Your CV is more than just a summary of your experience—it’s a chance to showcase your accomplishments and demonstrate the value you bring to an organisation. But if you’re using dull phrases like “managed accounts” or “responsible for reports,” you’re missing an opportunity to make your CV shine.
In today’s competitive finance and accountancy job market, you need power phrases that highlight your leadership, accuracy, and problem-solving abilities—especially as workplaces increasingly rely on software like Sage, Xero, Power BI, and automation tools.
Here’s your go-to list of powerful action verbs and phrases to replace weak language and impress recruiters.
Why CV Language Matters: Stop Listing Duties, Start Showcasing Results
Recruiters and hiring managers often spend less than 10 seconds scanning your CV. If you’re using phrases like “prepared reports” without showing the impact of your work, your application could be overlooked.
Strong action verbs, quantifiable achievements, and tech-specific examples can make all the difference. Instead of “assisted,” show that you improved processes, streamlined workflows, or identified financial opportunities.
Power Verbs to Replace “Managed” (for Finance and Accountancy Roles)
The word “managed” is overused on CVs—especially in roles that involve budgets, teams, and reporting. Here are better alternatives based on specific responsibilities:
| Instead of “Managed…” | Use: |
|---|---|
| A team or department | Supervised, directed, led, coached, motivated, oversaw |
| Budgets or accounts | Allocated, optimised, reconciled, administered, negotiated |
| Processes or workflows | Streamlined, implemented, orchestrated, automated, monitored |
Example:
Before: “Managed month-end reporting for a portfolio of clients.”
After: “Orchestrated month-end financial reporting for a £5M client portfolio, reducing reconciliation time by 25% through process improvements.”
Modern Power Phrases for Tech-Savvy Finance Professionals
Technology has transformed the finance and accountancy industries, with tools like Excel macros, Sage, SAP, and automation software playing a huge role. Instead of simply listing the tools you’ve used, show how you’ve used them to achieve results.
Examples of Power Phrases for Tech Tools:
- Accounting Software (e.g., Xero, Sage, QuickBooks):
“Implemented a Xero integration that reduced manual entry errors by 40% and improved month-end accuracy.” - Excel and Power BI:
“Developed dynamic financial models in Excel and Power BI, identifying trends that improved cash flow forecasting by 20%.” - Automation Tools (e.g., Alteryx, macros):
“Automated financial reporting using Excel macros, saving 10 hours of manual work per month.”
Power Verbs to Showcase Analytical and Problem-Solving Skills
Finance professionals need to show that they can spot inefficiencies, solve problems, and recommend improvements. Here are action verbs to demonstrate your analytical expertise:
| Instead of: “Analysed” | Use: Evaluated, identified, assessed, forecasted, investigated, interpreted |
Example:
Before: “Analysed financial data to identify trends.”
After: “Evaluated financial performance data and identified a 10% overspend, leading to a cost-saving proposal that saved £100k annually.”
Phrases to Demonstrate Leadership and Initiative
Leadership in finance isn’t just about managing a team—it’s about taking ownership of projects, improving processes, and delivering key insights. Use phrases that show you’ve made an impact beyond your day-to-day tasks.
Examples:
- Budget Oversight:
“Led the development of the annual budget, reallocating funds to strategic growth areas and saving £250k in operational expenses.” - Cross-Team Collaboration:
“Facilitated collaboration between finance, procurement, and operations teams, reducing purchasing delays by 15%.” - Process Improvement:
“Spearheaded a financial reporting system upgrade, cutting monthly close time from 12 days to 7.”
Stop Saying “Worked With” and Show How You Collaborated
Collaboration is essential in finance and accountancy, whether you’re liaising with auditors, working with procurement, or presenting to senior stakeholders. Instead of saying you “worked with” others, use verbs that describe your contribution.
| Instead of: “Worked with” | Use: Collaborated with, partnered with, liaised with, advised, coordinated with |
Example:
Before: “Worked with external auditors during the annual review.”
After: “Liaised with external auditors during the annual financial review, ensuring full compliance and reducing audit findings by 30%.”
Replace “Responsible For” With Results-Focused Language
One of the most common (and boring) phrases in CVs is “responsible for.” Instead of listing responsibilities, show how you delivered results and added value.
| Instead of: “Responsible for” | Use: Delivered, achieved, exceeded, executed, enhanced, secured, attained |
Example:
Before: “Responsible for preparing quarterly budgets.”
After: “Delivered quarterly budgets for a £10M business unit, maintaining variance within 2% of forecasted costs.”
Examples of Strong CV Bullet Points for Finance Roles
Let’s compare some dull CV entries with stronger, results-oriented ones:
1. Financial Analyst Role:
Before:
“Prepared monthly reports for senior management.”
After:
“Prepared and presented monthly financial reports, identifying a £500k variance and implementing controls that improved forecast accuracy by 15%.”
2. Management Accountant Role:
Before:
“Responsible for cash flow forecasting.”
After:
“Developed a cash flow forecasting model that improved liquidity management, enabling the business to secure a £1M expansion loan.”
3. Accounts Payable Role:
Before:
“Processed vendor invoices.”
After:
“Processed and reconciled 300+ vendor invoices monthly, reducing payment errors by 20% through implementation of an automated invoice tracking system.”
Final Tips to Strengthen Your Finance CV with Power Phrases:
- Add Metrics: Use numbers to highlight the scale of your work (e.g., size of budgets, savings achieved, or percentage improvements).
- Use Industry-Specific Keywords: Tailor your language to include relevant terms from the job description, such as “compliance,” “forecasting,” or “audit preparation.”
- Highlight Tech Proficiency: Show how you’ve used modern tools (e.g., Power BI, Sage, Excel macros) to streamline processes and produce insights.
- Keep It Concise: Aim for 4-6 impactful bullet points per role, using action verbs and short sentences.
Ready to Build a CV That Gets You Noticed?
By swapping out weak language for powerful action verbs and results-focused phrases, you’ll create a CV that gets you hired. Whether you’re leading financial strategy, improving reporting accuracy, or streamlining processes, let your achievements take centre stage.
Need more help fine-tuning your CV? Contact Recruitment Solutions for expert advice and access to exclusive finance and accountancy job opportunities!
