Interview advice & tips
Guidance on how to prepare for your interview including questions to ask and tips on first impressions
CV Advice
Quick tips to make your CV work harder
Get noticed for the right reasons
Your CV is often your first introduction to a potential employer, and first impressions matter. It should give a clear, confident snapshot of your experience, your strengths, and your potential.
Whether you’re just starting out or bringing years of experience to the table, a strong CV can open doors. It doesn’t need to be flashy – it just needs to be clear, tailored, and relevant to the role you're going for.
If you’d like a second opinion or some guidance on structure and content, speak to one of our consultants. We review hundreds of CVs a month and we’re always happy to help yours stand out for the right reasons.
Quick tips to make your CV work harder:
Length matters - and detail counts
You’ll often hear that CVs must be two pages. We don’t buy into that. In finance, particularly for mid to senior-level roles, clients want detail. They want to understand the size and scope of your role, the systems you’ve worked with, and how you’ve added value.
If your experience justifies it, use the space. Be clear, be relevant, and avoid fluff - but don’t cut useful content for the sake of fitting some outdated two-page rule.
Start with the basics
Full name, mobile, email, general location (city is fine), and a LinkedIn link. If you’re including LinkedIn, make sure it’s actually up to date.
Include a short intro
This is your elevator pitch. A few lines to explain what you do, where your strengths lie, and what kind of roles you're targeting.
Education and qualifications
Include dates, subjects, grades, and key qualifications. If you passed first time, say so. It matters.
Systems and software
This bit gets overlooked, but it can be a deal breaker. List the tools you’ve used: Excel (and your level), Xero, SAP, Power BI, NetSuite - whatever fits the roles you're aiming for.
Languages
List them, and be honest about your level. Especially relevant in international or client-facing roles.
Experience
Work backwards from your most recent job. For each role, include:
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Dates
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Job title
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Company name
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One-liner on what the company does
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Your responsibilities (bullet points work best)
Projects and achievements
What did you improve? What did you deliver? Where did you add value? Use numbers where you can - they bring your results to life.
Gaps in employment? Own them
Whether it was travel, study, redundancy or family, a short line of explanation is always better than leaving a blank space.
Be honest
Facts get checked. Stay truthful and avoid inflating titles or responsibilities.
Don’t undersell yourself
If you’ve led change, delivered results, improved processes, supported growth - say it. This is your moment to highlight the impact you’ve made.
Tailored, not templated
We’re not fans of generic CVs. They’re fine for sketching out your career, but they often miss the stuff that really matters.
That’s why we like to speak to you before sending your CV anywhere. We want to understand your background, your goals, and how you work - so we can help your CV line up perfectly with the job you're aiming for.
We’ll help highlight what matters most for that specific role - whether it’s commercial impact, systems experience, leadership style, or career progression.
What to include - Section by section
Name and Contact Details
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Full name
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Nationality (e.g. British, Australian)
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Visa or passport status (e.g. British passport or Working Holiday May 2025 to May 2027)
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City or general location
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Mobile number, email address, LinkedIn profile (if relevant and up to date)
Personal Statement
A short paragraph that sums up what you do, your core strengths, and what you're looking for next. Keep it tailored to the kinds of roles you’re targeting.
Qualifications
Your accounting qualification (ACA, ACCA, CIMA), the year you qualified, and if you passed first time.
Education
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Dates of study
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Institution and location
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Degree or subject studied
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Grades or classification
Languages
Mention any languages and your level of fluency - fluent, business, conversational etc.
Systems Experience
Be specific. Mention the tools you’ve used and your level - e.g. advanced Excel with pivot tables and macros, or intermediate Power BI. Don’t just write “proficient.”
Career History
List roles starting with the most recent. For each role include:
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Dates
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Company name and a short description
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Job title
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Responsibilities (bullet points)
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Key projects you led or contributed to
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Your individual achievements (not just the team’s)
Tip: focus detail on your most recent and most relevant roles. Older roles can be shorter.
Interests / Extra-Curricular
Go beyond “football” or “travel.” Mention volunteering, captaincy, community involvement, or anything that adds a bit of colour. It helps show who you are outside of work.
Need a second opinion?
We’re always happy to review your CV and offer advice - whether you’re actively looking or just getting ready. Reach out to one of our consultants for a quick CV health check.
Career advice and tools
Require assistance?
Reach out to a Radley Green consultant if you require any guidance or further information.
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