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Resume example

Chief financial officer resume example

In France the CFO is usually called the DAF (directeur administratif et financier), and the word "administratif" matters. In a mid-sized company the DAF often runs accounting, management control, treasury and tax, but also payroll administration, insurance, legal affairs and sometimes IT and purchasing.

A typical month includes the closing with the accounting team, a review of cash forecasts, a meeting with the bank about covenants or a credit line, and preparing figures for the board or the shareholders. Once a year comes the budget process and the audit with the commissaire aux comptes. In a group subsidiary, much of the work is reporting to headquarters under IFRS, while in an owner-run SME the DAF is often the CEO's main sparring partner on every decision.

Resume example

[First name Last name]

CFO (DAF) | Mid-sized Industrial Group, Finance, Legal and HR Administration

[City] · [phone] · [email]

Profile

DAF for [x] years in industrial companies, owner-managed then private equity-backed. I run accounting, controlling, treasury, tax and legal affairs, have negotiated two refinancings and led the integration of an acquired company into our reporting.

Experience

Directeur administratif et financier, industrial SME, [City]

[month year] to present

  • Led a team of [x] people covering accounting, controlling, payroll and purchasing administration
  • Renegotiated the company's credit lines with [x] banks and set up a weekly cash forecast
  • Shortened the monthly closing by reorganising the calendar and automating bank reconciliations
  • Steered the migration to a new ERP with the IT provider and key users
  • Prepared the investment file for a new production line and presented it to the shareholders

Resume headlines

  • CFO (DAF) | Mid-sized Industrial Group, Finance, Legal and HR Administration
  • Chief Financial Officer | LBO-backed Company, Reporting to Investors and Debt Refinancing
  • Head of Finance (RAF) moving to DAF | SME, Cash Management and ERP Rollout

Summaries for your profile

Entry level

Finance manager with a background in audit and management control, now ready for a first DAF role in an SME. I have led monthly closings, built the budget with operational managers and represented the company in meetings with banks and the statutory auditor.

Experienced

DAF for [x] years in industrial companies, owner-managed then private equity-backed. I run accounting, controlling, treasury, tax and legal affairs, have negotiated two refinancings and led the integration of an acquired company into our reporting.

Career change

Former audit senior manager at a Big Four firm moving into industry. I have reviewed the closing processes of dozens of mid-sized companies and now want to own them: closing calendar, internal control and the relationship with the auditors from the other side.

Tips

  • Describe the scope of your role precisely: which functions reported to you, beyond pure finance.
  • Give the context of each company: ownership (family, group, private equity), size band and sector.
  • Mention the financing operations you led, since French boards look closely at banking relationships.
  • If you have worked under both French GAAP and IFRS, say so on the first lines.
  • Show one or two transformation projects (ERP, shared services, acquisition) with your exact role in them.

Mistakes to avoid

  • Listing accounting tasks you supervise as if you performed them yourself.
  • Leaving out the management side: team size, recruitments, organisation changes.
  • Using English job titles only, so French recruiters cannot tell if you were DAF, RAF or controller.
  • Writing three pages: a DAF résumé in France stays on two pages at most.

Working as a chief financial officer in France

The DAF role is not regulated in France, but recruiters expect a master's level in finance, accounting or management: business school, university master in finance and control, or the DSCG and expert-comptable route. Former auditors from large firms are common. Speaking French is close to essential in SMEs, since you will deal with banks, URSSAF, tax authorities and staff representatives (CSE). Search for "directeur administratif et financier", "DAF", "directeur financier", "responsable administratif et financier" (RAF) in smaller companies, and "CFO" in startups and international groups.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a DAF and a RAF in France?

A RAF (responsable administratif et financier) usually works in a smaller company and is closer to operations: they often do part of the accounting themselves. A DAF sits on the management committee, supervises managers and deals with strategy, financing and shareholders. Many DAFs started as RAF in an SME.

Should I mention my DSCG or expert-comptable diploma?

Yes. French recruiters know the DSCG and the expert-comptable diploma well and read them as solid technical grounding. Put them next to your business school or university master. If you trained abroad, add the closest French equivalent in brackets, such as a CPA or ACCA next to its level.

How do I present confidential results on my résumé?

Describe the type of improvement and its context without giving precise company figures: shorter closing, lower overdraft use, better forecast accuracy. You can use orders of magnitude or placeholders and discuss details in the interview, where recruiters expect you to be discreet anyway.

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