Are you a pro when it comes to organization? Do you have a mind for numbers and logical flair? If the answer is yes and yes, working in an accounts payable department may suit you. You’ll have the chance to work on a selection of administration tasks, offer clerical support, and make any payments the company owes. If that sounds like your bread and butter, you need a well-written accounts payable cover letter to get started.
Pursuing this career is good news for your bank balance. Accounts payable staff members can expect to earn an average of $52,000 per year, according to Payscale. What’s more, you will have the opportunity to work in a wide variety of commercial companies. When you have mastered the real art of accounting, it opens doors in almost every major sector.
Ready to get started? Here at Resume.io, we provide tools to support you in furthering your career. Our library has expertly written 180+ cover letter examples and writing guides to go alongside them. In the following guide and corresponding accounts payable cover letter example, we will be covering these key topics:
- How to choose the right format to choose (plus a cover letter sample)
- Tips on boosting the effect of each cover letter section
- Which approach you should take when writing your application letter
- Basic mistakes to avoid in your accounts payable cover letter.
Best format for an accounts payable cover letter
You don’t have long to tell your career story. As a general rule, cover letters should be no longer than one page or 300 words in total. One of the biggest mistakes you can make is writing your cover letter without having a structure in mind. Do that, and you could end up rambling on about nothing and putting the hiring manager to sleep in the process.
To make sure that your accounts payable cover letter is easy to read and engaging, it should follow a simple format. Here are the core elements that you will need to include:
- 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)
Your resume will have done much of the heavy lifting when it comes to your skills and experience. Now it’s time to bring your history to life. You can bring some color to the cover letter by expanding on the work you have already mentioned. Pick out a couple of examples of how you have supported a former employer (and their long-term goals!).
The above cover letter structure allows you to do just that. When you’ve nailed the cover letter introduction, you can expand on your professional experiences in the middle paragraphs. Then — at the end of the letter — finish strong with a call to action. You can learn more about how to format your application in our full cover letter guide too.
Dear Mrs. Houten,
My career as an accounts payable clerk for the past four years has taught me everything about accounting, vendors, software, and communication. Having stepped up as the interim manager for the past year, I am looking for a role with more responsibility.
I have managed a busy accounts payable department with over $15m of turnover and 400+ individual supplier transactions every year. I am proficient in accounting best practices and never lower my standards, no matter how busy the end of the month is. I am constantly seeking to upgrade my qualifications and have experience leading internal seminars on SOX and GAAP standards.
Last year, I implemented a project to introduce new invoice management software that resulted in 15% quicker supplier payments for over 5,000 invoices, designed a bespoke workflow to reconcile payment discrepancies in 25% less time and increased employee satisfaction with a more efficient month-end financial close process.
A smooth accounts payable process results when files are accurate, the right documents are included, and payments are on time. I make a point of understanding the needs of vendors and colleagues, always resolving issues with an objective and trust-led approach. I received four extraordinary bonuses for my contribution.
I look forward to finding out more about the role at a potential interview. I have worked with your Financial Director Craig Foulkes previously and hope that he would have a good word to say about my tenacity and process-led attitude.
Sincerely,
Rick Banner
Cover letter header
The cover letter header is likely the first thing a recruiter will see when they glance at the document. It’s a small section that includes your name, email, and phone number. While it’s not the most creative part of your cover letter, it pays to get right from the offset. If your carefully chosen words wow the hiring manager, they will want to reach out to you. Make sure that they have all of the information they need in plain sight. Put it front and center.
Our accounts payable cover letter sample may give you an idea:
Cover letter greeting
Now that you’ve dealt with the red tape, it’s time to start your accounts payable cover letter. How you open this document matters. You want to get off on the right footing from the moment you begin. Your cover letter greeting should set the tone for the whole thing.
If you know the name of the hiring manager, you can use their title and surname. For example, you may open the cover letter with “Dear Mr./Mrs. Batton.” That detail shows that you have taken the time to read the job listing thoroughly and tailored your cover letter.
Of course, if you don’t know the name of the person dealing with the opening, you can do some detective work. Call the company and ask to whom you can address your application.
Failing that, you may have to go for a generic cover letter greeting. You should avoid the tired “To whom it may concern” greeting. It looks lazy and shows a lack of imagination. When a hiring manager sees this, they are likely to think that you’ve copied and pasted the entire letter. Show that you have tailored it by using “Dear accounting team,” for example.
Cover letter introduction
Attention spans are short. Recruiters spend six to seven seconds looking at resumes and potentially less time reading cover letters. For that reason, your cover letter introduction needs to be snappy and grab the hiring manager’s interest in a matter of seconds.
Start strong by outlining the special skills that you are bringing to the table. What talents do you have that other candidates may lack? For example, you may have won awards, be familiar with a certain type of software, or have undertaken on-the-job training. Pinpoint your highest-value attributes and lead with them when writing your cover letter.
Confidence is key here! The hiring manager will expect you to know your way around accounting software and be familiar with the processes. Simply stating that you can pay invoices won’t cut the mustard. No, you need to showcase that you have a proven track record of accuracy and success. Don’t be afraid to add evidence to back up your points.
