Bookkeepers may not be the best writers, so a bookkeeper cover letter could be the most important piece of writing that they have done for a while. Responsible for recording transactions, balancing budgets and light accounting duties, bookkeepers make sure the money flows smoothly in both directions. Now it is time for the words to flow.
Bookkeeping is an analytical job, requiring sharp math skills, attention to detail and a penchant for data entry. Bookkeepers work closely with accountants and financial advisors to make sure both corporate and personal accounts are accurately recorded. How do you highlight these strengths in written form?
A great cover letter will help you catch a hiring manager’s attention and increase your chances of landing the job you want. This bookkeeper cover letter example along with our adaptable sample sentences will:
- Explain why a cover letter is an essential tool to land your next bookkeeping role
- Offer free cover letter examples, samples and templates to help you start the writing process
- Demonstrate how to showcase the credentials you need to stand out in today’s field
- Help you create formatting that stands out from the crowd and impresses the employer.
One of the best ways to begin your cover letter is by looking at a sample. Our cover letter sample for a bookkeeper position will help you formulate your experience into thoughtful paragraphs that highlight your skills.
Now let’s check out a bookkeeper cover letter sample that can serve as a jumping-off point for your own.
Dear Mr. Marwick,
School bookkeepers understand the value of keeping a close eye on the finances. Spending too much on unnecessary items means that students will suffer in other areas. Money needs to flow to where it impacts educational outcomes the most.
Having worked as the lead bookkeeper for two school districts, I have worked with many dedicated and passionate education leaders. Sadly, not all have been fully financially literate – that is my job. Education budgets are not a bottomless pit. Public funds are best used when there are strict guidelines and thorough budgets in place.
My experience covers all the needs of a school district, and more:
- Multi-distract payroll, benefits, and supplier payment management.
- Managing the profit and loss and budgeting process for the district.
- Invoice management, collections, PO management, supplier negotiations.
- Found errors amounting to $67,500 over one year - reconciled accounts.
I am a confident user of the latest financial software and have managed three upgrade projects. One such rollout allowed me to track delinquent accounts easier, led to a 42% improvement in debtor days, and was replicated across six local school districts.
I strive to be an efficient communicator with my colleagues and simplify financial issues where possible. Teaching leaders should worry about the students, first and foremost. 89% of former colleagues said that I was doing a “great job” at my last appraisal.
The role was recommended to me by Tayla Marshall, who knows me from a previous employer. I would very much welcome an interview to understand your accounting challenges in more detail.
Sincerely,
Kane Jones
Customize your cover letter for success
Writing a cover letter is half the battle, but there’s one more step you’ll need to take before you can rest easy that your cover letter will be effective. Customizing your cover letter means tailoring it with the right skills, experiences and accomplishments based on the employers’ needs. One of the best ways to do this is to closely read the job description to pick out the most important characteristics to fit into your potential workplace. The time it takes to tailor your cover letter will pay off big when a hiring manager notices your attention to detail and reaches out to schedule an interview.
Best format for a bookkeeper cover letter
One of the most difficult parts about writing a cover letter is simply getting started. The blank page feels like a canvas of endless possibilities – or rather endless decisions holding you back from submitting your application. Fear not! In this next section we will break down the cover letter writing process into manageable steps so you can rest assured you’ve checked all the boxes.
Here are the key components of a bookkeeper cover letter:
- The cover letter header
- The cover letter greeting or salutation
- The introduction
- The letter body
- The conclusion
- The signature.
You can find even more details about how to write and format each of these sections in our comprehensive cover letter writing guide.
If you find this bookkeeper cover letter guide helpful, please do have a look at some of our other accounting and finance cover letter examples:
- Accounting cover letter sample
- Finance cover letter sample
- Banking cover letter sample
- Administration cover letter sample
- Finance Assistant cover letter sample
- Finance Manager cover letter sample
- Bank Teller cover letter sample
- Auditor cover letter sample
- Private Equity cover letter sample
- Accounting and finance cover letter sample
- Bank Manager cover letter sample
- Loan Processor cover letter sample
- Accounting Internship cover letter sample
- Financial Advisor cover letter sample
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CFO cover letter sample
Cover letter header
Located at the very top of your cover letter, the header is intended to serve two important purposes. The first is to identify your document with your name and contact information so that a hiring manager knows 1. who’s cover letter they are reading and 2. how they can get in touch with you should they want to set up an interview. If applying online, there’s no need to include your physical mailing address – email and phone number should suffice. There are also data protection issues when including a full mailing address.
The second function of your cover letter header is to spruce up the page with the right amount of visual design. This is one of the only places you’ll be able to get creative with your formatting so it’s worth taking the time to make sure your layout says the right thing about you.
The goal of the cover letter header: Make it easy for a hiring manager to quickly find your name and contact information, create attractive formatting that catches a hiring manager’s attention while still being industry-appropriate.
Align document styles!
Aligning document styles need not be complicated. A cover letter template and corresponding one for our resume can help simplify this process by offering an expertly-designed format just waiting for you to plug your information in. For bookkeeping positions, we recommend Resume.io’s Professional templates. Don’t forget to consider the company tone and branding when choosing a template.
