Corporate Finance CV Example
A corporate finance CV should demonstrate your expertise in M&A transactions, financial modelling, and advising businesses on capital structure, valuations, and strategic financial decisions.
Recommended template: ExecutivePro
Key Skills to Include
Quick Tips
- Highlight the value and type of deals you have worked on, including completed transactions.
- Demonstrate your financial modelling expertise with examples of complex models you have built.
- Include your ACA, CFA, or other relevant professional qualifications.
- Showcase your ability to manage deal processes from origination through to completion.
Ready to build your CV?
Start with the Executive template and customise it for your banking & finance role.
Upgrade to ProHow to Write Your Corporate Finance CV
A corporate finance CV must convey deal experience, technical modelling ability, and commercial acumen. Hiring managers at advisory firms and investment banks look for candidates who can demonstrate a track record of completed transactions, sound analytical skills, and the ability to manage complex processes under pressure. Your CV should position you as someone who adds value throughout the deal lifecycle, from origination and valuation through to completion.
CV Structure
Use a reverse-chronological format leading with a deal-focused profile. For each role, include the firm's market positioning, the types of transactions you worked on, and deal value ranges. List core responsibilities followed by specific deal achievements. Consider including a brief deal list as a supplementary section if you have significant transaction experience. Keep the CV to two pages.
CV Format
Opt for a clean, professional template without creative embellishments. Corporate finance is a conservative environment and your CV should reflect this. Use clear headings, consistent formatting, and bullet points for easy scanning. Ensure your qualification and deal experience are both immediately visible.
CV Profile Examples
Experienced Corporate Finance Advisor
ACA-qualified corporate finance professional with six years of experience advising owner-managed businesses and private equity-backed companies on M&A transactions, fundraisings, and strategic reviews. Skilled in building complex valuation models, coordinating due diligence processes, and preparing compelling information memoranda. Track record of successfully completing over 25 transactions with combined deal values exceeding £180M.
Senior Corporate Finance Associate
Commercially driven corporate finance associate with extensive experience in sell-side and buy-side M&A mandates across technology, healthcare, and professional services sectors. Proficient in DCF, precedent transaction, and comparable company analysis with strong pitch book and client presentation skills. Known for managing multiple live deals simultaneously while maintaining exceptional attention to detail.
Corporate Finance — Transition from Audit
ACA-qualified professional transitioning from external audit into corporate finance, bringing four years of financial due diligence and financial statement analysis experience from a Big Four firm. Strong understanding of accounting standards, earnings quality assessment, and working capital analysis. Combines technical rigour with a commercial mindset developed through close collaboration with corporate finance teams on transaction support engagements.
Open with your qualification status, years of corporate finance experience, and deal focus. Mention the types and sizes of transactions you work on and the sectors you cover. Include a headline metric such as total deal value or number of completed transactions.
Key Skills for Your Corporate Finance CV
M&A Advisory
Managing buy-side and sell-side mergers and acquisitions processes from origination through to deal completion.
Financial Modelling
Building sophisticated DCF, LBO, and comparable company models to support valuations and transaction structuring.
Business Valuation
Determining enterprise and equity values using multiple methodologies including earnings multiples, DCF, and asset-based approaches.
Due Diligence
Coordinating and contributing to financial, commercial, and operational due diligence workstreams on transactions.
Capital Raising
Supporting businesses in raising equity or debt capital through preparation of investment materials and investor engagement.
Deal Structuring
Advising on transaction structures including share purchases, asset deals, earn-outs, and deferred consideration mechanisms.
Pitch Book Preparation
Creating persuasive pitch materials that position the firm's capabilities and proposed deal approach to prospective clients.
Client Advisory
Providing strategic financial advice to business owners, boards, and management teams throughout the transaction lifecycle.
Data Room Management
Organising and managing virtual data rooms during transaction processes to facilitate efficient due diligence.
Work Experience Examples
For each role, describe the firm and its market position, the types of mandates you work on, and your specific responsibilities within deal teams. Quantify everything — deal values, number of transactions completed, fees generated. Highlight the most complex or notable transactions you contributed to and your specific role in their success.
Corporate Finance Manager
Oakley Advisory Partners
Led M&A advisory engagements for mid-market private companies with enterprise values ranging from £5M to £75M across technology, manufacturing, and business services sectors.
Responsibilities
- Managed sell-side and buy-side M&A processes from initial engagement through to completion, coordinating legal, tax, and financial advisors.
- Built and maintained financial models including DCF, LBO, and comparable company analyses for client valuations and deal structuring.
- Prepared information memoranda, teasers, and management presentations for marketing processes.
- Conducted buyer identification and approach campaigns, managing data rooms and facilitating due diligence workstreams.
- Mentored two analysts, reviewing their modelling work and supporting their professional development.
Achievements
- Completed twelve transactions over three years with combined deal values of £95M, generating advisory fees of £2.8M.
- Secured a new client mandate worth £45,000 in fees through a direct approach at an industry conference.
- Developed a proprietary valuation template adopted firm-wide, reducing model build time by approximately 30%.
Corporate Finance Analyst
Grant Thornton UK LLP
Supported corporate finance transactions including M&A mandates, management buyouts, and capital raises for mid-market UK businesses.
Responsibilities
- Built financial models for business valuations using DCF, precedent transactions, and earnings multiple methodologies.
- Prepared sections of information memoranda, industry analyses, and pitch book materials for client presentations.
- Assisted with financial due diligence on buy-side mandates, reviewing target company accounts and working capital trends.
- Coordinated data room set-up and management during sell-side processes involving multiple interested parties.
Achievements
- Contributed to the completion of a £28M MBO in the healthcare sector, preparing the financial model and vendor due diligence report.
- Recognised by the partner team for consistently delivering high-quality modelling output under tight transaction deadlines.
Education & Qualifications
Lead with your ACA, ACCA, or CFA qualification. Follow with your degree, noting if it is in finance, economics, or a quantitative discipline. Include any corporate finance-specific training or courses such as financial modelling programmes or M&A masterclasses.
ACA (ICAEW)
Chartered accountancy qualification providing the technical foundation valued in corporate finance advisory roles.
CFA (Level I–III)
Chartered Financial Analyst programme demonstrating investment analysis, valuation, and ethics competence.
ACCA
Chartered certified accountant qualification offering a broad financial knowledge base for transaction advisory work.
CF Qualification (ICAEW)
Corporate Finance Qualification from ICAEW, a specialist credential for M&A and transaction advisory professionals.
Frequently Asked Questions
How should I present deal experience on a corporate finance CV?
What financial modelling skills should I highlight?
How important is sector specialism on a corporate finance CV?
Should I include deal values on my corporate finance CV?
More Banking & Finance CV Examples
Finance CV
A finance CV should present your broad financial expertise, analytical skills, and experience contributing to the financial health and strategic direction of an organisation.
AML Analyst CV
An AML analyst CV should demonstrate your expertise in identifying suspicious transactions, conducting enhanced due diligence, and ensuring compliance with anti-money laundering regulations.
Asset Manager CV
An asset manager CV should showcase your ability to manage investment portfolios, analyse market opportunities, and deliver consistent returns while managing risk within client mandates.
Banking CV
A banking CV should highlight your understanding of financial products, customer relationship management skills, and experience delivering banking services in a regulated environment.
Finance Assistant CV
A finance assistant CV should demonstrate your ability to support the finance team with day-to-day tasks such as processing invoices, reconciling accounts, and preparing basic financial reports.
Finance Business Partner CV
A finance business partner CV should highlight your ability to bridge finance and operations, providing commercial insights and strategic analysis that drive better business decisions.