Account management is a thriving field. The latest statistics reveal that there are around 473 thousand people working in sales accounts and business development management roles across the UK. If you’re a skilled account manager, there’s plenty of opportunities out there.
While your CV outlines your experience and qualifications, your account manager cover letter provides the perfect platform to showcase the unique value you bring to the table. But how can you effectively communicate all that you offer in just 300-400 words? Fortunately, we’ve got the guidance you need to make it happen.
In this guide, we’ll give you the lowdown on how to create a compelling cover letter for account manager jobs and move closer to securing that all-important interview.
Account manager full text-only cover letter example
Dear Mr. Marshall,
I am writing to express my strong interest in the Account Manager position at Xero UK Limited, as advertised on your company website. With over five years of experience in sales and account management within the software industry, I am confident that my skills and expertise align well with the requirements of this role.
In my current position as Senior Account Executive at Oracle in Reading, I have consistently exceeded sales targets and maintained strong relationships with key clients in the finance and manufacturing sectors. My ability to understand complex client needs and provide tailored solutions has resulted in a 25% increase in account retention over the past two years.
I am particularly drawn to Xero's reputation for innovative cloud-based accounting solutions, as well as its commitment to supporting small and medium-sized businesses. Your recent integration with the Edinburgh-based payment platform, FreeAgent, demonstrates Xero's dedication to staying at the forefront of financial technology, which greatly appeals to me.
My key strengths include:
- Developing and implementing strategic account plans
- Negotiating high-value contracts
- Building and maintaining strong client relationships
- Collaborating effectively with cross-functional teams
I am excited about the opportunity to bring my expertise and passion for client success to Xero UK Limited. I would welcome the chance to discuss how my experience and skills can contribute to your team's goals.
Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Jim Lawrence
Sections of an account manager cover letter
When you’re aiming to land a huge account, you’ll be focused on developing the perfect pitch to convert your client. The same goes for your account manager cover letter. Having a plan in place in terms of format and structure will ensure you make a great first impression.
Here’s the key sections you need to cover:
- Cover letter header. List your essential contact information, including name, contact details, and LinkedIn URL, in a professional cover letter header.
- Greeting. Address the hiring manager by name, rather than using a less personalised approach such as the generic “ Dear Sir or Madam.”
- Introduction. Grab the attention of a prospective employer with a powerful introduction that sets you apart from the crowd. Share your enthusiasm for the role.
- Body. Highlight your standout qualifications and contextualise your experience for the specific account manager role in the main (body) section of your cover letter.
- Conclusion. Summarise key points and reiterate your strong interest in working with the company. Include a call to action to encourage the hiring manager to get in touch.
- Signature. Wrap up with a professional sign off, including your full name.
Your account manager cover letter should be short and sweet. Stick to a one-page cover letter that is concise, informative, and engaging to avoid the hiring manager zoning out.
Always give your cover letter a thorough review once you’ve finished writing to eliminate any potential errors. One of the top reasons why recruiters reject candidates is because of poor grammar or spelling errors in their applications.
Writing a cover letter can be a daunting task. If you need some inspiration, check out our library of related account manager cover letter examples:
Another great resource is our article on how to write a cover letter. This provides comprehensive information and details about preparing each section of the perfect cover letter.
Once you’ve perfected your header and greeted the hiring manager, it’s time to create a powerful intro that generates interest.
Introduction of an account manager cover letter
Your cover letter introduction needs to convey your passion for account management, strong track record of success, and reason(s) why you want to join the company. This is your initial pitch, so it needs to convince the hiring manager to read on and learn more about your experience.
When starting your cover letter, generate some interest by mentioning a notable achievement, anecdote, or compelling backstory.
Dear Mr. Marshall,
I am writing to express my strong interest in the Account Manager position at Xero UK Limited, as advertised on your company website. With over five years of experience in sales and account management within the software industry, I am confident that my skills and expertise align well with the requirements of this role.
Dear Josh,
Hope you’re well. I am writing to apply for the account manager role with Elevate. I’ve acquired significant experience and success in the field of account management, so I feel ideally suited to this opportunity.
Highlighting relevant areas where you have excelled in your account management career is going to resonate much more with the employer than a generic, run-of-the-mill introduction. For this reason, it’s a good idea to do some background research on the employer to learn about their core goals and where you align.
Aim to keep your introduction as concise as possible. You don’t need to go into the weeds here. This is more of a teaser to pique the reader's curiosity and motivate them to read on. Stick to two and three sentences that directly relate to the core goals or objectives of the job opening.
