Accountant cover letter example

With a sharp grasp of numbers and a keen eye for detail, the role of an accountant requires someone that can juggle a number of financial tasks. An accountant may work for a large or small organisation and their tasks are likely to differ depending on company size. 

While the number crunching may increasingly be done by machines (thank goodness), there is a human side to accountancy that is becoming increasingly important. Your accountant cover letter can showcase how you explain the numbers to your colleagues. Don't hide behind your spreadsheets.

This accountant cover letter guide and accountant cover letter samples are suitable for those who don’t know where to start, as well as those who just need some additional help or clarity. Accountants don't usually need to be creative with words, so this is a task worth taking slowly. 

Let’s get started. 

Accountant full text-only cover letter example

Sections of an accountant cover letter

You should think of your accountant cover letter as the introduction that leads the hiring manager to your CV. It should be short and concise and no longer than one page in length. 

Your future boss will not be keen to read too much about you, so let your numbers do the talking. We would suggest sticking to the following format:

1. Cover letter header. Start by detailing your contact details and the date.
2. Greeting. The salutation or greeting is the way in which you address the recipient; try to personalise it when possible.
3. Introduction. Use this portion to grab attention by displaying key aspects of your skills and experience that are relevant to the job.
4. Body. Fill this space with more detail regarding your skills and experience, and how you will fit into the company and role. Show how your background aligns with the company’s goals and values.
5. Conclusion. Wrap up your letter by summarising your qualifications and expressing your interest in the role. Try to conclude with a sign off or call to action.
6. Signature. End with a professional goodbye, including your name.

You may want to have a look at our comprehensive cover letter formatting guide for further help with creating your accountant cover letter.

After crafting your header and addressing the hiring manager, you’re ready to start your introduction.

Introduction of an accountant cover letter

Introduce yourself to the hiring manager in just a few sentences. What are your main skills and expertise relevant to the role? They will be interested to see how you go about your work as well as what you have achieved. 

Share how you contributed to a significant project or made a significant difference to the bottom line. The introduction should include the most relevant and impressive part of your career story. What will make the hiring manager sit up and take notice?

Instead of a basic and generic statement about your capabilities, take it further by illustrating your skills in action. For example, if you led a project that streamlined and simplified your company’s annual budget saving thousands, showcase that right up front. 

Accounting cover letter body

The middle section, or body, is slightly longer, so a few sentences is fine. This is where you’ll go into a bit more detail about your experience, skills, and any significant achievements. The cover letter is only a synopsis of your experience and skills, so don’t worry about going into too much detail here. Share a couple of significant projects and don't forget to add financials and context. Don't share anything confidential; you need to be seen to be a safe pair of hands with the numbers.

In the body of your cover letter, follow this template: 

• Highlight your skills and experience
• Show how you're a perfect fit for the company's culture.
• Wrap up with a conclusion that packs a punch
• End with a compelling call to action that leaves the hiring manager eager to contact you

First body paragraph: Your suitability for the role (skills & experience)

Start by showcasing the key skills and experiences that make you a perfect match for the job. For example: 

1. Highlight your education. ​​Do you have a master’s degree in accountancy or extensive certifications? Share how these have furthered your knowledge and enabled you to contribute to past companies.
2. Emphasise customer experience skills. While accountants crunch numbers, much of their work is still in service to people—so be sure to reflect on how you maintain satisfied clients.
3. Technology and trend awareness. Delve into any accounting-related technologies or tools with which you’re proficient. Share how you stay up to date on the latest technologies, especially if you’re applying to a technical company.
4. Data orientation. A strong accountant is all about the details, so don’t overlook this in your cover letter.
5. Supervisory and operational roles. If you’ve led teams of accountants or other finance professionals, be sure to mention this especially if you’re applying to a leadership position.

Second body paragraph(s): Alignment with the organisation

Tailor your cover letter to the company’s culture and mission as much as you can. That means researching the organisation to understand their mission statement and values. Then, show how your own values and experiences align with theirs. 

For example, applying to an accounting role with a high-profile, large tech company, you might emphasise:

• Working with large datasets
• Collaborating with numerous stakeholders and leaders
• Learning and leveraging modern accounting technologies and systems
• A passion for continuous learning and improvement

If there’s anything about the company that resonates with you personally, like you dreamed of working there as a child, or are a frequent user of their product, that’s worth conveying, too. 

Call to action & conclusion: Finish off strong

The last section of your accountant cover letter is where you reach a conclusion and sign off. Where possible, we would advise that you try to personalise this to the company, as it will leave them feeling that you are enthusiastic about the company and that you have taken the time to conduct some research. 

Most accountants will have plenty of career stories to tell, but leave a few for when you meet during an interview. The conclusion should be reserved for a polite sign off and a hope to find out more.

Conclude by signing off with your name as you would any other formal letter. 

How to write an accounting cover letter with no experience 

If you’re a recent graduate or otherwise new to the accounting field, you can focus on your education and transferable skills as well as your enthusiasm for joining the accounting industry. 

For example, without direct experience, you can consider focusing on: 

• Transferable skills. Demonstrate how past positions make you a fit in an accountant role. For instance, did you hone your detail-orientation abilities in an accounting-adjacent role like accounts payable? Do you have strong customer service skills from working in a people-focused role?
• Technical skills. Showcase your technical skills, especially in software and systems that are related to accounting work.
• Volunteer work. Have you contributed your accounting knowledge on a volunteer basis for your favourite non-profit?
• Academics. Of course, your accounting degree and any certifications are important to include here. If you’re lacking those, include any relevant classes or trainings instead.

Sharing your transferable skills alongside your enthusiasm for accounting will balance out your lack of experience, giving you a better chance at landing an interview.

Key takeaways

A cover letter is an essential part of a complete job application, so if you’re writing a cover letter for accountant roles, be sure to craft yours with care. 

Your cover letter should attract attention, be well-formatted, and include a call to action to invite the hiring manager to get in touch. 

Our cover letter builder can help you design a polished, compelling cover letter and land your next accounting job.