HOW TO CONDUCT YOURSELF DURING YOUR NOTICE PERIOD

How to Write a Standout CV for Transactional Accountancy and Finance Roles

A well formatted, standout CV is essential for landing interviews in transactional accountancy and finance. Employers are always looking for candidates who demonstrate attention to detail, numerical proficiency, and a strong understanding of financial processes. So, your CV need to shine a spotlight on your qualifications, skillset, and experience to make sure you stand apart from other candidates. To help you on this quest, Liam Connolly has drawn from his extensive experience in transactional finance recruitment to share some top CV tips. Follow these, and your CV will be the one that grabs the attention of prospective employers. 1. Understanding the Role and Key Requirements / Responsibilities involved:Transactional finance roles typically involve managing financial transactions, reconciling accounts, and ensuring compliance with regulations. Depending on the specific position, responsibilities may include accounts payable and receivable, bookkeeping, financial reporting, or credit control, this is important to make sure these elements are clearly sign posted in your CV. Key Skills to Highlight: Attention to detail and accuracy in financial transactions. Strong numerical and analytical skills. Knowledge of accounting software (e.g., SAP, QuickBooks, Xero). Understanding of financial regulations and compliance. Ability to work in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment. 2. Structuring Your CV:Your CV should follow a professional structure with clear sections that make the document easy to read and have a natural flow. If you over complicate your CV or format it in such a way that makes it difficult to read and without a natural flow it will absolutely hinder your application and will likely result in the key and important information within the CV being missed or overlooked. Below is an ideal format to follow to avoid this happening: Section A. Contact Information:Ensure your contact details are up to date, including: Full Name Phone Number Professional Email Address City of residency Notice period LinkedIn Profile (if applicable) Section B. Professional Profile / Summary:Begin with a concise, attention-grabbing summary of your expertise and career goals. Tailor this section of your CV to highlight key skills and experience relevant to the specific transactional finance jobs you are applying for. Example: "Detail-oriented finance professional with five years of experience in accounts payable and receivable. Proficient in financial reconciliation and reporting, with a strong understanding of accounting regulations. Adept at using SAP and Excel for transaction management. Seeking a role where I can fully utilise my skills to add value to a growing transactional finance team." Section C. Relevant Skills & Competencies:This is your opportunity to list your most relevant skills, these should be formatted as bullet points making it easy to read ensuring that the most relevant skills to the role you are applying to are front and centre at the top of the list. Example: Purchase & Sales ledger management Advanced Excel (VLOOKUP, Pivot Tables, Macros) Accounts reconciliation and financial reporting Bank statement reconciliation VAT processing and regulatory compliance Section D. Work Experience:Your work experience should be listed in reverse chronological order (starting with the most recent role first), emphasising achievements and contributions along with all the relevant responsibilities you undertook as part of the role. Example Format: Company Name | Job Title | Dates of Employment High volume invoice processing of both Purchase and Sales ledger invoices (c800 - 1000 per month) Managed Accounts Payable transactions totalling £3 million monthly Reduced invoice processing errors by 30% through process improvements Implemented a new reconciliation system, enhancing accuracy and efficiency Top tip: be specific ‘Managed Accounts Payable transactions totalling £3 million monthly’ instead of ‘Accounts Payable Transactions’. This level of detail not only helps employers and us understand the scope of your responsibilities and the extent of your capabilities but also demonstrates the care and attention you have put in your CV. Section E. Education & Qualifications:Include your school / college results, degrees, certifications, and relevant training. Example: AAT (Association of Accounting Technicians) Level 4 BA (Hons) in Accounting & Finance, University of ABC | Graduated: 2020 (1st Class) A level – Further Maths, English, Economics – Grade A,B,A 11 GCSE (Including Maths English, Science – Grade 8) Top tip: Not including your results can raise concerns and you'll likely be asked for them later, so it's best to include them from the start. Section F. Additional Sections (Optional)Languages: If multilingual, mention fluency level (spoken & written communication levels). IT Skills: Intermediate / Advanced Excel knowledge (VLOOKUP / Pivot Tables), Proficiency in accounting software – Sage 50, SAP. 3. Tailoring Your CV to Specific Roles: While transactional finance roles share common responsibilities, tailoring your CV for different positions (e.g., accounts payable vs. credit control) will dramatically improve your chances of selection and make it clear to potential employers that you understand the position you are applying to and can evidence through your experience why you are suitable. Make sure you customise your summary, skills, and experience accordingly to reflect this.For example:Accounts Payable / Accounts Receivable:Attention to detailAccuracy in your workUse of specific invoicing accounting softwareSpeed in manual processing Highlighting specifics in volume of invoices processed (p/w or p/m)Credit Controller:Softer skills are very important in Credit controlAbility to account manager – treat each client individually Being a good negotiator is vitalHighlight successes in results again targets (reduced aged debt by 85% in 12 months)Showing empathy and understanding to create strong working relationshipsKnowing when to change tact and take a firmer approach as needed.Accounts Assistant:Demonstrate full understanding of all elements of transactional financeAny professional qualifications you are / have undertaken (AAT) are important to highlightUse of various / specific accounting software (Sage, SAP, Xero) is appealing to clientsPayroll:Highlight the volume of employees payrolled Break down into weekly / salaries quantities Mention the use of specific payroll operating systems (Sage Payroll etc)Speak about the payroll region you cover, is purely UK payroll or do cover Irish Payroll, EMEA, APAC? Is it the full end to end payroll process including query handing / amendments through to sending the payroll to the bank?4. General CV Design and Formatting:Keep it concise: Limited to two pages if possible. Use professional fonts (e.g., Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman). Ensure the same font and font size are consistent throughout (not too small or too big, 10 - 12 size works fine depending on the font selected). Use Clear headings which separate the different sections. Maintain consistent spacing and margins throughout. Use bold to highlight key skills so they stand out. Use bullet points to list the responsibilities (not just one long paragraph) 5. Common Mistakes to Avoid:Spelling and grammar errors: Proofread thoroughly. Irregular fonts / font sizing and spacing. Generic duties: Customise for each role. Overloading with unnecessary details: Focus on what is relevant to the role in question. Too much information can make CV’s difficult to read and the reader loose focus. Lack of quantifiable achievements: Use specific amounts / results to demonstrate your impact. Final Thoughts?Your CV is your first and best chance to make a positive impression on a prospective employer. They want to see that you are capable of undertaking the advertised role and have a clear, demonstrable track record of handling similar responsibilities. With this in mind, it's essential to clearly showcase your experience, ensuring the right information is highlighted. Additionally, outline why you are interested in the specific role you are applying for. Consider your career goals, why you would be a good fit for the role, and where you see your potential for longer-term development (be realistic). A standout CV for transactional accountancy and finance roles should emphasise relevant experience, technical expertise, and professional achievements. By structuring and tailoring your CV effectively, you will significantly improve your chances of securing interviews and advancing your career. Visit Our Candidate Advice Pages HereLooking for your next career move in finance or accountancy? At Sharp Consultancy, our expertise lies in matching your potential with the perfect temporary, interim, or permanent position. With a well-established presence in Leeds and Sheffield, our seasoned team of consultants extends their services across Yorkshire and beyond. Don't wait for opportunity to knock, reach out to us TODAYand let's chart your career path together.

