Accounting and finance cover letter example

An on-the-money accounting and finance resume does for you what a sound financial plan does for your company: keeps you on track to achieve your goals without wasted opportunity. When hiring managers look for accounting and finance professionals, they want to see a wealth of knowledge, but also the big-picture thinking to strategize and solve problems before they occur.

Entry-level

Mid-career

Senior-level

Use this template

Use this template

Use this template

You’re ready to start your job hunt, so how do you take into account all the factors that will get you that interview? Start by consulting the experts. Resume.io’s resources, including this guide, will help you profit from your job search.

In this cover letter guide, along with the corresponding accounting and finance cover letter examples, we’ll cover the following topics to help you design the best cover letter possible:

• How to choose the best cover letter format and what paragraphs the cover letter should include
• How to maximize the effect of each cover letter paragraph (header, greeting, intro, body and conclusion)
• What approach to take when writing your cover letter
• What mistakes to avoid when writing your accounting and finance cover letter.

The guide below will analyze the details and give you ideas on how to make the most of this one-page addition to your application. (You can also check out our library of 125+ cover letter examples).

Let’s start out with how to structure your accounting and finance cover letter.

Best format for an accounting and finance cover letter

Before you start filling in the details, you have to decide what columns you need in your spreadsheet. In the case of your cover letter, you need to know what sections to include. The format of an accounting and finance cover letter should contain the following elements:

• The cover letter header
• The greeting / salutation
• The cover letter intro
• The middle paragraphs (body of the letter)
• The ending paragraph of your cover letter (conclusion and call-to-action)

The cover letter complements your resume and allows you to get into more detail. To make the most of this addition to your job application, deliver a strong argument for your qualifications by adopting the correct tone and addressing the needs of each company you apply to. Use strong action words and descriptors throughout, and accounting and finance terms when appropriate and but don’t get too jargony.

The comprehensive cover letter guide is an impressive stop for  general advice on writing cover letters, but this text gets deeper into each paragraph and the specifics of writing for an accounting and finance position.

The accounting and finance cover letter example below gives an overview of how to create your own application:

Cover letter header

Accounting and finance are serious departments, so you need to keep your cover letter looking fairly conservative. That means the header should be laid out in a bold, simple font that attracts the eye without flash.

Include your name, email and phone contact information. The whole point of the header is to ensure that recruiters have no trouble finding you to schedule the interview you desire. The last thing you want is for a recruiter to toss out your application because your contact info isn’t obvious. Any roadblock could end your candidacy, so keep your header clear and prominent.

The aim of this section: Ensure ease of contact by making your email and phone number stand out and leave a professional impression with the clarity and neatness of design.

Cover letter greeting

Here’s where your effort at personalization begins. The best cover letters use the name of the hiring manager or your prospective boss. It’s human nature to feel more comfortable when addressed by name, so do your best to find out this vital information.

Then, we recommend “Dear Mr/Mrs/Ms. Surname.” You will note that our cover letter examples use this greeting. Remember to triple check that you have the spelling and honorific correct. There’s no quicker way to lose points (or the interview) than to misspell someone’s name or get their gender wrong.

If you cannot get the name of a person, “to whom it may concern” is a fine alternative. We suggest staying away from more casual greetings such as “Dear Accounting People,” since these departments tend to have a more serious style.

The aim of the cover letter greeting: Warm up the hiring manager with personalization and show that you made the extra effort.

Cover letter introduction

When you present your financial results, you go with the big, positive numbers first. Use the same philosophy with your accounting and finance cover letter intro. This is where you define your message and explain why you are a great candidate.

Start off with a one-sentence summary of who you are and give a clue to your biggest achievement. Then, start building your case. Show the hiring manager that you understand their accounting or finance software. Most hiring managers want to onboard a new person as quickly and easily as possible, so tell them the ways in which you are already doing the job they need to fill. 

Give an air of confidence, competence and trustworthiness so that they will read on to the meat of your letter. Our cover letter sample is a great guide to get you started.

The aim of the cover letter intro: Show off the best of your accounting and finance ability and let the hiring manager know you can step right into the job.

Cover letter middle part (body)

You’ve enticed the recruiters with the best you’ve got and now they are ready to read more. The middle part of your accounting and finance cover letter gives you space to show off your career assets. The achievements you choose to highlight and the words you use to describe yourself reveal a lot about who you are, so you need to write carefully and compellingly.

Target each employer with examples that illustrate how you will handle difficult financial decisions and avoid costly errors. Most accounting and finance professionals can deal with the regular routines of their jobs, but it is handling extreme circumstances well that could tip the balance in your favor.

Break out three or four of your biggest wins and turn them into bullet items that serve as a graphic element within the type, but also draw the eyes of the hiring manager.

Take a paragraph to show off your problem-solving skills and your views on investing and budget balancing. Answer at least one of the following questions: What is it like to work with you? How do you communicate? What do you think makes a company successful?

The aim of the body of your cover letter: Expand upon the message you offered in your intro with examples that give a good picture of your professional style and acumen.

How to close an accounting and finance cover letter (conclusion and sign-off)

Follow through with your message within your conclusion by restating your case for why you will provide a great return on the company’s investment in you. Be explicit about why you think you are a good fit for the job.

Then, space allowing, offer a more personal note. Explain why this job intrigues you or talk about the growth you have achieved so far in your career. Offer up a tidbit that you will be able to expand upon in your interview.

Then, respectfully end with a request for an interview. Remember that the whole point of the letter is to inspire the hiring manager to want to meet with you (and offer you a job). Our cover letter sample offers wording for your call to action so that your efforts do pay dividends.

The aim of the close of your cover letter: Maintain your confident tone as you remind recruiters why you are a great candidate and request an interview.

Writing psychology: how to convey your work ethic in your cover letter

Discussing the concrete aspects of your work history may come more naturally than displaying your soft skills. You may think it sounds disingenuous to say, “I am a great communicator who works hard.” So how do you prove that value add? Here are some pointers for doing just that:

• Tell a great story. That means using examples of times when you communicated a difficult message or successfully developed a financial plan at quarter’s end with only a few days' notice.
• Offer your accounting and finance philosophy. A sentence or two that demonstrates your style will let recruiters know you think about the company’s finances.
• Talk about a project you completed with a colleague. This shows your collaborative nature, but also allows you to enumerate another achievement.

How to avoid basic mistakes in an accounting and finance letter 

1. Spell check, grammar check, proofread! We can’t say this enough. You are in a field that requires attention to detail, so make sure you pay attention to the details here.
2. Use natural language. Sometimes, we get caught up in industry jargon. It’s fine to use the language of your trade, but make sure your message remains clear.
3. Keep your stories short. If an example needs too much explanation, it’s best saved for the interview.

Key takeaways for an accounting and finance cover letter

1. Your knowledge of GAAP (generally accepted accounting practices) and finance regulations are important, but so are skills such as grace under pressure and big-picture thinking.
2. Show the hiring manager that you already know how to do the job you are applying for.
3. Strong action words and descriptors will help you sound confident and trustworthy.
4. Pick examples that illuminate how you will add value to the company.