Accounts Receivable cover letter example

The money comes in and the money goes out. It’s your job to track it and make sure you do so to the penny. The detail-oriented nature of your job means you need a flawless accounts receivable cover letter that shows you ferret out errors before they become problems.

The message a noteworthy cover letter sends is thus: “I will take your accounting department liabilities and turn them into assets.”

You’re a numbers person, but with our tips, hints, and templates, you can develop a document that will achieve your goal of an interview. Below you will find a accounts receivable cover letter example and a corresponding writing guide designed to

• Explain why you need an accounts receivable cover letter and what its goals are
• Detail each part of your letter and present writing tips to help you get your message across in one page
• Help you avoid common errors that appear in cover letters

Best format for an accounts receivable cover letter

Believe it or not, there is a format for your accounts receivable cover letter even though it seems as though it is completely freeform. Your profession attracts people who like process, so thinking of your letter in a structured way may help you create it.

The format of an application document 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 comprehensive cover letter guide offers general advice on cover letters, but below, you will find tips and ideas geared for accounts receivable workers.

This accounts receivable cover letter example will give you a starting point for writing your own cover letter:

Cover letter header

As we’ve said, yours is a structured profession, so make sure the initial impression of you is one of organization. Keep the head of your accounts receivable cover letter crisp and align its style with that of your resume.

Contained within this graphic element are the key details that allow the recruiter to contain you immediately to schedule an interview: your name, current title or the title of the job you want, and the best email and phone number with which to reach you. You may include your town or city, but your street address is not necessary unless it is directly relevant. Instead, a LinkedIn profile URL or other professional social media account is a better use of space.

Cover letter greeting

There are two ideas to focus your attention on when you open your accounts receivable cover letter:

1. People like to be addressed personally (as long as you do it correctly)
2. These first words create the tone that you want to take throughout your letter.

There are several methods to find out to whom to address your letter if no one is named in the job listing. You may try the company website to find the name of the head of accounting or HR department. If that doesn’t work, you can get old-fashioned, call in and simply ask. You may find it best to do so anyway, because not only do you want to make sure you spell the person’s name correctly, but you want to use the correct title as well.

Once you have the details, go ahead and start with “Dear Dr./Mr./Ms/Mx. [Last name]. If you are applying to a committee or have no luck finding out exactly to whom you are writing, you may use a greeting such as “Dear Accounting Department” or “Dear Accounting Team.” By no means should you revert to the stodgy and dated “To Whom It May Concern.”

Cover letter introduction

The introduction of your accounts receivable cover letter is like the trailer for a movie: It doesn’t just summarize, it plays up the most exciting parts so you’ll want to see more. Before you begin, you need to decide which of your achievements will most impress your prospective employer.

Once you have a clear idea of how to impress, you will need to frame that achievement in the context of your career. For example: “In three years as head accounts receivable clerk, I streamlined the billing process, resulting in decreased time to bill clients and receive payment by 15 percent.”

Next, tell your reader how that will help them in their accounting department and what qualities you have that will make you a great addition to the team.

The goal of this section: Give your reader a reason to look forward to your next paragraph by highlighting your best.

Cover letter middle part (body)

The middle three or four paragraphs of your accounts receivable cover letter expands upon the experience and skills you outlined in your introduction. This is not a repetition of your resume, but you may choose to add detail to a few of the successes you listed there.

Keep your focus on your main message: why you are right for this job. That means that your emphasis will likely change a bit depending on the size of the department or company and the industry. Building a case for employment means addressing the needs of the employer. A medical clinic will have different accounting priorities than a retail establishment, for example.

You may also choose three (or four if they are short) items to create a bulleted list of achievements that add evidence to your main message. Be sure you use data and details within them (especially since they are so important in your profession). 

The goal of this section: Use data and details to provide more information on your career and show off your qualifications.

How to close an accounts receivable cover letter (conclusion and sign-off)

In the initial accounting, you are ahead of the game because your reader has made it this far. Now, you need to close your accounts receivable cover letter in a way that is memorable and invites an interview.

First, remind the reader of your main message. Then, if you have the space in this one-page document, mention something that reveals a bit about who you are. This could be that you find joy in numbers or that you used to help your grandmother balance her checkbook and took great pride in always succeeding.

Finally, make a polite request for that all-important interview and close with “Sincerely,” or “Best regards,” and your full name.

The goal of this section: Remind the reader of your main message and make it clear that you are interested in discussing the opportunity further.

Basic mistakes in an accounts receivable application letter (and how to avoid them)

• Maintain a professional tone throughout, but avoid too much jargon since not every company uses the same terminology.
• Proofread your work as carefully as you go over the numbers. In accounts receivable, even a small error matters.
• You may be a numbers person, but you need people skills, too. Make sure your professional personality shines through.

Key takeaways

1. Start off strong with an introduction that entices the reader to keep going.
2. Play to your strengths: Use data and make sure you eliminate errors.
3. Address the needs of your prospective employer directly.