controller Sample

A Controller, or Comptroller, runs the financial departments of a company. The role involves overseeing the financial departments of an organization, like accounting, auditing, budgeting, finance, and tax. 

As a Controller, you manage critical financial processes, procedures, regulations, and reporting. You know the ins and outs of balance sheets, prospectuses, and profit and loss statements, to name just a few critical financial documents of an organization. You also have the responsibility of understanding past financial performance to help predict future performance, as well as delegating the completion of paperwork required by state and federal regulatory agencies, like the Internal Revenue Service or IRS. 

If you're in the market to advance your career by landing a Controller position, or you're looking to change employers to land a new Controller role, you've come to the right place! Read on to learn tips and tricks to support you in crafting a Controller resume to land you interviews and job offers. 

How to write a resume

The goal of your Controller resume is to land you interviews. To do that, your resume needs to show that you're on top of your game when overseeing an organization's financial dealings. That means your work accomplishments, skills, and education need to clearly indicate what you bring to the table and your ability to succeed on the job. And before all of that, it has to get past an employer's ATS or applicant tracking system. 

Here are some tried and true steps to take to create the interview-winning resume you desire. 

Make it ATS-friendly

You could be the best Controller on the face of this earth, yet if you don't have an ATS-friendly resume, no one will know. An ATS-friendly resume is required to get past the software, otherwise known as an ATS or applicant tracking system, most employers use to scan applicant resumes for their job postings.

Here are some pointers to create an ATS-friendly resume:

• Use standard naming conventions for your section headings. Nonstandard names can confuse an ATS.

• Avoid incorporating images, tables, and charts. This information is not readable by most ATS software. 

• Don’t include data or information in the header or footer of your resume. An ATS can’t read these sections. 

• Use plenty of keywords throughout your resume to boost its relevance. Use the job description as a baseline for which keywords to include. 

• Use a standard format, like the reverse chronological format, that’s easily recognizable and readable by ATS software. Avoid using a creative template that will likely confuse most applicant tracking systems and cause you to get rejected. 

• If using acronyms, only use standard ones for your industry. Use both the acronym and the spelled out version in your resume. 

Include the correct contact information

Your contact information goes at the top of your resume. The only contact information you should include on your resume is your name, email address, phone number, and city. You can also include a URL to your LinkedIn profile or professional portfolio. 

Craft a stellar resume summary

If you want the hiring team to really pay attention to your resume, begin with a resume summary that stands out. Your resume summary, which goes below your contact information, includes short and focused sentences about your top accomplishments and skills. Create your summary to align with the requirements listed in the job description and entice the reader to keep reading.  

Incorporate a competencies list

In the same section as your resume summary, and right below it, list 10 to 30 of your core competencies. A core competencies list helps you get noticed by hiring managers, and will also boost your resume’s relevance to help you bypass an employer’s ATS. 

Include the right sections

At a minimum, include a work experience and education section after your resume summary and core competencies list. You could also include additional sections based on your unique circumstances. For example, include an awards section if you have awards relevant to or mentioned in the job description. Other sections you might include are speaking engagements, technical skills, volunteer experience, publications, and certifications. 

Use lots of numbers

Instead of just listing your duties and responsibilities, include your accomplishments for each position listed in your work experience section. Including your achievements is a way to show the hiring team how your past successes can lead to future success if you were to get the job. To really boost your accomplishments, use as many numbers or quantifiable data as possible to highlight the level of your achievements. The more relevant data you provide, the better.  

Controller resume example 

You now have the knowledge to design a resume you feel good about. And, to help you out even further, here’s a Controller resume example you can use as a template to create your own. 

Key hard & soft skills for a Controller

Incorporating a good blend of hard and soft skills on your resume is a great way to show an ATS that your resume is relevant. Additionally, of course, they catch the eye of recruiters and hiring managers. Relevant skills should be included in your summary, core competencies, and work experience sections. 

Controller resume soft skills

Soft skills are personal attributes that allow someone to do their job effectively and work well with others. They aren't easily quantifiable, yet they're vital for success in most positions, including the role of Controller. 

Here are some top soft skills  commonly found on a Controller resume:

• Interpersonal

• Assertiveness

• Efficiency

• Communication

• Analytical

• Detail-oriented

• Problem Solving

• Collaboration

• Teamwork

• Conflict Resolution

• Leadership

Controller resume hard skills

Hard skills show you have the technical know-how to do the job. They're acquired skills through education, training, and experience. Where soft skills aren't easily quantifiable, hard skills are measurable. 

Here are some critical hard skills you’ll likely find on a Controller resume: 

• Account Management

• CPA (Certified Public Accountant)

• Risk Management

• Training

• Accounts Receivables

• Accounts Payables

• Auditing

• Accounting

• Research

• Data Entry

• Internal Controls

• Financial Processes

• Tax Accounting

• Regulations

Summary & last words

Now you have some tips and tricks to write a Controller resume that stands out to hiring teams. Incorporate the correct contact information, a strong summary, the right sections, and plenty of core competencies and skills throughout. Also, use plenty of quantifiable data to highlight your accomplishments, and write your Controller resume with applicant tracking systems in mind to ensure you get past those pesky gatekeepers. 

If you have more questions or want additional support in writing your Controller resume, consider hiring a resume writing service. 

Introduction to ZipJob: Professional Resume Writers

Do you want a Controller resume you're firmly proud of and comfortable submitting to prospective employers, but you're not quite there yet? Are you concerned that your resume might not pass applicant tracking systems? Do you want to ensure your resume is properly formatted and edited, and you're wondering if yours is?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, consider hiring a team of professional resume writers. The team of ZipJob writers will work with you to ensure you have a Controller resume you're proud of and comfortable submitting. You'll also have a properly formatted, edited, and ATS-friendly resume.  

Why You Should Make Use of Our Resume Writing Services to Land Your Next Job as a Controller

You're excellent when it comes to understanding all things financial about an organization. You also have solid communication, leadership, and collaboration skills to succeed. Your Controller resume should highlight all of this and then some. 

Fortunately, the ZipJob team of resume writers will collaborate with you to ensure you have a resume that captures your skills, education, and experience in a way that turns heads and lands you your next Controller position. You can also rest easily knowing your resume will get past an employer's ATS. 

Resume Writing Service for Controller: Let us write your resume

Knowing you have a Controller resume in hand that showcases your ability to succeed and why you’re uniquely qualified for the position brings peace of mind. It also helps to reduce stress knowing you have a resume that can easily pass applicant tracking systems and be tailored for each job application you submit. Yes, taking the stress off of your shoulders and peace of mind is what you get when you work with our team of ZipJob expert resume writers through our resume writing service.  

Having written over 3000 resumes for candidates across more than 65 industries, you can trust that you’re in good hands with the ZipJob team. Are you ready to get started on crafting a head-turning Controller resume? We’re here to support you when you are!