Not another bland "best CV layout" or "CV writing Tips" article, Paul Buchan, Principal Consultant for Accountancy & Finance, shares his advice on how to ensure recruiters take notice of your application. Click here to read our expert advice on how to write a great cover letter.
 

CV Writing Tips
 

An Overview

There are many different ways to construct a CV. Thus, it is difficult to establish the 'best cv layout'. I have seen just about every scenario imaginable; biography based, bullet-pointed, functional, avant-garde and back again. On one occasion, I received an application with five different CV formats, ranging from a one-page summary to a 28-page autobiography with the caveat that I should "pick whichever one is in vogue".
 

Here's the secret – there isn't a standard "one size fits all" for creating the elusive perfect CV.
 

To be blunt, there is no such thing as a perfect CV or the best CV layout. CVs need to be tailored to different audiences and updated for each role you apply for. As irritating and time consuming as this may be, there's no way to take shortcuts. If you do not tailor your CV, you're at risk of your application being rejected – is it worth it just to cut a few corners? 
 

Don't panic, though. The following advice will provide you with an easy to follow guide to help you get started. Whilst you will need to add the content for your CV, this provides you with a structure that will get the attention of the best recruiters.
 

The examples I use stem from my experience as a commercial industry accountancy and finance recruiter; however, the same principles can be used in any market. So, here are my CV writing tips supported by examples of CV templates wherever necessary.
 

The Basics: Contact Details and Geography

With the myriad of CV advice and CV template examples online, this may seem basic, but you would be surprised how many candidates fall at the first hurdle.
 

Here are a few musts:

• Include any post-nominal letters after your name
• The recruiter will look at where you're based, ensuring that you are within easy commuting distance for the role you have applied for.
• If you're looking to relocate, make sure that this is stated and clear near your current address.
• List all contact telephone numbers that you can be reached on. Recruiters will typically start with your mobile and then attempt the other listed numbers.
• Got a presence online? Then link to it; however, check that the content you've got on there will be well received by a recruiter.
   

It's essential to include the basics, as you inform the recruiter of your contact details, where you are located and whether you are looking to relocate.
 

For example:
 

Mr John Example, CPA

26 St. Andrew Square

Edinburgh

Scotland

EH2 1AF

Looking to relocate to the North East (Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Moray)

Telephone: 0131 550 1100

Work: 0131 550 1100

Mobile: 0777 777 7777

Web: www.linkedin.com/profile

Email: j.example@email.com
 

Cv Personal Statement 

No one likes writing about themselves. Writing a CV personal statement is difficult and awkward, and if done poorly, it can ruin your CV before it has even cooled down from the printer. However, if you do it correctly, it can make a great first impression with a recruiter and keep them reading.
 

For example, the following example of a CV personal statement gives a good professional overview of a candidate:
 

A Chartered Accountant trained in a Big 4 Accountancy firm, holding a University Degree and over five years of experience in accountancy posts within the commercial industry. A very high level of IT literacy, including Advanced Excel skills and adapting to many different environments.
 

This example is simple, provides essential facts about your career, and keeps things broad-based and open. 
 

Education

Keep your education to the facts, including information pertinent to the role you are applying for.
 

I would recommend that you only include certifications of real value that are recognised across your industry.
 

For example, if you have completed many internal courses and regularly attend CIPD events, you may wish to include these under another heading entitled "Other Training". The education section is primarily focused on industry certifications you hold and that are recognised in the industry.
 

Education & Professional Memberships

2012 PRINCE II Practitioner

2010 MBA, University of Accountancy

2009 Chartered Institute of Accountancy (CIA)

2006 the University of Accountancy, 2:1 in Accounting & Finance

2004 High School, 2 CSYS (Maths A, Chemistry A), 7 Highers (Maths A, etc.)

2002 High School, 8 Standard Grades, all with Grade 1
 

Don't overload this section - make it easy to glance over. Ensure that your most recent qualification is listed first and work backwards chronologically from there.
 

Other Training and Additional Information

Regularly attend CIPD events to keep updated with current trends, legislation & changes to industry standards.
 

You have completed various internal leadership courses and numerous in-house programmes, including things relevant to your target audience.
 

This information shows that you are an active person within your industry and complements your academic accomplishments. Showcase your commitment to continuous improvement, but do not overwhelm the reader with too detailed information.
 

Work/Career History

Your qualifications and professional memberships are crucial to selling your CV, but I would argue that the work and career history section is the essential element of your CV. 
 

Be wary of overloading this section and underselling your experience. Ensure you include as much factual information as possible to help this stand out. Use statistics and figures to back up your achievements, and don't dwell too long on responsibilities that a potential employer would assume you undertook anyway. To illustrate the point, I have given a few examples of do's and don'ts to be followed while writing a Finance Director CV. A similar approach can be taken for writing a management accountant CV or a CV for any other post.
 

Do Not
 

2007 – Present

Finance Director

Manufacturing Company

• Responsible for the management of company finances in a manufacturing company
• Managing and developing a finance team and other team members
• Producing management accounts
• Responsibility for all statutory accounts production
• Managing audit function
• Part of Senior Leadership team
   

In this type of CV template, an employer has no idea what the size of the business is - it could be £200M, or it could be £200K. There is no information about management experience. Producing management accounts does not entirely reflect an FD level candidate. Responsibility for statutory accounts and managing the audit function and senior leadership team are all statements that don't lend much in the way of gravitas to your CV. Basically, there is no reason to call you back, and you are making it difficult for the reader to find out what is important. Also, when in 2007 did you start? Was it January, October or December? 
 

