Crafting a powerful finance cover letter, that effectively highlights your financial skills and adds a dash of personality, is key to presenting yourself as the best candidate for the job.
The finance sector remains competitive, but there are still great opportunities out there for job seekers with the right approach. Being unique is the answer. Sending a standard, lacklustre finance cover letter is unlikely to pique the hiring manager's interest.
So, how can you create a job-winning finance cover letter? By embracing the three P’s: personalised, professional, and passionate!
Finance full text-only cover letter example
Dear Mr. Hargreaves,
I am writing to express my strong interest in the Financial Analyst position at Sage Group plc, as advertised on your company website. With my background in finance and passion for technology, I believe I would be an excellent fit for your team.
I recently graduated with a First Class Honours degree in Finance from Durham University and have since gained valuable experience during my internship at Barclays in Leeds. During this time, I developed strong skills in financial modelling, data analysis, and report preparation, which I believe will be directly applicable to the role at Sage.
I am particularly drawn to Sage's commitment to innovation in financial software solutions and your focus on supporting small and medium-sized businesses. Your recent expansion into AI-driven accounting tools aligns perfectly with my interest in the intersection of finance and technology.
In addition to my technical skills, I have a proven track record of collaborating effectively in cross-functional teams. During my time at Barclays, I worked closely with IT and marketing departments to streamline financial reporting processes, resulting in a 20% reduction in report preparation time. This experience has honed my communication and project management skills, which I believe would be valuable assets in contributing to Sage's dynamic work environment.
I would welcome the opportunity to discuss how my skills and enthusiasm could contribute to Sage's continued success. Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours sincerely,
Harry Chapman
Sections of a finance cover letter
Your finance cover letter is an opportunity to establish a personal connection with the hiring manager and allow your personality, enthusiasm, and passion to shine through. Here are the key elements you need for a successful cover letter:
- Cover letter header. Start strong with an attractive and appealing header, including your name, contact details, and main job title.
- Greeting. Personalise your greeting by addressing the finance hiring manager or recruiter by their name — this shows you’ve done your homework.
- Introduction. Hook the reader with a compelling opening to your finance cover letter to introduce yourself and share your enthusiasm for the finance role.
- Body. Illustrate the relevant skills and experience you have to excel in the role. Much like financial assets, you’ll need to show the value you will bring to an organisation including specific and quantifiable examples of achievements.
- Conclusion. Wrap up your finance cover letter on a confident note and reiterate your strong interest in the role. Don’t forget a call to action.
- Signature. End with a professional goodbye, including your name.
Understanding the purpose of each section and supplying the all-important facts and figures will ensure you have a professionally structured finance cover letter.
Aim for a short and snappy one-page cover letter that demonstrates your strong interest in the role, describes your positive impact in previous roles, and markets you as the perfect finance professional for the job.
Looking to win over the hiring manager? View our library of amazing cover letters, including the following finance cover letter examples:
If you need more general information and details covering each section, view our article on how to write a cover letter.
Once you’ve crafted your header and greeted the hiring manager, you’re now ready to catch their attention with your opening financial statement or introduction!
Introduction of a finance cover letter
Your introduction needs to grab the reader’s attention. When starting your cover letter, create some buzz by highlighting your unique value and how this connects to the employer.
Whether this is a connection with the company or a standout achievement, weaving this into your introduction will encourage the hiring manager to read on and learn more about you.
Dear Mr. Connelly,
Commercial finance in retail involves working with fluid forecasts, brave predictions, and challenging capex costs. Throughout my 10-year career, I have enjoyed a forecast accuracy of 96%, beaten financial budgets by six figures, and consistently achieved ROI targets on capex outlay. I aim to bring these skills and more to the team at ABC Financing.
Hello
My name is Mike and I’m writing to inform you of my interest in the commercial finance role at ABC Financing. My finance experience includes 5 years in retail, so I feel I would be an ideal candidate for the job opening.
Try to avoid a generic introduction to your finance cover letter as this won’t be as impactful. Any specific or quantifiable information will boost your credibility. For example, if an important part of the role involves financial forecasting and you have “enjoyed a forecast accuracy of 96%” then make sure you highlight this in your introduction.
Connecting your experience with company goals is another good approach. Perhaps the employer is a trailblazer in Fintech, so they are seeking finance professionals with a passion for tech. Aligning yourself with company goals via your introduction is likely to resonate with the hiring manager.
Dear Mr. Hargreaves,
I am writing to express my strong interest in the Financial Analyst position at Sage Group plc, as advertised on your company website. With my background in finance and passion for technology, I believe I would be an excellent fit for your team.
