Finance Director: beyond the numbers
Finance Director roles at the €140k-280k level are strategic positions, not accounting roles. The biggest mistake in Finance Director CVs is leading with technical accounting expertise (IFRS, HGB, consolidation) rather than strategic business partnership. CFO-track candidates must demonstrate that they use financial data to drive business decisions, not just report them.
Key insight: The three signals executive search firms look for in Finance Director CVs: revenue/P&L scale under management, evidence of strategic initiatives (M&A, restructuring, IPO preparation, funding), and board or PE reporting experience. Technical accounting is assumed at this level.
Finance Director resume example
Career summary
Finance Director with 20+ years in strategic finance leadership across industrial manufacturing and technology sectors. Currently directing finance function for €280M revenue business unit with 35-person finance team across 6 countries. Track record of leading 3 M&A integrations (combined value €120M), implementing SAP S/4HANA, and improving EBITDA margin from 8.2% to 14.6% through commercial finance partnership and cost restructuring. Board and PE reporting experience.
Career history
Finance Director
Freudenberg Group — Germany | 2019 – 2025
Directed finance function for €280M industrial technology business unit: 35 FTEs, 6 countries, full P&L and balance sheet responsibility
Led financial integration of 3 acquisitions (combined €120M revenue), delivering €8.5M in synergies within 18 months of each close
Improved EBITDA margin from 8.2% to 14.6% through commercial pricing initiative, SG&A restructuring, and working capital optimisation
Implemented SAP S/4HANA Finance across business unit, reducing month-end close from 12 to 5 working days
Managed annual planning process and quarterly business reviews with PE parent, providing scenario analysis and strategic recommendations
CV mistakes Finance Directors make
1. Accounting language at a strategic level
“Managed month-end close and statutory reporting” is Financial Controller language. “Improved EBITDA margin from 8.2% to 14.6% through pricing and cost initiatives” is Finance Director language.
2. No revenue scale
Finance Directors must show the scale of business they manage financially. “€280M revenue, 6 countries, 35-person team” in the first line sets your level.
3. Missing M&A or transformation
At director level, you are expected to have led or supported strategic transactions. Include M&A, restructuring, refinancing, or IPO preparation experience.
4. No business partnership evidence
Modern finance directors are business partners. Show how you used financial analysis to drive commercial decisions, not just reported results.
5. ERP as a skill, not a transformation
“Experienced in SAP” is table stakes. “Led SAP S/4HANA implementation reducing month-end close from 12 to 5 days” shows transformation leadership.
Keywords for Finance Director roles
- Strategic: business partnering, M&A, due diligence, post-merger integration, IPO preparation, restructuring, refinancing
- Operational: budgeting, forecasting, management reporting, cash flow management, working capital, treasury
- Technical: IFRS, HGB, US GAAP, consolidation, transfer pricing, tax planning, audit management
- Systems: SAP S/4HANA, Oracle, HFM, Anaplan, Power BI, Tableau
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