Do Not

January 2007 – Present

Finance Director

Manufacturing Company

Reporting into the managing director of a £20M Manufacturing business unit operating within a £2bn turnover global business listed on the Japanese Stock Exchange. Brands include Tomahawk, Toshiba, Micro-lever and Gorgozza. All business activities are in the space of pharmaceuticals and life sciences. I am responsible for all aspects of UK Accounting requirements reporting to the local Managing Director and a dotted line to the CFO in Tokyo, Japan. The role is mainly autonomous with complete control over local activities, and all reporting is in line with JSOX controls, IFRS and UK GAAP reporting for various UK entities. Responsible for; month-end reviews and reporting, cost and overhead analysis, Project/CAPEX accounting, budget preparation and monitoring, reporting.
 

This CV template is excellent in terms of the information. There is information about the company activities, size and scope and some headline-grabbing information relating to responsibility. However, the presentation makes it difficult to read quickly (most hiring managers spend 30 seconds reading a CV; they want to get to the information quickly and cleanly) and limits your opportunity to get the correct information across. I would suggest one or two (no more than three) sentences that summarise the company, size, scope and facts surrounding your role. You can then include bullet points to get your information across regarding your responsibilities and achievements, backed up with facts and figures.
 

Do

January 2007 – Present

Finance Director

Manufacturing Company

Reporting to the Managing Director of a £20M Manufacturing business unit operating within a £2bn turnover global business listed on the Japanese Stock Exchange. Brands include Tomahawk, Toshiba, Micro-lever and Gorgozza. All business activities are in the space of pharmaceuticals and life sciences. 
 

• Responsibility for all aspects of UK Accounting requirements reporting into the local Managing Director and a dotted line to the CFO in Tokyo, Japan
• The role is largely autonomous with complete control over local activities, and all reporting is in line with JSOX controls, IFRS and UK GAAP reporting for various UK entities.
• Responsible for; month-end reviews and reporting, cost and overhead analysis, Project/CAPEX accounting, budget preparation and monitoring
• Responsibility for managing a team of 4, including three transactional/processing staff and 1 CIMA qualified accountant
• Responsibility for Management Accounts, Financial Statements, Compliance, Risk, Controls and supporting Commercial decisions
• Review analysis and reporting on manufacturing, service and aftermarket and equipment performance, as well as overhead analysis

Achievements

• Implemented Budget Process from scratch; new capability to produce budgets within three working days
• Improved Internal Audit score from 3 significant issues to 0 in the first year
• Implemented accounting package from Tuba to SAP
• Recruited and trained three team members to improve timescales for closing monthly accounts

Ensured monthly reporting on time to CFO and Group level; improved from 1 week to 3 days close on ledgers.
 

While this may seem lengthy and in-depth, it informs a recruiter of precisely what you do in that role and aligns you with the position you have applied for.
 

Use the same format for all of the other relevant roles you have worked in.
 

Temp/Contractors

Following the above model, if you held multiple posts over a short time frame is quite tricky without spiralling to dozens of pages; therefore, a slightly different approach is more appropriate.
 

Consider using the following cv template for your career history:
 

Key Skills

• Producing monthly management accounting information for companies ranging from £2M t/o to £200M in sales
• Finalising yearly financial statements from £2M - £200M t/o organisations

Sector exposure includes; manufacturing, FMCG, Oil & Gas, Further Education, Financial Services.

This provides the recruiter with a snapshot of your accomplishments and skills.
 

Career History 

January 2007 – Present

Interim Management Services (via Umbrella Company – John Example Holdings Ltd)

• January 2013 – Present, Interim Financial Controller, Financial Services, A Massive Bank Ltd; maternity cover contract covering BAU activities of a large scale FS division, t/o £150M
• January 2012 – December 2012, Interim Finance Project Manager, Construction, Making Homes Ltd; contract aimed at the closing of a large scale construction project value c. £45M
• March 2011 – December 2011, Interim Finance Director, SME Technology, Needs Cash For Development Ltd; short-term assignment to help a business entrepreneur to secure financing to take R&D function to commercial exploitation
   

This type of approach will help you demonstrate the contract's length and purpose of the engagement whilst demonstrating your range of capabilities/exposure.
 

Other Information

Languages

Fluent spoken French, Spanish & German

Basic Gaelic
 

Are you hoping to join an international business? Include the languages you can speak to set you apart from other candidates.
 

Interests

Keep fit (try to), reading (football biographies mostly), football (for my sins I am a Scotland fan and I try to travel with the Tartan Army as much as possible), running (to work and back!), I also play the bagpipes!
 

Let's face it; this is never going to be the deal-breaker – however, it can help to build a rapport with the reader and capture their interest.
 

Conclusions

All the cv writing tips can be summarised by saying that it is crucial to keep it brief but concise, with reliable information in the form of facts and figures that make the reader want to find out more. 
 

The typical outcome of reading a CV is rejecting it, archiving it, or contacting the candidate for an introductory discussion. Using the advice outlined in this article, your new CV will:
 

• Offer information that gives an impression of the size and scope of the projects you have been involved with;
• Offer facts and figures about what you deliver; and
• Give information about your value-add proposition.

However, there is a caveat. Remember that the best CV layout doesn't exist. All audiences have their agenda and idea of what a good CV looks like. As an experienced recruiter, the approach outlined in the article above would catch my eye because I would want to know how you achieved the things you have put in your CV. Typically this feeling leads to an introductory meeting to find out more information – which can sometimes be the biggest hurdle!
 

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