Finance and accounting · Updated
Financial analyst CV
What to put on a financial analyst CV for UK roles: the modelling and reporting keywords employers search for, an example profile, achievements and interview questions.
Check my CV against a financial analyst advertFinancial analyst is one of the broadest titles in finance. In a corporate it often means reporting, forecasting and analysis supporting the finance team; in banking or investment it can mean valuation and modelling. Before you tailor your CV, work out which kind of analyst role the advert describes. The tools, keywords and examples you lead with should change accordingly.
What employers look for
- Strong Excel and modelling. Almost every advert asks for advanced Excel. Expect to be tested, so only claim what you can do under pressure.
- Accuracy and attention to detail. Analysts produce the numbers others rely on.
- Insight, not just output. Can you spot the story in the data and explain it clearly?
- Data skills beyond Excel. SQL, Power BI, Tableau and sometimes Python are increasingly common in adverts, especially in larger businesses.
- Progress towards a qualification. Many roles welcome part-qualified candidates studying CIMA, ACCA or ACA, or graduates with a numerate degree. CFA is more relevant for investment-side roles.
Keywords from financial analyst adverts
- Financial modelling, forecasting, budgeting, variance analysis
- Management reporting, KPIs, dashboards, month-end reporting
- Advanced Excel: pivot tables, INDEX/MATCH or XLOOKUP, Power Query
- SQL, Power BI, Tableau, Python, data analysis
- Scenario analysis, sensitivity analysis, business cases
- Revenue analysis, cost analysis, profitability analysis
- Investment appraisal, NPV, IRR, valuation, DCF (investment-side roles)
- Stakeholder management, ad hoc analysis, insight
A typical advert, decoded
A paraphrased example of what financial analyst adverts usually say, and what each line is really asking for.
| The advert says | What it really means |
|---|---|
| "Advanced Excel skills essential" | There will be a test. Be ready to build lookups, pivots and a simple model under time pressure. |
| "Support month-end reporting" | Part of the role is routine reporting. Show you're accurate and quick. |
| "Ad hoc analysis for the business" | You'll answer questions from many people. Show how you prioritise and turn requests round. |
| "SQL or Power BI desirable" | They're moving away from spreadsheets. Even basic experience is worth including. |
| "Part-qualified or studying" | They'll support your exams. State exactly how far through you are. |
Example CV profile
Financial analyst with three years' experience in retail, part-qualified CIMA. I produce the weekly trading and monthly management reports for a 120-store business, build the store-level forecast model, and answer ad hoc questions from the commercial team using SQL and Power BI. My margin analysis last year identified £250k of discount leakage in two categories.
Mention your main tools by name, the business context and one finding that mattered.
Example achievements
Use your own figures, and only claim tools you can be tested on.
- Rebuilt the store forecast model in Excel and Power Query, reducing a two-day weekly update to under two hours.
- Identified £250k of annual discount leakage by reconciling promotion data with till transactions in SQL.
- Built a Power BI dashboard for the commercial director covering sales, margin and stock across 120 stores.
- Produced the monthly variance commentary for a £90m revenue line, presented to the leadership team.
- Modelled three pricing scenarios for a new product range, informing the price point the business launched at.
- Automated six recurring reports, freeing roughly a day a week of team time.
Common mistakes
- "Advanced Excel" with no proof. Name the functions or what you built with them.
- Vague analysis claims. Say what you analysed, what you found and what happened next.
- Leaving out data tools. If you've used SQL or Power BI even at a basic level, include it. Many systems filter on these words.
- Generic profile. "Highly motivated analyst" adds nothing. Your sector and specialism do.
Interview questions to prepare for
- Walk me through a financial model you've built. How did you structure it?
- Tell me about a time your analysis surprised someone.
- How do you check your work for errors before it goes out?
See all 12 financial analyst interview questions, with why interviewers ask each one and what a strong answer covers.