Accounting Cover Letter: Sample & Ready-To-Use Templates

It's not just the employment benefit plans you’ll be administering— 

It’s also the number of accounting cover letters the finance manager has to go through each day.

How do you make a perfect cover letter accounting employers will pick out over the others?

No sweat.

In this article, you’ll get:

• Two sample accounting cover letters, one for an experienced accountant and the other for an entry-level accounting cover letter.
• A step-by-step guide on writing a bookkeeper or accounts payable cover letter certain to land you more job interviews.
• An accountant cover letter template for you to copy, adjust, and prepare in only 15 minutes.

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Looking for other cover letter examples for positions in accounting and finances? See:

• Bank Teller Cover Letter
• Business Analyst Cover Letter
• Finance Cover Letter
• Financial Analyst Cover Letter
• Investment Banking Cover Letter 

Haven't found what you're looking for? Check all our best cover letter examples.

To start things off, we’ll give you the two accountant cover letter examples.

Pay attention to the contents, layout, and structure to understand what gives each one a high market value:

1. Accounting Cover Letter Sample

First, say hello to Jessica.

Jessica’s interest in finance started at age 8, when she successfully sold her first startup, a lemonade stand, to her younger brother Jeffrey for an undisclosed amount.

Jessica is a certified public accountant with several years of experience at a small office, where she handled payroll, balancing budgets, and ensuring accurate cost tracking. 

The job to which she’s applying is at United Media Conglomerate, a larger, international company seeking a staff accountant for their finance team. The right candidate should be familiar with modern accounting practises, software, and regulations.

See how Jessica’s accounting cover letter sample shows she’s more than capable:

Example #1: Mid-Level Candidate

There you have it—an accounting cover letter sample certain to win the chief financial officer or finance manager over.

But—

What about a cover letter for an accounting job with no experience?

We’ve got you covered there, too.

Meet Jeffrey.

Jeffrey is Jessica’s little brother, though there’s nothing “little” about him. His 6’ 5” frame towers over everyone else in the Wallace family and no one knows where he got it.

More importantly, Jeffrey is a senior university student aiming for a bachelor’s degree in business administration. As he specialises in accounting and finance, he has a great academic background for any internship or entry-level accounting job.

Let’s see his sample accounting internship cover letter:

Example #2: Accounting Cover Letter No Experience

You now have two sample accountant cover letters.

Now it’s time to write yours— 

Let’s learn how to write a cover letter for accounting jobs of your own. 

Is your accounting CV ready to be audited by the hiring manager? See:

• Accounting CV Examples
• Accounting Assistant CV Examples

2. How to Write a Cover Letter for Accounting Jobs Step by Step (Template)

Here’s how to write a cover letter for accountant jobs sure to win their hearts:

1. Format Accounting Cover Letters Like You Would Formal Business Letters

You want your cover letter for finance jobs to wow them as if they were told their stock shares just announced a massive, one-time special dividend.

However— 

Before you begin writing, the accounting cover letter template needs to be formatted correctly.

This is how to format a cover letter:

• Select a cover letter font that is easy to read; use the same one on your accountant CV as well.
• Align everything to the left, from the contact details at the top to your signature at the end.
• Use single-line spacing within the general body text and leave a one-inch margin around the edges of your accounting clerk cover letter.
• Write a single-page staff accountant cover letter, and, if it spills onto a second page, trim it down.

Expert Hint: According to the U.S. Bureau of Labour Statistics, jobs for accountants and auditors will grow by 10% between 2016 and 2026. Those 140,000 new financial job positions mean a lot of competition for you, so don’t slack on your accounting cover letter.

2. Start With a Neatly Organised Accountant Cover Letter Header

Whether you’re applying to become a financial analyst or a compliance controller, the heading of your cover letter stays the same.

It’s your details, followed by a date, and then the company’s details. To be most effective, ensure that it matches the accounting CV template header, as well.

Here’s an easy template to use for yourself:

Accounting Graduate Cover Letter

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3. Introduce Yourself and Identify the Accounting Job You’re Applying For

You’ve got the eye to spot an accounting error from a mile away. 

Well— 

The hiring manager has an eye for spotting great candidates and poor ones. 

If you want them to consider you as a top accounting contender, come out of the gate strong with a superb first paragraph.

First, address them by name. Go to the company’s website and look on their about page, or search LinkedIn to find it.

Then, open the cover letter by introducing yourself, stating the position you’re applying for, and give them a brief summary of your professional experience and accounting skills to date. 

Here’s a template for you to use to get you started:

Cover Letter For Accounting Assistant: Introduction

Expert Hint: A recent study supports the idea that there is a direct relationship between organisational commitment and satisfaction with the job and life among accountants and CPAs. Be sure your cover letter exudes your enthusiasm for an extra boost in securing the interview.

4. Highlight Relevant Accounting Skills & Financial Strengths

In the next paragraph of any financial cover letter, you need to show them how you meet and exceed their needs.

So— 

Look again at the accounting job description, and make a note of the job responsibilities put forth. Write a paragraph explaining how you are the best match.

Here’s a sample fill-in-the-blank template for the middle paragraph:

Example Cover Letter for Accounting Jobs: Middle Paragraph

Expert Hint: Researchers at Massey University performed a study where they parsed hundreds of accounting job descriptions. They identified 31 skills preferred by most employers, but the most common were collaboration skills and an upbeat attitude. Talk these up on your accounts manager cover letter to gain an advantage!

5. Give Reasons Why You Want to Join

In the third paragraph, show them you’re a financial candidate who’s interested in more than their money.

They want you for your auditing skills and payroll expertise, true. However, they’d also like to hire an accountant who fits in with the culture of the company.

So— 

Show your enthusiasm for this company. Give them a compliment or two.

Feel free to copy this template:

Accountant Cover Letter Example: Motivational Statement

6. End Using an Effective Call-to-Action and Sign-Off

Ending a covering letter is simple— 

Simply ask them for a meeting or phone conversation where you can discuss everything further.

Here’s a sample accountant cover letter closing to use as a reference:

Sample Cover Letter for Accounting Jobs: Call-to-Action Statement

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Key Points

Let’s sum it all up— 

Here’s how to write a cover letter for accounting jobs:

• Start with a properly formatted cover letter header, including your info, the date, and the company’s details.
• Address the finance manager or HR rep directly in your cover letter salutation.
• In the opening paragraph, introduce yourself, inform them of the accounting position you’re applying for, and give a quick recap of your professional background.
• In the next paragraph, use this area to show how your financial management skills and auditing abilities match the accounting job description.
• Show some enthusiasm about the company.
• End with a solid call-to-action statement.
• Don’t forget to tweak your accounting CV before sending it all off.

Got any questions on writing a cover letter accountant managers love? Need more templates? Check out these free MS Word Cover Letter Templates.  Let’s chat in the comment section below, and thank you for reading!

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