Accountant Cover Letter Example

With an eye for numbers and an ability to play close diligence, 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 the tasks are likely to differ depending on this. 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 the corresponding resume examples 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. By the end of the guide, you can expect to be able to:

• Structure your cover letter concisely
• Understand what tweaks can be made to tailor your cover letter to a specific role
• Avoid making mistakes with your accountant cover letter

If you are looking for a role in accountancy, you will find that there are many opportunities, with a demand that is expected to continue to rise over the next 5 or more years. Although the opportunities may be increasing, it is often challenging to obtain a role within accountancy, and a good degree qualification will be necessary.

Best format for 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 - let your numbers do the talking. We would suggest sticking to the following format:

• Header – the header is situated at the top and contains your key contact details.
• Greeting – the salutation or greeting is the way in which you address the recipient – personalised where possible.
• Introduction – the key aspects of your skills and experience that are relevant to the job.
• Main body – some more detail regarding your skills and experience, and how you will fit into the company and role
• Conclusion – personalise where possible to the company and conclude with a sign off/call to action.

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

Check out our adaptable accountant cover letter sample below.

Cover letter header

The cover letter heading is situated at the top of the cover letter, and this is where you put your contact details. The font for your name is usually much bigger than the rest of your cover letter. 

Do not feel that you should include your full home address. There can be data protection and even discrimination issues here. Sharing your town or city of residence is transparent enough. Also, the "inside address" of the employer is not required as this is considered very formal. If you are applying to a top accountancy firm and want to aim for perfection, then consider including it.

See our accountant cover letter example for more ideas on creating a great header.

The reason for the cover letter header: Inform the hiring manager of how to contact you.

Cover letter greeting

You should always start your cover letter with a greeting, avoiding informal greetings such as ‘hello’ or ‘hi’ in favour of a more formal greeting such as “Dear.” Check the name of the hiring manager - it is normally on the job description. Alternatively you could choose to phone the employer to check, while asking any other questions that you may have at the same time.

The purpose of the cover letter greeting: Start on the right footing with a warm welcome to the hiring manager.

Cover letter introduction

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 in 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?

The purpose of the cover letter intro: A quick, early insight into what you can offer the company.

Cover letter middle part (body)

The middle section, or body, is slightly longer, a few sentences is fine, and this is where you’ll go into a bit more detail about your experience and 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.

The main purpose of the body of your cover letter: Give the hiring manager a deeper understanding of what you can do/achieve.

How to finish your accountant cover letter (conclusion and sign-off)

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 a) enthusiastic about the company and b) 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.

The purpose of the conclusion:  Reinforce your interest and share some knowledge on the company/job. Leave the hiring manager with a keen desire to find out more about you.

Key takeaways

• A cover letter is an essential part of any complete job application so make sure to put care into yours.
• Your cover letter header should attract attention. See our cover letter sample for more ideas on creating a great formatting.
• End with a call to action that invites the hiring manager to contact you.