Controller resumes emphasize technical accounting expertise, internal controls ownership, and the ability to lead a finance team through complex reporting cycles.
AI writes the bullet points. You just review.
ATS systems scan for specific keyword matches. Include as many of these skills as you genuinely have — the closer you match the job description, the higher your ATS score.
Start every bullet point with a strong action verb. These are the highest-impact verbs for Controller resumes — specific, measurable, and ATS-approved.
Follow this structure to ensure recruiters find what they need — and ATS systems score your resume correctly.
Name, phone, professional email, LinkedIn URL, and city/state. In Finance, include any professional profile URLs relevant to your specialization.
2-3 sentences: your years of experience as a Controller, your 2-3 signature strengths (e.g. GAAP, Financial Reporting), and your career goal. Rewrite this for every application — it's the first thing an ATS and recruiter both read.
Company, title, dates, location — then 3-5 bullet points per role. Start every bullet with a strong verb like "Managed" or "Reduced" and quantify every outcome. Don't just describe tasks — prove impact with numbers, percentages, or dollar amounts tied to skills like GAAP, Financial Reporting, Month-End Close.
A dedicated skills block is the primary ATS filter for Controller roles. Include: GAAP, Financial Reporting, Month-End Close, NetSuite/SAP, Budgeting, Audit Management, Tax Compliance, Internal Controls. Mirror the exact keyword phrasing from each job description — "React.js" and "ReactJS" can be scored differently.
Degree, institution, graduation year. In Finance, education and credentials are often screened before work experience — list them early and include GPA if 3.5+.
Certifications are a meaningful differentiator for Controller positions in Finance. List the full certification name, the issuing body, and the year obtained. Active credentials with expiration dates should include the renewal date — employers in Finance actively verify these.
CPA license is a primary ATS filter. Quantify team size, revenue under management, and close cycle time improvements.
IntelligentCV writes your bullet points, optimizes for ATS, and exports a professional PDF — all from your phone.