Account manager cover letter body
Follow this tried and tested formula when creating the body section of your account manager cover letter:
- Focus on your unique skills and experience in account management
- Demonstrate how you’ll be a great fit for company culture
- Summarise key points via a direct and impactful conclusion
- Wrap up with a persuasive call to action that compels the hiring manager to contact you
First body paragraph
Start strong with a first body paragraph that highlights your ability to build strong client relationships and lead top-performing teams. Think of this as the heart of your cover letter that connects your experience with the job opening.
Here are some strategies to present your account management skills and experience in the best possible light:
- Showcase your achievements. Cherry pick accomplishments that are relevant to the job opening and demonstrate your industry expertise and skills. Make sure to back these up with quantifiable information.
- Highlight specific account management expertise. Highlight if you’re an expert in digital account management, SEO optimisation, social media, or retail account management. Use the job description as your guide for which specific strengths to include.
- Analytical skills. Recall times when you’ve applied your strong analytical skills to make data-driven decisions and ensure positive outcomes for the organisation.
- Communication. Highlight your strong communication skills in action, including success negotiating client contracts, resolving complaints, and retaining loyal customers.
- Leadership. Mention your experience in team leadership, from delegating tasks to providing mentorship and support for account management teams.
Expand on your CV while avoiding repetition
Cover letters can often seem like an afterthought, especially when you’ve already invested so much effort into crafting a strong account manager CV. As a result, it’s tempting to simply copy and paste content from your CV and make a few minor tweaks.
Try to view your cover letter as complimentary to your CV, but not identical. Essentially, your CV is the cheese and your cover letter is the cracker.
Here are some strategies to help you expand and differentiate from your CV:
- Account management is all about rapport building, so add some personality with engaging language and compelling stories, as long as it’s professional.
- Elaborate on your key selling points, qualities, and potential in more detail.
- Refer to industry trends, opportunities, and challenges to demonstrate your expertise.
Second body paragraph
Companies look for account management professionals who are passionate about joining their organisation, so any opportunity to build rapport is not to be missed.
Researching the company website and social media platforms is a great way to connect your expertise to a company’s vision and values. You can then communicate this in your account manager cover letter.
For example, Unilever share their mission and vision as:
- Driving sustainable growth with high-quality products that improve health and well-being.
- Reducing environmental impact while increasing positive social outcomes.
- Delivering consumer-centric solutions across global and local markets.
- Creating a positive societal impact through brands that promote sustainable living.
Incorporating specifics from a company’s vision and values will ensure that your cover letter hits the right note. For example, you could mention your work on tailoring product strategies to consumer insights and sustainable approaches that would strike a chord with this employer.
In my current position as Senior Account Executive at Oracle in Reading, I have consistently exceeded sales targets and maintained strong relationships with key clients in the finance and manufacturing sectors. My ability to understand complex client needs and provide tailored solutions has resulted in a 25% increase in account retention over the past two years.
I am particularly drawn to Xero's reputation for innovative cloud-based accounting solutions, as well as its commitment to supporting small and medium-sized businesses. Your recent integration with the Edinburgh-based payment platform, FreeAgent, demonstrates Xero's dedication to staying at the forefront of financial technology, which greatly appeals to me.
My key strengths include:
- Developing and implementing strategic account plans
- Negotiating high-value contracts
- Building and maintaining strong client relationships
- Collaborating effectively with cross-functional teams
Call to action & conclusion
The closing section of your account manager cover letter needs to convince the hiring manager to give you a shot at an interview. This is where you need to deliver a compelling end to your cover letter for account manager jobs that leaves a lasting impression.
Focus on the added value you can bring to your prospective employer. Reiterate your commitment to applying your skills and expertise to benefit their future goals.
Make sure to thank the employer for reviewing your application. This shows that you respect their time and could improve your chances of getting an interview.
End with a confident call to action that invites the hiring manager to contact you about next steps or scheduling an interview.
I am excited about the opportunity to bring my expertise and passion for client success to Xero UK Limited. I would welcome the chance to discuss how my experience and skills can contribute to your team's goals.
Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Jim Lawrence
Sign off in a respectful way with a professional closing, such as “Sincerely,” followed by your full name or typed signature.
Key takeaways
A cover letter is an essential component of any job-winning application and provides the opportunity to position yourself as the best account manager for the job.
Showcase your top-flight account management skills, experience, and achievements, combined with your strong leadership capabilities, throughout your account manager cover letter. Adopt a clear and professional format, then add a dash of personality.
Try our cover letter builder and CV maker to commit the story of your professional account management career to paper and boost your job interview prospects!