Read your introduction back to yourself and ask one question: Does it make the reader want to know more? If the answer is no, you may need to tweak these sentences. It may take you a few attempts to nail a quick and engaging introduction, but it will be worth it.
Our accounts payable cover letter sample may give you some inspiration:
Dear Mrs. Houten,
My career as an accounts payable clerk for the past four years has taught me everything about accounting, vendors, software, and communication. Having stepped up as the interim manager for the past year, I am looking for a role with more responsibility.
Cover letter middle part (body)
Next up, the middle paragraphs of cover letters are where you start weaving your career story. You have two or three paragraphs — space allowing — where you can speak directly to the hiring manager. What do you want them to know about you? As previously mentioned, you can use this space to highlight examples that make you a good employee.
Without the accounts payable department, no commercial company would succeed. This team is responsible for making sure that all of the business’s debts are paid. The moment that stops happening, the wheels of the company stop turning. Don’t undersell your role.
Consider how your position supports the wider business. Speedy payments equal happy clients. Happy clients stick with companies for the long haul, making everything easier. When you’re deciding what to say in your cover letter, consider the anecdotes that show how productive and efficient you are. These two skills will go a long way in this field.
Remember that you are painting a picture of yourself as an accounts payable team member. What vibe do you want the hiring manager to get here? It may be smart to write the first draft and then go back and edit out any superfluous details. Check out our cover letter example.
I have managed a busy accounts payable department with over $15m of turnover and 400+ individual supplier transactions every year. I am proficient in accounting best practices and never lower my standards, no matter how busy the end of the month is. I am constantly seeking to upgrade my qualifications and have experience leading internal seminars on SOX and GAAP standards.
Last year, I implemented a project to introduce new invoice management software that resulted in 15% quicker supplier payments for over 5,000 invoices, designed a bespoke workflow to reconcile payment discrepancies in 25% less time and increased employee satisfaction with a more efficient month-end financial close process.
A smooth accounts payable process results when files are accurate, the right documents are included, and payments are on time. I make a point of understanding the needs of vendors and colleagues, always resolving issues with an objective and trust-led approach. I received four extraordinary bonuses for my contribution.
How to close an accounts payable cover letter (conclusion and sign-off)
When you’ve said all there is to say, you have to close your accounts payable cover letter. Remember to end on a high with a self-assured tone and confident outlook. While you don’t want to make any grand presumptions, you can use this space to state that you are interested in being selected for an interview and even include a call to action (CTA) too.
Leave the hiring manager wanting more. As you are signing off your cover letter, mention that you are excited at the prospect of meeting the reader in a formal interview. You can also suggest that you have more insights to share with the employer, should you meet. It’s savvy to take an optimistic tone when you’re finishing your accounts payable cover letter.
I look forward to finding out more about the role at a potential interview. I have worked with your Financial Director Craig Foulkes previously and hope that he would have a good word to say about my tenacity and process-led attitude.
Sincerely,
Rick Banner
Accounts payable cover letter with no experience
Are you new to the accounts payable game? Don’t panic — everybody has to start somewhere. Whether you’re a recent graduate or a career-changer, you could still land yourself a job in this wide-spanning sector. Here’s what to focus on if you lack experience:
- What is it that draws you to the accounts payable sector? For instance, you might have a natural way with numbers or love nothing more than getting organized.
- The processes you learned during your education and/or training. Highlight how you can use these skills should you land the role and express a desire to do so.
- The previous roles you have held, which are not in the accounts payable sector. Figure out whether there’s any overlap when it comes to skills and expertise.
- Extracurricular activities in which you have had to flex your organizational muscles. Share any nuggets of information that show off your ability to manage workloads.
The fact that you don’t have accounts payable experience should not hold you back. You can use your cover letter to fill in any of the blanks your resume may have left.
Basic mistakes in an accounts payable application letter (and how to avoid them)
By now, you should have almost everything you need to write an accounts payable cover letter. However, before you rush off to start working on it, we have a few more pieces of advice for you. Let’s take a look at some of the basic writing mistakes you should avoid:
- Spelling and grammatical mistakes. Recruiters are looking for any reason to put your application in the trash. Don’t let poor spelling be their excuse. Always proofread your cover letter and use checking software, such as Grammarly.
- Boring language! The last thing you want to do is bore the socks off a recruiter. When you’re writing your cover letter, the aim is to engage and excite the reader. You can do this by using colorful and powerful words throughout the document.
- Showing a lack of knowledge. If you are an expert in accounts payable, go ahead and toot your own horn. Weave your expertise throughout your cover letter.
Avoiding these mistakes will give you a good chance of landing that all-important interview. Be sure to review them before you send your cover letter to potential employers.
Key takeaways
- While your resume shows off your work history and skills, your accounts payable cover letter is your chance to tell your career story so far!
- Focus on the value that you — and your skill set — bring to the company.
- Make sure that your tone is professional, self-assured, and knowledgeable.
- Make the process easy by choosing one of our field-tested cover letter templates!
Looking for some more inspiration? We’ve got you covered. Take a peek at our accounting-related cover letter examples below:
