You’re great with numbers, but now you need to put your writing skills to the test to create a unique and persuasive cover letter that’s going to make you stand out.
To help you do this, we’ve put together a detailed writing guide, packed with top tips that will help you to showcase the qualifications, experience and skills that make you perfect for the job.
We’ve also put together some handy accountant cover letter examples to inspire your own. Check them out below.
Contents
Accountant cover letter example 1
Accountant cover letter example 2
Accountant cover letter example 3
These 3 Accountant cover letter examples should provide you with a good steer on how to write your own cover letter, and the general structure to follow.
Our simple step-by-step guide below provides some more detailed advice on how you can craft a winning cover letter for yourself, that will ensure your CV gets opened.
How to write a Accountant cover letter
Here’s how to write your own winning Accountant cover letter
Write your cover letter in the body of an email/message
When writing your Accountant cover letter, it’s best to type the content into the body of your email (or the job site messaging system) and not to attach the cover letter as a separate document.
This ensures that your cover letter gets seen as soon as a recruiter or employer opens your message.
If you attach the cover letter as a document, you’re making the reader go through an unnecessary step of opening the document before reading it.
If it’s in the body of the message itself, it will be seen instantly, which hugely increases the chances of it being read.
Start with a friendly greeting
To start building rapport with the recruiter or hiring manager right away, lead with a friendly greeting.
Try to strike a balance between professional and personable.
Go with something like…
- Hi
- Hi [insert recruiter name]
- Hi [insert department/team name]
Stay away from old-fashioned greetings like “Dear sir/madam” unless applying to very formal companies – they can come across as cold and robotic.
How to find the contact’s name?
Addressing the recruitment contact by name is an excellent way to start building a strong relationship. If it is not listed in the job advert, try to uncover it via these methods.
- Check out the company website and look at their About page. If you see a hiring manager, HR person or internal recruiter, use their name. You could also try to figure out who would be your manager in the role and use their name.
- Head to LinkedIn, search for the company and scan through the list of employees. Most professionals are on LinkedIn these days, so this is a good bet.
Identify the role you are applying for
Once you have opened the cover letter with a warm greeting, you need to explain which role you are interested in.
Sometimes a recruitment consultant could be managing over 10 vacancies, so it’s crucial to pinpoint exactly which one you are interested in.
Highlight the department/area if possible and look for any reference numbers you can quote.
These are some examples you can add..
- I am interested in applying for the role of Accountant with your company.
- I would like to apply for the role of Sales assistant (Ref: 40f57393)
- I would like to express my interest in the customer service vacancy within your retail department
- I saw your advert for an IT project manager on Reed and would like to apply for the role.
See also: CV examples – how to write a CV – CV profiles
Highlight your suitability
The bulk of your cover letter should be focused around highlighting your suitability for the job you are applying to.
Doing this will show the recruiter that you are suitable candidate and encourage them to open your CV.
The best way to do this, is by studying the job advert you are applying to, and find out what the most important skills and knowledge are.
Once you know the most important requirements, you then need to highlight your matching skills to the recruiter. In a few sentences, tell them exactly why you are a good fit for the job and what you can offer the company.
Keep it short and sharp
It is best to keep your cover letter brief if you want to ensure you hold the attention of busy recruiters and hiring managers. A lengthy cover letter will probably not get read in full, so keep yours to around 3-6 sentences and save the real detail for your CV.
Remember the purpose of your cover letter is to quickly get recruiters to notice you and encourage them to open your CV, so it only needs to include the highlights of your experience.
Sign off professionally
To finish off your cover note, add a professional signature to the bottom, stating your important contact details and information.
This not only provides recruiters with multiple means of contacting you, but it also adds a nice professional appearance to the cover letter, which shows that you know how to conduct yourself in the workplace.
Include the following points;
- A friendly sign off – e.g. “Warm regards”
- Your full name
- Phone number (one you can answer quickly)
- Email address
Optional
- Profession title
- Professional social network – e.g. LinkedIn
Here is an example signature;
Warm regards,
Aaron Smith
Customer service professional
075557437373
Aaron@smith.com
LinkedIn
Quick tip: To save yourself from having to write your signature every time you send a job application, you can save it within your email drafts, or on a separate document that you could copy in.
