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7 Senior Finance Assistant - Research Finance CV Templates with Example

By Ria · Last Updated On 16 October 2026
CV example — page 1

This guide shows you how to create a Senior Finance Assistant - Research Finance CV that is clear, focused and easy to review. You will learn how to organise relevant evidence and choose a professional layout for this role.

A strong CV for research finance links careful financial administration with clear support for project teams. It can show how you monitor expenditure, update forecasts, review project accounts, prepare audit evidence and resolve finance queries.

Compare the example presented in 7 layouts using the PNG image previews, then open a preferred example in the editor to customise it. The guide also covers ATS readability and terms such as research grant finance, commercial project accounting, SAP and Microsoft Excel.

What Makes a Great Senior Finance Assistant - Research Finance CV in 2026

A strong CV makes grant monitoring, project accounting and finance support easy to scan. Clear bullet points show how you handle budgets, invoices and financial records.

Use relevant terms such as expenditure monitoring, forecasting, audit evidence, project invoicing, SAP and Microsoft Excel. Add figures only when you can support them.

Note: CV examples are for educational purposes only. Use only information that accurately reflects your experience and qualifications. References to real organisations do not imply affiliation or endorsement.

#1 Plain Two Column Format CV Example

The Plain Two Column Format uses two columns to keep career history and supporting CV details distinct for quick reference.

 
CV example — page 1   CV example — page 2

CV Snapshot

  • Target role: Senior Finance Assistant
  • 11 years supporting research, education and commercial finance portfolios
  • BSc Accounting and Finance, Sheffield Hallam University, 2015
  • AAT Level 3 Diploma in Accounting, 2016

Why This Format Works

  • Two-column reading keeps career history and supporting CV details in separate areas.
  • Education and credentials remain distinct from experience for quick reference.
  • Skills can be reviewed separately without breaking the experience section's reading order.

Best For

  • Side-by-side CV section review
  • Career history with supporting details
  • Quick access to education and credentials
  • Skills kept distinct from experience
  • Compact organisation of varied sections

CV Keywords

  • Research grant finance
  • Commercial project accounting
  • Financial administration
  • Expenditure monitoring
  • Financial forecasting
  • Financial performance analysis
  • Audit evidence preparation
  • Project invoicing
  • Project account review
  • Financial close out
  • Finance query resolution
  • Shared mailbox management
  • Customer service
  • Stakeholder communication
  • SAP
See all keywords
 

#2 Simple One Column Format CV Example

The Simple One Column Format keeps CV sections in one vertical reading path, making the order of career details easy to follow.

 
CV example — page 1   CV example — page 2

Why This Format Works

  • One vertical reading path keeps career progression in a familiar order for reviewers.
  • Clear section divisions help locate education, credentials and skills in sequence.
  • Experience bullets follow one continuous path, supporting steady review of achievements.

Best For

  • Single-path document reading
  • Chronological work-history review
  • Minimal layout preferences
  • Section-by-section CV review
  • Education and skills in one sequence
 

#3 Clean Two Column Sidebar Format CV Example

The Clean Two Column Sidebar Format separates CV information across two columns, helping reviewers move between experience and supporting details.

 
CV example — page 1   CV example — page 2

Why This Format Works

  • Separate column areas let reviewers move between career history and supporting details.
  • Work experience remains distinct from education and credentials during a quick scan.
  • Skills have a clear place without interrupting the reading of experience entries.

Best For

  • Separate access to experience and supporting details
  • Quick comparison of work history and qualifications
  • CVs with several supporting sections
  • Readers who prefer clear section separation
  • Skills alongside a distinct experience record
 

#4 Two Column Format CV Example

The Two Column Format places CV sections in two columns, offering a clear way to scan career history alongside other information.

 
CV example — page 1   CV example — page 2

Why This Format Works

  • Two columns give career history and related CV details separate reading areas.
  • Reviewers can locate education and qualifications without searching through experience entries.
  • Skills stay accessible alongside a clearly grouped account of work history.

Best For

  • Career history beside supporting information
  • Easy access to education and qualifications
  • Readers scanning several CV sections
  • Separate areas for skills and experience
  • Balanced use of two-column space
 
 

#5 Photo Header Two Column Format CV Example

The Photo Header Two Column Format pairs a header photo with two columns, combining a personal visual element with organised CV sections.

