Finance Epr Bullets

Performance Evaluation Reports (EPRs) in finance are crucial for documenting accomplishments, identifying areas for improvement, and providing a clear, concise record of an employee’s contributions. Well-crafted bullets within these reports are essential for accurately reflecting an individual’s performance and impact. Here’s a breakdown of how to write effective finance EPR bullets:

Quantify Achievements Whenever Possible

Numbers speak volumes. Instead of saying “Improved financial reporting,” try “Enhanced financial reporting process, resulting in a 15% reduction in month-end close time.” Use specific metrics like percentages, dollar amounts, timelines, or ratios to demonstrate the magnitude of the impact. Examples:

• “Managed a $10M budget, consistently staying under budget by an average of 5% per quarter.”
• “Streamlined accounts payable process, resulting in a 20% faster invoice processing cycle and capturing an additional $5,000 in early payment discounts.”
• “Developed and implemented a new forecasting model that improved forecast accuracy by 10%, leading to better resource allocation.”

Focus on Impact and Results

Don’t just describe tasks; highlight the positive outcomes of those tasks. Explain how the employee’s actions benefited the organization. Use action verbs to clearly show the impact of their work. Consider these examples:

• Instead of: “Reviewed financial statements.” Try: “Rigorously reviewed financial statements, identifying and correcting errors that prevented a $25,000 misstatement.”
• Instead of: “Prepared monthly reports.” Try: “Prepared insightful monthly reports that provided senior management with key performance indicators, enabling data-driven decision-making.”

Use Strong Action Verbs

The verb choice significantly impacts the strength of the bullet. Choose verbs that are active, descriptive, and specific to the finance role. Examples:

• Good: Analyzed, Managed, Developed, Implemented, Streamlined, Reduced, Increased, Improved, Negotiated, Audited, Reconciled, Forecasted, Processed, Reported, Prepared, Consolidated
• Avoid: Assisted, Helped, Supported (unless the assistance was exceptional and quantifiable)

Showcase Skills and Expertise

Use the bullets to demonstrate the employee’s technical skills, analytical abilities, and understanding of financial principles. This is particularly important for career progression. Examples:

• “Demonstrated expertise in GAAP accounting principles while leading the implementation of a new revenue recognition standard.”
• “Utilized advanced Excel skills to develop complex financial models for capital budgeting analysis.”
• “Displayed strong analytical skills by identifying cost-saving opportunities in operational expenses, resulting in $100,000 in annual savings.”

Highlight Leadership and Teamwork (If Applicable)

If the employee demonstrates leadership or contributes to a team, include bullets that showcase these qualities. Examples:

• “Led a team of five analysts in the annual budget preparation process, delivering a comprehensive budget on time and within budget.”
• “Collaborated effectively with cross-functional teams to develop and implement a new enterprise resource planning (ERP) system.”
• “Mentored junior analysts, providing guidance and training that improved their performance and productivity.”

Use the STAR Method (Situation, Task, Action, Result)

While not always explicitly stated in that order, the STAR method can guide the writing process to ensure a comprehensive bullet. Think about the situation, the task the employee faced, the action they took, and the resulting positive outcome.

Keep it Concise and Focused

EPR bullets should be concise and to the point. Avoid jargon and unnecessary words. Each bullet should focus on a single achievement or skill.

By focusing on quantifiable achievements, impact, skills, and teamwork, you can create finance EPR bullets that accurately and effectively represent an employee’s contributions to the organization.