What to include in your Accountant cover letter
So, what type of information should you write about in your Accountant cover letter?
The specifics will obviously depend on your profession and the jobs you are applying to, but these are the key areas you should be covering.
- Your industry experience – Tell recruiters the types of companies you have been working for and the roles you have held in the past.
- Your qualifications – Highlight your most important relevant qualifications to show employers you are qualified to do the roles you are applying for.
- The impact you have made – Demonstrate the positive impact you have made for employers in previous jobs. Have you saved money? Improved processes? Made customers happy?
- Your reasons for moving – Employers will want to know why you are leaving your current/previous role, so provide them with a brief explanation here.
- Your availability – When will you be able to start a new job? Check your current contract to find out your notice period if you are in a position already.
Accountant cover letter templates
Copy and paste these Accountant cover letter templates to get a head start on your own.
Template 1
Good afternoon, Eric
I am writing to express my strong interest in the Accountant position at PwC, as advertised on LinkedIn. With a proven track record of delivering accurate financial analysis and strategic insights, I am confident in my ability to make a significant contribution to your accounting team.
Over the past 8 years as an Accountant for KPMG, I have reduced the time required to produce P&L statements by 40% through implementing streamlined reporting processes, identified cost-saving opportunities which lowered annual expenses by £20K, as well as contributed to a 15% increase in company profits due to accurate revenue forecasting.
I regularly support internal audits, recognise potential areas of improvement, and integrate best practices to mitigate risks. I am excited about the opportunity to bring my skills and expertise to your firm’s commitment to innovation and excellence.
Thank you for considering my application. I would welcome the opportunity to further discuss my qualifications and experience in greater detail, at your earliest convenience.
Kind regards
Luke Brooks ¦ 07777777777 ¦ lukebrooks@gmail.co.uk
Template 2
Hi Drew
I am a recent graduate of the University of Birmingham, having obtained a BSc (Honours) in Finance, and would like to express my interest in the Graduate Accounting position offered by Deloitte.
During my academic journey, I excelled in various courses, including managerial accounting, auditing, and taxation. Throughout my hands-on internships over the past year with Haines Watts, I gained practical experience in analysing comprehensive financial data. Some of my notable accomplishments include, assisting in the preparation of monthly statements with 100% accuracy for a portfolio of 100 clients, as well as helping with the implementation of a new bookkeeping system that reduced the time taken to reconcile accounts by 20%.
Furthermore, I can gather documentation and prepare tax filings to ensure compliance with outlined regulations and have excelled in communicating with diverse clientele and vendors to promptly resolve billing inquiries, while enhancing satisfaction levels and maintaining positive relationships.
Thank you for considering my application. I am eager to discuss how my skills and qualifications align with the needs of PwC.
Kind regards
Jim Lewis ¦ 07777777777 ¦ jimlewis@gmail.co.uk
Template 3
Good afternoon, Faith
I am writing to express my strong interest in the Accounting Manager position at Smith & Williamson, advertised on Career Jet. As a professional with a proven track record of successfully leading financial operations, implementing process improvements, and driving strategic financial decision-making, I am excited about the opportunity to contribute my expertise to your esteemed organisation.
With 18+ years overall experience, I have consistently demonstrated my ability to support the management of the full spectrum of accounting functions, from financial reporting and analysis to budgeting and forecasting. I am passionate about creating and maintaining robust financial systems that promote transparency, accuracy, and efficiency.
In my current role as a Senior Accountant with Moore Stephens, I incorporated automated processes for accounts payable and receivable that reduced processing time by 40%, increased revenue within the first fiscal quarter by £125K through revamping pricing strategies, as well as achieved a clean audit report for 7 consecutive years due to implementing strong internal controls.
I look forward to discussing my skills and experience in greater detail at your convenience.
Kind regards
Felicity Crow ¦ 07777777777 ¦ felicitycrow@gmail.co.uk
Writing an impressive cover letter is a crucial step in landing a Accountant job, so taking the time to perfect it is well worth while.
By following the tips and examples above you will be able to create an eye-catching cover letter that will wow recruiters and ensure your CV gets read – leading to more job interviews for you.
Good luck with your job search!