 
CV example — page 1   CV example — page 2

Why This Format Works

  • Two-column body areas separate experience from supporting CV sections.
  • The header photo adds a personal visual feature without changing section order.
  • Distinct areas help reviewers locate education and skills during a focused scan.

Best For

  • CVs using a header photo
  • Two-column section organisation
  • Readers who prefer a personal visual element
  • Experience alongside supporting CV details
  • Quick access to education and skills
 

#6 Coloured Two Column Format CV Example

The Coloured Two Column Format pairs two-column organisation with colour, for readers who want a more distinctive look.

 
CV example — page 1   CV example — page 2

Why This Format Works

  • Separate columns give career history and supporting CV details distinct reading areas.
  • Education and credentials can be found apart from the experience section.
  • Skills remain accessible without interrupting the review of work history.

Best For

  • Two-column CV organisation
  • A preference for colour
  • Career history with separate supporting sections
  • Quick access to education and credentials
  • Skills distinct from work history
 

#7 Stylish Two Column Designer Format CV Example

The Stylish Two Column Designer Format uses two columns to separate CV details, helping reviewers move between experience and related information.

 
CV example — page 1   CV example — page 2

Why This Format Works

  • Two-column organisation gives work history and supporting sections separate areas.
  • Reviewers can find qualifications without reading through every experience entry.
  • A distinct place for skills keeps them easy to locate during review.

Best For

  • Separate review of work history and supporting sections
  • Quick access to qualifications
  • CVs with varied section content
  • Skills apart from experience entries
  • Readers who prefer two-column organisation
 
 

Why Build Your Senior Finance Assistant - Research Finance CV with ResumeInMinutes

ResumeInMinutes helps you organise finance experience, skills and education in a clear CV. Compare PNG image previews, then open an example in the editor to customise its content and layout.

  • Different CV layouts
  • Clear, readable sections
  • Space for role-specific keywords
  • Organised skills and experience
  • PNG image previews
  • CV customisation in the editor

Choose a format that makes your financial work easy to follow. Keep the focus on accurate reporting, project support, audit records and clear service to colleagues.

 

See Also

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Are these Senior Finance Assistant - Research Finance CV templates ATS-friendly?

The examples use clear headings and sections to support scanning. Include relevant terms naturally, such as research grant finance, expenditure monitoring, forecasting, project invoicing, SAP and Microsoft Excel.

Are these separate CV examples or different layouts of one example?

This page shows one role-focused CV example in different layouts. Compare the PNG image previews, then open an example in the editor to customise it.

What should a Senior Finance Assistant - Research Finance CV include?

Include a focused profile, relevant experience, education, skills and any relevant certifications. Show evidence of expenditure monitoring, forecast updates, audit preparation, project accounts, invoicing and finance query resolution.

Which CV layout works well for this role?

Choose a layout with clear headings and an easy-to-follow order for experience, skills and education. A simple structure helps recruiters and applicant tracking systems find key details.

How can I show finance achievements on my CV?

Use concise bullet points to explain the task, your contribution and the result. Where you have reliable figures, include supported details about budget reviews, invoice processing, query handling or audit records.

Should I include a photo on my CV?

For UK applications, a photo is usually not needed. Use the space for relevant experience, skills and measurable results instead.

ATS Score 86%

How we calculate this score

  • Keywords: 60% of the total. AI extracts keywords from your job description. If you do not provide one, a standard job description for the title matching your CV is used. This is not a match to a specific vacancy.
  • Text-based CV: 20%. The text CV assessed here receives 100 for this part.
  • CV quality: 20%. We start at 100 and subtract points for issues found by our CV checks, down to a minimum of zero.
  • Keyword coverage = 100 × (confirmed matches + 0.8 × possible matches) ÷ total keywords, rounded and capped at 100. Possible matches still need checking. Saved generation audits use their saved keyword percentage.
  • Final score = 60% of keyword coverage + 20% of the text score + 20% of the quality score, rounded to a whole number. Without keywords, no overall ATS score is available.

What this score means

Our scores are estimates, not employer ratings. They may contain errors and do not guarantee accurate parsing, a ranking, an interview, or a job. Check your document against the employer’s requirements. You are responsible for relying on this score.

