Top 12 Senior Finance Manager Skills to Put on Your Resume
A Senior Finance Manager steers the financial engine and keeps the machine humming. Strategy, scrutiny, and sharp leadership collide in this role. A standout resume signals mastery of core systems and the soft skills to marshal teams, shape decisions, and keep numbers honest under pressure.
Senior Finance Manager Skills
1. Excel
Excel is a versatile spreadsheet tool for analysis, modeling, and reporting. It wrangles large datasets, builds repeatable models, and turns loose data into decisions.
Why It's Important
Excel anchors budgeting, forecasting, scenario planning, and management reporting. Fast analysis, consistent models, clean outputs. It’s the daily workhorse.
How to Improve Excel Skills
Level up by pushing into advanced features and automation that shrink time-to-insight.
Master advanced functions: XLOOKUP, INDEX-MATCH, SUMIFS, dynamic arrays, LET, LAMBDA. Build models that are fast and transparent.
Own PivotTables and PivotCharts: Slice, group, and aggregate at speed. Build drillable views for execs.
Use Power Query: Automate data cleaning and reshaping. Fewer manual steps, fewer mistakes.
Adopt Power Pivot: Create data models, relationships, and DAX measures for robust reporting.
Write Macros with VBA: Automate repetitive workflows and standardize outputs.
Apply Conditional Formatting and Data Validation: Flag issues instantly and keep inputs reliable.
Practice financial modeling: Three-statement models, sensitivities, scenarios, driver-based forecasting.
Stay current: New Excel features roll out frequently. Learn them, use them.
Engage communities: Forums and peer groups surface smarter formulas and clever tricks.
Practice relentlessly: Rebuild old models cleaner. Stress-test. Iterate.
How to Display Excel Skills on Your Resume
2. QuickBooks
QuickBooks is accounting software for small and mid-sized businesses. Invoicing, payables, payroll, and reporting live in one place, with clean audit trails.
Why It's Important
It condenses routine accounting into a stable, traceable system, while offering dashboards and reports that inform decisions and streamline tax and compliance chores.
How to Improve QuickBooks Skills
Customize reports: Build KPI-focused views for margin, cash, AR aging, and variance analysis.
Integrate key apps: Connect CRM, payroll, payment processors, and e-commerce to reduce manual entry.
Use advanced tiers when needed: QuickBooks Online Advanced unlocks deeper reporting, roles, and workflows for growing teams.
Automate workflows: Recurring invoices, payment reminders, bank rules, and auto-categorization save hours.
Train the team: Standardize processes and permissions. Certify super-users to maintain consistency.
Review data on a cadence: Monthly checks for coding accuracy, anomalies, and trends.
How to Display QuickBooks Skills on Your Resume
3. SAP
SAP is an enterprise resource planning platform that unifies finance, supply chain, HR, and more. With S/4HANA and Fiori, finance teams get real-time visibility and streamlined processes.
Why It's Important
It centralizes data, enforces controls, supports compliance, and powers granular reporting. Fewer reconciliations, faster closes, stronger insights.
How to Improve SAP Skills
Tailor configuration: Align the chart of accounts, profit centers, cost centers, and reporting hierarchies to how the business actually runs.
Harden data quality: Validation rules, master data governance, and approval flows reduce noise in reports.
Automate close tasks: Templates and workflows for accruals, intercompany, and reconciliations accelerate month-end.
Upskill continuously: Train on S/4HANA Finance features, Fiori apps, and embedded analytics.
Integrate the stack: Connect SAP to CRM and BI tools for a single version of truth across revenue, cost, and cash.
How to Display SAP Skills on Your Resume
4. Oracle
Oracle delivers a broad cloud ERP suite and data technologies that modernize financial operations. Oracle Fusion Cloud ERP and Oracle Financials Cloud anchor larger finance teams with robust controls and analytics.
Why It's Important
It improves process consistency, boosts reporting accuracy, strengthens compliance, and supports planning at scale.
How to Improve Oracle Skills
Oracle University training: Target courses for ERP Financials, reporting, and controls that align to your stack.
Explorer programs and certifications: Build a structured path and validate skills that matter for your role.
Specialize where it counts: General Ledger, AP/AR, Assets, Projects—go deep in the modules you own.
Apply learning quickly: Pilot new features on contained use-cases, then scale to core processes.
Join user communities: Oracle Cloud Customer Connect and user groups offer patterns, pitfalls, and peer answers.
Track release notes: New functionality arrives often—capture quick wins and retire manual work.
How to Display Oracle Skills on Your Resume
5. Hyperion
Hyperion, part of Oracle’s EPM suite, supports planning, budgeting, forecasting, and consolidation—on-prem or via Oracle EPM Cloud. It drives consistent, governed performance management.
Why It's Important
It standardizes planning and closes across entities, speeds consolidations, and sharpens scenario analysis for executives.
How to Improve Hyperion Skills
Tune performance: Maintain databases, streamline calculations, and optimize data loads.
Drive adoption: Invest in role-based training, templates, and job aids to lift quality and speed.
Automate routine work: Schedule data loads and report bursts. Use Smart View for Excel-driven analysis.
Institute data governance: Clear ownership for dimensions, metadata changes, and audit trails.
Upgrade thoughtfully: Keep current with patches and feature releases for security and capability gains.
Elevate reporting: Build dynamic, multi-dimensional reports and dashboards that answer questions fast.
Engage the community: Tap forums and user groups for patterns and troubleshooting.
How to Display Hyperion Skills on Your Resume
6. Tableau
Tableau turns data into vivid, interactive dashboards. Finance leaders can explore trends, drill into drivers, and tell a clear story with numbers.