Cover letter greeting and introduction
Your cover letter greeting is a short section but essential to getting your cover letter off to the right start. Whenever possible, aim to address the hiring manager or letter recipient by name in order to establish a personal connection and friendly tone. For professional professions like bookkeeping “Dear” followed by the correct salutation and last name is generally the safest and most-appreciated option.
The goal of the cover letter greeting: Address the letter recipient by name to establish a personal connection, inject some human relatability and start a dialogue with the hiring decision-maker.
The importance of names and addressed greetings.
Using colleagues' names is one of the best things you can do to establish rapport and mutual respect in your office, according to the Washington Post. And the evidence for that is not just anecdotal. In fact, studies have shown we have a positive neurological response to hearing our own names. The same is true for writing which is why we recommend addressing your cover letter recipient by name whenever possible.
In many sizable companies, however, hiring is often taken care of by a team. It can be difficult to find any hiring manager’s name, let alone be sure they’re the one who will read your letter. In that case you’ll have to resort to a different approach. Instead of using the outdated and overly formal “To Whom It May Concern,” you can opt for a collective greeting that uses the company name.
In a crowded applicant pool, your cover letter introduction is one of your best chances to stand out and encourage the hiring manager to keep reading your cover letter. Try to avoid bland and generic openings. Instead opt for a relevant statistic, interesting anecdote or strong belief statement. Make sure to keep your tone professional and mention the job you are applying for within the first two sentences.
The goal of the cover letter introduction: Create an exciting introduction that draws a reader into your letter by leading with a related fact, skill or experience.
Dear Mr. Marwick,
Bookkeepers who work in public education understand the value of keeping the finances on a tight leash. The ability to track spend and manage wasteful investments have a direct impact on the educational outcomes of students.
Cover letter middle part (body)
The longest section of your cover letter, the body is where you’ll have space to expand on your most relevant achievements, skills and all the reasons why you’re the right candidate for the job. One of the best ways to organize this section is by creating short anecdotes using the STAR method. First, describe a Situation and the Task required of you, then list your Action and the positive Result that followed.
In a second body paragraph you can more directly discuss your strengths and interest in the company as well as your potential contributions.
The goal of the cover letter body: Use the STAR method to create short anecdotes about your most relevant experiences, expand on the most important skills needed for the position.
Having worked as the lead bookkeeper for two school districts, I have worked with many dedicated and passionate education leaders. Sadly, not all have been fully financially literate – that is my job. Education budgets are not a bottomless pit. Public funds are best used when there are strict guidelines and thorough budgets in place.
My experience covers all the needs of a school district, and more:
- Multi-distract payroll, benefits, and supplier payment management.
- Managing the profit and loss and budgeting process for the district.
- Invoice management, collections, PO management, supplier negotiations.
- Found errors amounting to $67,500 over one year - reconciled accounts.
I am a confident user of the latest financial software and have managed three upgrade projects. One such rollout allowed me to track delinquent accounts easier, led to a 42% improvement in debtor days, and was replicated across six local school districts.
I strive to be an efficient communicator with my colleagues and simplify financial issues where possible. Teaching leaders should worry about the students, first and foremost. 89% of former colleagues said that I was doing a “great job” at my last appraisal.
How to close a bookkeeper cover letter (conclusion and sign-off)
When it’s time to wrap up your cover letter, you’ll want to create an effective Call to Action. This sentence expresses your interest in the position and invites a hiring manager to contact you without sounding entitled to an interview. Have confidence in your application, but don't be too presumptuous.
Then, finish your letter with the appropriate signature. “Best regards” or “Sincerely” can work well for formal positions like bookkeeping.
The goal of cover letter conclusion: Create a call to action that encourages a hiring manager to get in touch, sign off with a professional signature.
The role was recommended to me by Tayla Marshall, who knows me from a previous employer. I would very much welcome an interview to understand your accounting challenges in more detail.
Sincerely,
Kane Jones
Common mistakes to avoid
By avoiding these common cover letter pitfalls, you can quickly surpass many of the other candidates for bookkeeping roles.
- Typos and grammar mistakes: These errors may seem small but they quickly undermine the credibility and attention to detail you worked so hard to cultivate in your cover letter. Make sure to use spell check or ask a friend to proofread your application before you submit.
- Formatting errors: Your visual presentation is just as important to your professionalism as your writing. Make sure your format is clean and organized with a formal color scheme and fonts that are appropriate for your potential employer.
- Irrelevant experience: While bookkeeping can be an entry-level position, you’ll need some sort of experience that shows you have the right skills and interest. If you’ve never worked as a bookkeeper before, make sure you focus on only the most transferable skills from other positions.
Key takeaways for a bookkeeper cover letter
- Since the resumes of many bookkeeping candidates will contain similar skills and experiences, your cover letter is a key opportunity to stand out from the crowd.
- Make sure your cover letter is tailored to each company and position you apply to so that a hiring manager can easily see why you are the perfect fit.
- The cover letter structure can be used as a guide to make sure you’ve included all the necessary sections that recruiters expect from your document.
- As bookkeeping positions become more advanced, make sure to leverage your knowledge of computer programs and basic accounting practices to have the best shot at landing the position.
- Your formatting is likely the first thing a hiring manager will notice when reviewing your cover letter. Follow professional guidelines, use our accounting & finance cover letter examples and templates to be certain your layout will impress.