Terms and Conditions

Score weights: Keywords 60% · Text based CV 20% · CV quality 20%

Keywords: 16 matched + 2 possible of 22 (80%) · CV quality: 90%

CV quality 90% · Weight 20% · Issues (1)

Details
  • ✓Name present: Elizabeth Allen
  • ✓Email format: elizabeth.allen@example.com
  • ✗Phone format: 07700 90XXXX
  • ✓Experience 1: Job title: Senior Finance Assistant
  • ✓Experience 1: Company name: Calder Vale Technology Partnership
  • ✓Experience 1: Work location: Sheffield, South Yorkshire
  • ✓Experience 1: Employment dates: May 2022 - Present
  • ✓Experience 1: Description or achievements: Present
  • ✓Experience 2: Job title: Finance Officer
  • ✓Experience 2: Company name: Pennine Learning Group
  • ✓Experience 2: Work location: Barnsley, South Yorkshire
  • ✓Experience 2: Employment dates: Jan 2019 - Apr 2022
  • ✓Experience 2: Description or achievements: Present
  • ✓Experience 3: Job title: Project Finance Assistant
  • ✓Experience 3: Company name: Sablebrook Engineering Ltd
  • ✓Experience 3: Work location: Rotherham, South Yorkshire
  • ✓Experience 3: Employment dates: Jul 2017 - Dec 2018
  • ✓Experience 3: Description or achievements: Present
  • ✓Experience 4: Job title: Accounts Assistant
  • ✓Experience 4: Company name: West Moor Community Services
  • ✓Experience 4: Work location: Sheffield, South Yorkshire
  • ✓Experience 4: Employment dates: Aug 2015 - Jun 2017
  • ✓Experience 4: Description or achievements: Present
  • ✓No placeholder fields
  • ✓No repeated achievement bullets
  • ✓No empty bullets

Header: Check the phone number: “07700 90XXXX”. Use 7–15 digits, with an optional country code.

Expand details to review the checks.

Text Based CV 100% · Weight 20%

Parsed text
Elizabeth Allen
Senior Finance Assistant
elizabethallen
07700 90XXXX
Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S11 8XX
elizabeth.allen@example.com
STRENGTHS
Financial accuracy
Check commitments, ledger activity and supporting documents carefully, helping project leads and service teams rely on clear financial records.
Clear communication
Explain forecasts and variance notes in practical terms, helping colleagues outside finance see the effect of their purchasing and recruitment decisions.
Customer service
Manage shared inbox queries with clear categories and handovers, reducing repeat requests and giving colleagues a more dependable response.
Organisation
Balance month end schedules, invoice checks and forecast updates by tracking actions and deadlines across concurrent programmes and projects.
Collaborative support
Work with budget holders, project leads and service teams to investigate differences and agree useful next steps for accurate financial records.
SUMMARY
Finance professional with 11 years of experience supporting research, education and commercial project portfolios through grant monitoring, project accounting and customer focused finance services. Review expenditure against budgets, maintain forecasts and resolve ledger and invoice queries, explaining financial information clearly to non finance colleagues. Coordinate commercial billing and close out, prepare grant audit evidence and monitor concurrent awards and contracts. Use SAP and Excel for accurate reporting and month end processes, while working with researchers, project managers, procurement and finance business partners to improve financial controls and service consistency.
EXPERIENCE
Senior Finance Assistant
Calder Vale Technology Partnership
May 2022 - Present
Sheffield, South Yorkshire
Supports financial control across a mixed portfolio of research collaborations and commercial engineering projects, reviewing commitments, actual expenditure and forecasts with project leads.
Produces SAP and Excel reports for monthly reviews, investigates variances with budget holders and records agreed actions to keep project forecasts current.
Coordinates customer invoicing and account close out for commercial work, checking contract milestones and resolving billing queries before submission.
Compiles supporting schedules and transaction evidence for research grant audits, improving the completeness of audit files and making follow up requests easier to resolve.
Coordinates financial administration for commercial projects, reviewing project accounts and completing financial close out with project leads and finance business partners.
Monitors expenditure and financial performance across smaller research awards, updating forecasts in SAP and Excel so project leads can address variances promptly.
Resolves finance queries through the shared mailbox, explaining coding, invoice and forecast information clearly to researchers and professional services colleagues.
Finance Officer
Pennine Learning Group
Jan 2019 - Apr 2022
Barnsley, South Yorkshire
Monitored budgets for externally funded teaching and facilities programmes, reconciling ledger activity and highlighting emerging pressures to programme managers.
Prepared quarterly forecasts and explanatory variance notes in Excel, helping non finance colleagues understand the financial effect of recruitment and purchasing decisions.
Managed a shared finance inbox and streamlined query categorisation, improving handover quality and reducing repeat requests for missing information.
Prioritised competing finance requests by deadline and programme impact, using clear inbox categories to direct queries and maintain timely responses.
Project Finance Assistant
Sablebrook Engineering Ltd
Jul 2017 - Dec 2018
Rotherham, South Yorkshire
Maintained project cost records for engineering commissions, matching supplier invoices to purchase orders and escalating discrepancies for timely resolution.
Prepared draft customer invoices and monthly project summaries, giving project managers a clearer view of unbilled work and expected cash receipts.
Accounts Assistant
West Moor Community Services
Aug 2015 - Jun 2017
Sheffield, South Yorkshire
Processed purchase invoices and staff expense claims, checking coding and supporting documents before entry into the finance system.
Reconciled supplier accounts and assisted with month end schedules, resolving routine differences with service teams and maintaining an orderly audit trail.
SKILLS
Stakeholder communication
Commercial project accounting
Financial performance analysis
Shared mailbox management
Audit evidence preparation
Finance query resolution
Financial administration
Research grant finance
Expenditure monitoring
Project account review
Financial forecasting
Financial close out
Customer service
Project invoicing
SAP
EDUCATION
BSc Accounting and Finance
Sheffield Hallam University
2015
Sheffield, UK
CERTIFICATIONS
AAT Level 3 Diploma in Accounting
2016
MY CAREER
11.2Years
Senior Finance Assistant at Calder Vale Technology Partnership (4.5 Years)
Finance Officer at Pennine Learning Group (3.3 Years)
Project Finance Assistant at Sablebrook Engineering Ltd (1.5 Years)
Accounts Assistant at West Moor Community Services (1.9 Years)
PROFESSIONAL SKILLS
Finance Systems: SAP, Sage 50, Xero
Spreadsheet Software: Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Access, Google Sheets
Office Applications: Microsoft Word, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft PowerPoint
Accounting Platforms: Oracle NetSuite, QuickBooks, Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central
Reporting Tools: Microsoft Power BI, Tableau, SAP Analytics Cloud
Data Formats: CSV, Microsoft Excel XLSX, XML