Why It's Important
It speeds comprehension. Patterns jump out. Decisions get crisper because the visuals make the facts undeniable.
How to Improve Tableau Skills
Use advanced analytics: Parameters, level of detail expressions, table calcs, and forecasting to deepen insight.
Craft tailored dashboards: Design for stakeholders—filters, actions, and layouts that answer their top questions.
Manage data well: Blend and join cleanly, schedule refreshes, and document data sources.
Learn Server/Cloud sharing: Governed publishing, permissions, and subscriptions keep everyone aligned.
Keep learning: Follow release updates, join community forums, and study public dashboards for inspiration.
How to Display Tableau Skills on Your Resume
7. Power BI
Power BI is Microsoft’s analytics platform for modeling, visualizing, and sharing insights across the organization. It pairs well with Excel and enterprise data sources.
Why It's Important
It transforms scattered data into governed reports and interactive dashboards, enabling faster planning cycles and performance reviews.
How to Improve Power BI Skills
Deepen DAX: Measures, time intelligence, and advanced calculations for robust financial models.
Refine Power Query: Build repeatable transformations and data quality checks.
Design with purpose: Clear visuals, minimal clutter, and consistent KPI definitions.
Leverage the Service: Workspaces, apps, row-level security, and scheduled refresh for governance.
Track releases: Monthly updates bring meaningful features—adopt what matters.
Join the community: Swap techniques, troubleshoot, and learn new patterns.
How to Display Power BI Skills on Your Resume
8. SQL
SQL is the language of relational data. It retrieves, shapes, and analyzes records at scale—vital for reliable reporting and ad hoc analysis.
Why It's Important
Direct access to data means fewer delays. Cleaner queries, cleaner insights, stronger decisions.
How to Improve SQL Skills
Learn advanced constructs: Window functions, CTEs, pivots, and subqueries for complex metrics.
Optimize queries: Index strategy, execution plans, and set-based thinking to speed heavy workloads.
Apply analytical patterns: Running totals, cohort analysis, YoY/MTD/QTD, and ratio calculations.
Pair with BI tools: Feed SQL models into Tableau or Power BI for distribution and visualization.
Practice and iterate: Real datasets, real constraints. Sharpen through repetition.
Secure data: Permissions, encryption, PII handling, and controls aligned to SOX and privacy rules.
How to Display SQL Skills on Your Resume
9. Bloomberg Terminal
The Bloomberg Terminal is a real-time market and data platform with news, analytics, and trading tools used across global finance.
Why It's Important
For monitoring markets, pricing risk, and spotting trends, it’s a single pane of glass. Fast intel. Fewer blind spots.
How to Improve Bloomberg Terminal Skills
Customize workspaces: Pin relevant functions, set alerts, and build dashboards aligned to your coverage and portfolio.
Learn core functions and shortcuts: Speed matters—memorize navigation, search operators, and key analytics screens.
Integrate with your toolset: Export to spreadsheets, connect data feeds, and align identifiers with internal systems.
Seek role-specific training: Focus on sector analytics, fixed income functions, or portfolio tools that match your remit.
How to Display Bloomberg Terminal Skills on Your Resume
10. Salesforce
Salesforce is a cloud CRM platform that centralizes sales, service, and marketing activity. For finance, it bridges pipeline, revenue, and forecasting.
Why It's Important
It connects front-office signals to financial outcomes, sharpening forecast accuracy and deal-level insight.
How to Improve Salesforce Skills
Customize dashboards: Track bookings, pipeline coverage, conversion rates, and ARR/NRR where relevant.
Integrate with finance systems: Sync orders, invoices, and payments for a clean quote-to-cash flow.
Automate reporting: Scheduled reports and flows reduce manual compilation.
Adopt CRM Analytics: Formerly Einstein Analytics—use predictive and guided insights to improve forecasting.
Harden security: Profiles, permission sets, and field-level controls protect sensitive data.
Train power users: Strengthen data quality and process adherence via ongoing enablement.
How to Display Salesforce Skills on Your Resume
11. VBA
VBA (Visual Basic for Applications) extends Excel and other Office tools. It automates tasks, builds custom functions, and powers robust workflows.
Why It's Important
Automation lifts speed and consistency. Fewer clicks, fewer errors, tighter controls.
How to Improve VBA Skills
Nail the fundamentals: Variables, loops, conditionals, and modular structure.
Follow best practices: Clear naming, comments, error handling, and reusable procedures.
Advance into classes and userforms: Build maintainable, user-friendly tools.
Automate finance workflows: Budget templates, consolidation, variance bridges, and report packs.
Create UDFs: Encapsulate complex calcs into simple, auditable functions.
Join communities: MrExcel, Stack Overflow, and peer groups surface elegant solutions.
Practice on real use-cases: Short scripts first, then full automations.
How to Display VBA Skills on Your Resume
12. Python
Python is a flexible language for data analysis, automation, and modeling. With the right libraries, it scales from quick scripts to robust analytics pipelines.
Why It's Important
It supercharges analysis, eliminates repetitive drudgery, and unlocks forecasting and optimization that spreadsheets alone struggle to handle.
How to Improve Python Skills
Strengthen core syntax: Data types, functions, comprehensions, and packages.
Adopt finance libraries: pandas, numpy, matplotlib, seaborn, and statsmodels; for larger data, consider polars or PySpark.
Work with real datasets: Pull time series and fundamentals from sources like Nasdaq Data Link and public APIs.
Automate workflows: Reporting, reconciliations, and data collection on scheduled jobs.
Explore modeling: Forecasting, anomaly detection, and scenario simulation for planning.
Engage communities: Stack Overflow, local meetups, and conferences broaden your toolkit.
How to Display Python Skills on Your Resume
