Listing P&L Responsibilities on a Resume (Examples)

Listing P&L responsibilities on a resume can be really impactful. Think about it: the employer gets to know that you comprehend what it means to generate revenue for the business. It’s not just specifically for finance roles. There are also very common use cases where someone who is in a leadership role would be inclined to put P&L responsibilities on their resume.

First, from experience putting P&L responsibilities on my resume…

I’ve always had jobs where I felt that it was essential to put “P&L” responsibilities in the introduction or resume summary portion of the resume. As the starting paragraph for the resume, I considered it a strong skill that would attract the types of roles that I cared about the most.

Here’s what I learned, though.

1. Not all jobs care about this

This one might be obvious. But if it’s not listed on the job description, not all jobs are going to care that you have these types of capabilities. And, let’s presume that in the future, your employer may want to give you these responsibilities—they aren’t going to do it because they remember it being on your resume.

2. Choose skills that match the job

Remember the stage that you’re in. One downfall that I found is that I could have alluded to having “P&L responsibilities” in my interview rather than in the resume. And often, during the resume stage—someone that’s part of HR scouring through the resumes is simply looking for a skill match.

If you don’t list the skills that match the job description—you probably aren't going to get to the next phase of the interview, anyway.

3. Sometimes, this could be perceived as a bad thing

I wouldn’t say “bad” here is a “bad” thing! Although, think about it—sometimes, there are such things as entry-level jobs. And you could actually put yourself “out of the running” for the position if you’re a little too experienced.

Especially if we’re talking about non-finance roles. In finance roles, you’re most likely going to see this responsibility as part of the requirements for the job (or required skills). And so, you’re fine!

Make your best judgment call on what you think the right thing is before you put it on your resume!

Some examples of how to put “P&L responsibility” on your resume

Here are some examples of how a professional might highlight these job duties or responsibilities as part of your resume. There are two options, putting it in your resume headline (or your introduction paragraph). Or listing it as part of the bullet points in previous job experiences.

In these examples, we’re going to see what it looks like listing it in previous job experiences:

Financial Manager at XYZ Company

• Managed a $10 million annual budget, overseeing all income and expenditure, resulting in a 15% reduction in operational costs.
• Analyzed monthly P&L statements, identifying areas for improvement and implementing cost-saving measures that led to a 10% increase in profitability over one year.

Director of Finance at ABC Corporation

• Led a team responsible for the P&L of a $50 million division, consistently achieving quarterly revenue targets and improving profit margins by 12%.
• Implemented a comprehensive financial forecasting model that reduced forecasting errors by 20% and ensured accurate P&L reporting.

Business Unit Manager at DEF Manufacturing

• Oversaw the P&L for a $20 million manufacturing unit, optimizing inventory management, reducing carrying costs by 8%, and increasing net profit by 10%.
• Developed and executed a strategic pricing strategy that improved product profitability, resulting in a 15% increase in gross margin.

Controller at GHI Retail

• Managed the entire P&L process, including budgeting, forecasting, and financial analysis for a retail chain with annual revenues exceeding $100 million.
• Implemented cost control initiatives that reduced operating expenses by 7% while maintaining or improving product quality.

Finance Analyst at JKL Consulting

• Assisted in preparing and analyzing monthly P&L statements for multiple clients, providing actionable insights that helped clients achieve an average 5% increase in profitability.
• Conducted a thorough review of expense accounts, identifying discrepancies and suggesting adjustments that led to a 12% reduction in overhead costs.

Chief Financial Officer (CFO) at MNO Ventures

• As CFO of a startup, established financial controls and processes from the ground up, resulting in accurate P&L reporting and financial stability during the company's growth phase.
• Successfully secured $5 million in additional funding through detailed financial projections and P&L analysis, enabling expansion into new markets.

Financial Consultant at PQR Enterprises

• Provided advisory services to clients in various industries, conducting P&L assessments, and recommending strategies to improve financial performance.
• Collaborated with clients' leadership teams to develop and execute action plans that led to an average 8% increase in profitability.