experience levels, and focus on tailoring your resume based on the requirements listed in the job description.
Remember, Jobseeker resume templates and other tools make it easy to create a resume and cover letter that leaves a positive impression on hiring managers. Sign up now to start building your perfect resume. Whether you're a junior or senior candidate, a professional cover letter can help to grab the attention of the employer. Jobseeker's cover letter examples were created by careers experts to provide useful tips and ideas for your cover letter.
Sources:
(1) Writing a Resume, California Department of Human Resources: https://www.calhr.ca.gov/employees/Pages/resume-tips.aspx
(2) Resume Tips, Duke University: https://careerhub.students.duke.edu/resources/resume-tips/