Finance cover letter body
In the body of your cover letter, follow a clear template:
- Showcase your skills and experience
- Demonstrate how you're a perfect fit for company culture, regardless of whether you are applying for a CFO or finance assistant role
- Wrap up with a compelling conclusion
- End with a call to action that encourages the hiring manager to get in touch
First body paragraph
Follow up your introduction, by highlighting the key skills and experiences that make you a perfect fit for the finance position.
Here’s how you can showcase these qualifications in your first body paragraph:
- Highlight your education. Share details of your finance degree and internships, including noteworthy graduation results and prestigious universities or organisations.
- Emphasise analytical and decision-making skills. Analytical thinking and the ability to make data-driven financial decisions is a high commodity in finance. Highlight these valuable soft skills in action.
- Technology awareness. Tech trends are impacting most sectors, and finance is no different. Perhaps you have experience utilising AI-driven accounting tools to support key clients. Mentioning this in your cover letter can show you’re ahead of the curve.
- Communication and collaboration. Detail your experience in communicating and collaborating effectively with cross-functional teams to achieve positive results, such as enhancing financial control and boosting operational efficiency.
- Supervisory roles. Mention any experience in overseeing finance functions as well as managing and developing finance teams.
Ensure your financial cover letter is ATS-ready
Keyword optimisation is the best way to ensure your finance cover letter is ATS-ready. Many recruiters use applicant tracking systems to filter applications and search for specific keywords directly related to the job opening.
Make sure your finance cover letter speaks the language of the job description by including relevant keywords that are emphasised as important skills and experience. You can then sprinkle these terms across your cover letter.
For example:
- Financial analysis
- Budgeting
- P&L management
Second body paragraph
Your finance cover letter is a golden opportunity to connect your values and experiences with a target employer, thereby showing your enthusiasm for the job and culture fit for the team.
Conducting some research on the organisation’s mission, values, and culture will allow you to tailor your cover letter accordingly.
In this example of Sage Group Plc, a market leader in accounting, financial, HR, and payroll tech, some key points that can be taken from their mission statement and values include:
- Committed to making the world smarter, safer, and more sustainable
- Focused on optimising customer operations, from capacity building, strategy, and design to cutting-edge tech and digital solutions
- Culture of sharing ideas, valuing different perspectives, and embracing the values of being Smart, Ambitious, Genuine, and Exceptional
Referencing specific details from an organisation’s mission statement or company values will help you make a great first impression. Provide examples of how you share an employer's vision and values as well as understand their goals and priorities.
I recently graduated with a First Class Honours degree in Finance from Durham University and have since gained valuable experience during my internship at Barclays in Leeds. During this time, I developed strong skills in financial modelling, data analysis, and report preparation, which I believe will be directly applicable to the role at Sage.
I am particularly drawn to Sage's commitment to innovation in financial software solutions and your focus on supporting small and medium-sized businesses. Your recent expansion into AI-driven accounting tools aligns perfectly with my interest in the intersection of finance and technology.
In addition to my technical skills, I have a proven track record of collaborating effectively in cross-functional teams. During my time at Barclays, I worked closely with IT and marketing departments to streamline financial reporting processes, resulting in a 20% reduction in report preparation time. This experience has honed my communication and project management skills, which I believe would be valuable assets in contributing to Sage's dynamic work environment.
Call to action & conclusion
Your last paragraph should include a compelling end to your cover letter and a call to action.
Reinforce the value you will bring as a finance professional and your enthusiasm to contribute toward company success.
Make sure to express your gratitude for the employer’s time and consideration in reviewing your application. This shows you respect their time and may improve your chances of an interview.
Wrap up on a confident note with a call to action to encourage recruiters to get in touch and invite you for an interview.
I would welcome the opportunity to discuss how my skills and enthusiasm could contribute to Sage's continued success. Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours sincerely,
Harry Chapman
Conclude your call to action with the professional and polite closing of ‘Sincerely,’ followed by your full name. Then ensure a final review, polish, and proofread before sending your letter.
Key takeaways
A job-winning finance cover letter demonstrates that you have the ideal blend of skills and experience for the role and a passion for your chosen field.
Take the time and effort to tailor your cover letter for each job opportunity. Conduct some research so that you have a full understanding of the finance role, team, and company. You can then address how you can use your skills and experience to benefit a new employer.
Try our cover letter builder for an easy way to assemble a polished, professional finance cover letter, boosting your job application and interview prospects!