Matched keywords (16)

  • Research grant finance
  • Commercial project accounting
  • Financial administration
  • Expenditure monitoring
  • Financial forecasting
  • Financial performance analysis
  • Audit evidence preparation
  • Project invoicing
  • Project account review
  • Financial close out
  • Finance query resolution
  • Shared mailbox management
  • Customer service
  • Stakeholder communication
  • SAP
  • Microsoft Excel

Missing keywords (4)

  • Process improvement
  • Organisation and prioritisation
  • Independent working
  • Accounting ERP systems

Possible matches (2)

  • Financial information interpretation80% credit: 3.64 percentage points of 4.55 possible.
  • Finance business partner collaboration80% credit: 3.64 percentage points of 4.55 possible.
Disclaimer: All names, images, contact information, employment histories, achievements, security clearances, military credentials, and other qualifications shown in this content are fictional and used for illustrative purposes only. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or deceased, is purely coincidental.

CV and cover letter examples and recommendations in this article reflect general best practices and professional experience and are provided for guidance only. Results may vary based on role, industry, region, and hiring organisation.

Content Accuracy and Verification: To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, we do not represent or warrant that CV or cover letter guidance, examples, recommendations, or related information are accurate, complete, current, error-free, or suitable for any particular purpose. You are responsible for independently reviewing and verifying the information before relying on it.

ATS and Cover Letter Scores: ATS scores are estimates calculated using our own formula, informed by publicly available guidance on CV formatting and keyword matching. They are not scores issued or endorsed by an ATS provider or employer. Cover letter scores are also our own assessments. Parsing, weighting, screening criteria, and results vary between systems, employers, job descriptions, and document formats. No score guarantees successful parsing, a particular ranking, an interview, or employment. Use scores as general guidance and independently check your documents against the employer’s requirements. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, we accept no liability for errors in scores or parsing, or losses arising from reliance on these assessments. Nothing in this notice excludes liability or limits consumer rights that cannot lawfully be excluded or limited.

Terms and Conditions
 
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