What to include on your CV throughout your senior finance career

There are many paths to securing a new role whether through networking, being headhunted, working with a recruiter or applying directly. But in every case, your CV will be required. This should never be the reason you fall out of contention.

Your CV is your most powerful tool in the Dutch job market. For finance professionals in the Netherlands, competition for senior positions is fierce and Dutch employers expect strategic leadership. This means your CV must do more than list work experience; it should showcase achievements, leadership impact and adaptability.

This guide covers what to include in any Dutch CV, what to include as you progress through your finance career, and how to make a strong first impression during your job search.

What to include in your CV

Regardless of level, these elements matter:

• Header and personal details: Include full name, phone number, email and LinkedIn profile
• Date of birth: Optional in the Netherlands, but some employers still expect it
• Headshot: If you add a photo, make sure it’s professional, authentic and recent. Avoid filters as Dutch employers value clarity
• Personal profile: A short summary highlighting your career goals, soft skills and technical expertise. Keep it focused and avoid vague buzzwords
• Professional experience: Start with your most recent role and include company name, job title and dates. You don’t need to describe globally recognised brands, but if the company isn’t well-known mention the sector
• Core responsibilities: For example, financial reporting, compliance and internal controls
• Scope: Who did you report to and who reported to you? Example: “P&L of division X was €200m. Finance team of 5 FTE reporting into Senior Finance Manager…”
• Achievements: Quantify improvements. Example: “Reduced month-end close by 30% through automation of reconciliation processes.”
• Language skills: Dutch fluency is often preferred. List systems experience like SAP/Oracle/Power BI etc.
• Certifications: ACCA, RA or CMA should be prominent
• Extracurricular and volunteer work: Shows cultural fit and leadership potential
• Formatting: Use bullet points for clarity and measurable outcomes. AI tools can help keep your CV succinct, but always review for accuracy and tailor to the job description

Tip: You can engage your network to inspire your personal profile. Ask them to write down what they think you excel at and where you need to develop learn. This also lets them know you’re looking for a new opportunity.

Check your job titles

Recruiters scan CVs quickly for fit. If your job title doesn’t reflect your responsibilities, you may be overlooked. Align titles with market norms or explain your scope clearly.

For example, if your title is Controller but you act as a sparring partner to the Project Director and manage month-end close, make that clear.

Stage 1: Early senior roles (Finance Manager, Controller)

At this stage you’re moving beyond operational finance into leadership. Employers want evidence of technical mastery and adaptability.

What to include:

• Personal profile: Show ambition for long-term growth and highlight soft skills alongside technical expertise
• Professional experience
• Scope and achievements: Quantify impact and leadership responsibilities
• Special projects: Highlight transformation or automation initiatives
• Avoid fluff: Keep wording clear and meaningful

Stage 2: Mid-management (100,000+ EUR roles)

As you progress to Finance Director or Head of Finance, your CV should demonstrate strategic influence and leadership.

What to include:

• Leadership impact: Detail team size, mentoring responsibilities and cross-functional collaboration
• Commercial insight: Show influence on decision-making. Example: “Partnered with CEO to deliver €10m cost savings through restructuring by analysing cost drivers, modelling scenarios and leading cross-functional workshops to identify efficiency opportunities.”
• Transformation leadership: Outsourcing, offshoring or finance transformation projects
• Private equity exposure: Emphasise agility and growth focus
• KPIs and metrics: EBITDA improvements, working capital optimisation, financing rounds

Tip: Adaptability and speed are valued in PE and VC environments.

Stage 3: Executive level (CFO and beyond)

For CFO roles, your CV becomes a narrative of leadership and vision.

What to include:

• Strategic achievements: Driving organisational growth, managing risk and shaping financial strategy
• Board engagement: Presenting to boards and investors
• Transformation success: Digital finance, AI adoption and global compliance
• Investor relations and fundraising: Capital raising, M&A and integration experience
• Thought leadership: Speaking engagements, published insights or industry contributions

Tip: Start with a strong executive summary to position yourself as a strategic leader.

Tailoring for different roles

If you’re interested in different types of roles (e.g., PE/VC portfolio companies, tech conglomerates, transformation projects) create a base CV highlighting core skills, then tweak for each job application. Substance matters more than length, but clarity and relevance are key. Think like you do when creating board slide decks: highlight what adds value and remove what doesn’t.

Key trends to reflect

• AI and automation: Show familiarity with tech-driven efficiencies
• Globalisation: Experience managing multi-country finance functions
• Dutch work culture: Demonstrate adaptability, especially for expats
• Diversity and inclusion: Leadership in building inclusive teams

Formatting best practices

• Length: Aim for two pages for senior roles and three for CFO level but focus on clarity and impact over page count. If you regularly report to your board, you’re likely to know what is and isn’t important to highlight. If your CV is longer than three pages, the content should all be relevant and add value
• Structure: Use clear headings like “Professional experience”, “Leadership impact” and “Relevant experience”
• Font: Choose a professional font such as Arial or Calibri
• CV template: Use a clean, modern template with space for personal details, language skills and certifications
• Quantify results: Numbers speak louder than adjectives
• Tailor for the role: PE-backed firms value agility, corporates value governance

Cover letter and LinkedIn

Your CV should be complemented by a strong cover letter and an optimised LinkedIn profile. Both should reinforce your leadership impact and strategic achievements. A cover letter allows you to explain why you’re the right fit and demonstrate knowledge of the company and its challenges.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Generic responsibilities: Replace “Responsible for financial reporting” with measurable outcomes
• Overloading technical detail: Senior roles require strategic focus
• Ignoring interim or part-time roles: These show adaptability and crisis management skills
• Show promotions: If you were able to grow quickly it is better to show that development then act that you have been the Finance Director for the entire time.

How we can help

As a specialist recruitment agency, we connect senior finance professionals with transformative opportunities in the Netherlands. We provide:

• Market insights and salary benchmarking for senior positions
• Guidance on CV structure and job application strategy
• Access to exclusive roles in private equity portfolio companies and large corporates
• Support with LinkedIn optimisation and cover letter templates
• Networking opportunities with potential employers and industry leaders

Your CV should evolve as your career does. It should demonstrate impact, adaptability and vision. In a market where employers seek strategic partners, positioning yourself as a leader who drives transformation and growth will set you apart.

Whether you’re an experienced CFO or an ambitious young professional ready for your first leadership role, we can help you find roles that align with your career goals.

Get in touch today.