Read article

Your interview has been a success and you have landed a new role. Once you have tendered your resignation with your current employer, you will need to work your notice period. It is just as important to make a good impression during your last few weeks with a company as it is to get off on the right foot in a brand-new role; take a look at our tips and suggestions on the best ways to conduct yourself during your notice period.

Understand how long your notice period is. Check your contract for details on the notice period that you will be expected to work – this may be a fixed term or increase annually based upon your length of employment. Your new employer may like you to start sooner than your notice allows but be respectful of your current company’s position and the time they will need to arrange your replacement. You may be able to use any holidays that you are owed as part of your notice period.

Gardening leave. Depending upon the role you are moving onto – if you are going to work for a direct competitor for example - your employer may place you on gardening leave for the duration of your notice period; whilst you will not actually be working during this time you are still being paid by your current company and will not be able to start your new role until after your official final employment date.

Make sure you remain professional. Maintain a conscientious approach throughout your notice period and continue to perform your role to the highest possible standards. Don’t undo several years of good work by being lacklustre in your last few weeks – make sure you leave a great last impression as you never know you may come into contact with former colleagues once again in your new job.

Uphold high standards. Continue to deliver work that is of the highest standard possible and make a full contribution to team meetings. Remain focused on key tasks and ensure that you continue to have good attendance and be punctual.

Don’t be boastful. It’s only natural that you will be excited about your new position but try to avoid bragging about it too much to your colleagues – and don’t put down your current employers, remember your peers will still be working there after you leave!

Agree your priorities with your manager. Arrange a meeting with your manager (and colleagues if applicable) to agree which tasks you should focus upon during your notice period. It may be that some projects need to be handed over to other team members so ensure that you are willing to help and offer assistance to bring people up to speed. Your day-to-day workload may decrease as you get closer to the end of your notice period so make sure you check in with your manager and continue to offer to help where you can.

Handover period. You may be asked to help your replacement get up to speed before you leave; be professional and remember that they will be as keen to impress in their new job as you will be in yours. If you are departing before someone has been recruited, try to complete any projects as best you can and prepare detailed notes so the transition is as smooth as possible.

Exit interview. Be constructive with your feedback and look share positive experiences as well as highlighting areas and offering suggestions where you think your employer can make improvements.

Your last day. You want to leave with a good reputation so make sure you remain professional to the end; take the time to say goodbye to colleagues and senior managers. You will be remembered as much – if not more - for how you conduct yourself during your final weeks with the company.

Sharp Consultancy specialises in the recruitment of temporary, interim and permanent finance and accountancy professionals. With offices in Leeds and Sheffield our highly experienced team of consultant’s recruit for positions throughout Yorkshire and beyond. CONTACT US today to find out more.