BeforeResponsible for the monthly management accounts pack.
We’d askWho used it, and what did it cover?
AfterPrepared the monthly management pack for the leadership team across 4 business units, with variance commentary on revenue and gross margin
CV example
FP&A analyst CV example (UK and Ireland)
FP&A hiring managers want to see that you explain the numbers to people outside finance and that your work fed real decisions. Lists of tasks (“prepared the monthly pack”) don't show that. Here's an example built from specific, defensible lines.
From vague to specific
Each stronger line comes from answering one question. The facts are the candidate’s, not invented.
BeforeHelped with the annual budget.
We’d askWhich part was yours, and how big was it?
AfterBuilt the headcount and payroll budget (c. €14m, 310 roles) for the 2026 plan, working with 6 department heads
BeforeAd hoc analysis for the business.
We’d askWhat questions did you answer, and what was decided?
AfterModelled the payback on a second distribution site for the operations director; the business case was approved in Q3
What recruiters look for
- Business partnering: explaining financial figures to non-finance colleagues, not just producing them.
- Forward-looking work such as plans, KPIs and business cases, and value added over and above the role's duties.
- Achievements in process improvement, cost savings or profit growth, and business partnering.
- Plain English, because FP&A works with operational teams.
Common mistakes
- Listing every report you produce instead of who used it and what it changed.
- Writing “ACCA” after your name while you're still studying. Say how many exams you've passed instead.
- Keyword lists of planning tools you haven't used. Name only the systems you could talk about in an interview.
Aoife Brennan
FP&A Analyst
Dublin, Ireland · name@example.com · 07700 900000
Profile
FP&A analyst with three years in a mid-sized distribution business, partnering operations and sales on budgets, forecasts and business cases. ACCA, 9 exams passed.
Experience
FP&A Analyst, Harbourline Distribution2023 – Present
Irish wholesale distributor, €210m turnover, 650 employees
- Prepared the monthly management pack for the leadership team across 4 business units, with variance commentary on revenue and gross margin
- Built the headcount and payroll budget (c. €14m, 310 roles) for the 2026 plan, working with 6 department heads
- Modelled the payback on a second distribution site for the operations director; the business case was approved in Q3
- Rebuilt the rolling forecast in Excel with driver inputs from sales, cutting the monthly update from 3 days to 1
Assistant Accountant, Corrib Foods2021 – 2023
Food manufacturer, €60m turnover
- Posted month-end accruals and prepayments and reconciled 12 balance sheet accounts each month
- Prepared cost-centre reports for 8 budget holders and answered their queries
Qualifications
- ACCA student, 9 exams passed, all first time
Education
- BComm, University College Cork, 2021, 2.1
Skills
Excel (driver-based models, Power Query) · SAP · Budgeting and forecasting · Variance analysis · Business partnering