An accountant cover letter should introduce who you are, highlight relevant skills, and show why you fit the role. This guide gives practical examples and templates you can adapt to different accounting jobs.
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💡 Pro tip: Use this template as a starting point. Customize it with your own experience, skills, and achievements.
Key Elements of a Strong Cover Letter
Start with a concise line that names the role and a key strength you bring. A good hook grabs attention and sets the tone for the rest of the letter.
Showcase 1 or 2 measurable accomplishments that match the job requirements, such as cost savings or audit cleanups. Numbers make your impact clear and help hiring managers picture you in the role.
Mention accounting software and technical skills that matter for the position, such as Excel, QuickBooks, or ERP experience. Tie those skills to outcomes so they feel practical and job-relevant.
End with a brief summary of why you are a strong fit and a polite request for next steps or an interview. A clear closing leaves hiring managers with an easy action to take.
Cover Letter Structure
1. Header
Include your name, contact information, and the date at the top, followed by the hiring manager's name and company details if known. Keep formatting clean and aligned with your resume so both documents feel like a set.
2. Greeting
Address the hiring manager by name when possible to personalize the letter and show attention to detail. If a name is not available, use a role-based greeting such as "Hiring Manager" and avoid overly generic openings.
3. Opening Paragraph
Begin with a sentence that states the position you are applying for and a brief reason you are interested in the role. Follow that with a one-line highlight of your most relevant strength to draw the reader in.
4. Body Paragraph(s)
Use one or two short paragraphs to connect your experience to the job description, focusing on measurable results and relevant responsibilities. Explain how your skills will help the employer meet specific needs rather than listing tasks from your resume.
5. Closing Paragraph
Summarize your eagerness to contribute and invite the reader to continue the conversation, such as arranging an interview or a call. Keep the tone confident but courteous, and thank the reader for their time.
6. Signature
End with a professional sign-off such as "Sincerely" or "Best regards" followed by your full name and contact details. If you include links to a portfolio or LinkedIn profile, make sure they are current and relevant.
Dos and Don'ts
Tailor each letter to the job by referencing the company and specific responsibilities from the posting. Personalizing shows you read the description and understand the role.
Quantify achievements with numbers such as percentage savings, audit findings resolved, or months to close the books. Concrete figures make your contributions clear and memorable.
Highlight technical skills that are listed in the job posting, such as ERP systems, tax software, or advanced Excel functions. Match skills to outcomes so hiring managers see practical value.
Keep the length to one page and use short paragraphs to improve readability. Concise letters are easier for busy hiring teams to scan.
Proofread for errors and confirm names, titles, and company details are correct before sending. Small mistakes can distract from strong qualifications.
Do not repeat your entire resume line by line in the cover letter, as that wastes space and attention. Use the letter to explain why certain experiences matter for this job.
Avoid vague claims without examples, such as saying you are a hard worker without illustrating how that produced results. Specifics build credibility.
Do not include personal details unrelated to the job, such as family status or hobbies that do not tie to the role. Keep content professional and focused on work.
Avoid overly formal or flowery language that obscures your point, and do not use jargon that the reader might not know. Clear, plain language reads better.
Do not send a generic letter with the wrong company name or role, as that signals you did not prepare the application. Always double-check customization.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Starting with "To whom it may concern" can feel impersonal and outdated, so try to find a name or a role-based greeting. A small effort to personalize improves your chances.
Listing soft skills without backing evidence leaves the reader unsure of your real abilities, so always follow claims with examples. Use short anecdotes or metrics when possible.
Cramping too much information into one paragraph makes the letter hard to scan, so break content into clear, short paragraphs. White space helps hiring managers find key points quickly.
Overemphasizing every job you have held dilutes the relevance of your most important experiences, so highlight what matches the open role. Focus on the top two or three contributions that matter most.
Practical Writing Tips & Customization Guide
Mirror language from the job posting in your letter to pass early screening and show alignment with the role. Pick a few phrases that genuinely match your experience and include them naturally.
If you have certifications such as CPA or CMA, mention them early and explain briefly how they supported a specific result or responsibility. Certifications are strong credibility signals for accounting roles.
Include a brief sentence about your familiarity with the company or its industry to show genuine interest and research. Tying your skills to a company need makes your application more compelling.
Save a templated version of your letter that you customize for each application to speed up the process without sacrificing personalization. This keeps consistency while allowing focused edits.
Cover Letter Examples
Example 1 — Career Changer (150–180 words)
Dear Ms.
After six years managing inventory and financial reporting at a regional retail chain, I completed an online Accounting Certificate and passed the AICPA Basic Accounting exam. In my retail role I redesigned the month-end process, cutting reconciliation time from 10 days to 7 days (a 30% improvement).
I used Excel pivot tables and created a template that reduced duplicated entries by 40%.
I’m applying for the Staff Accountant role because I want to apply my process-improvement skills to a pure accounting function. I’m proficient with QuickBooks, Excel (VLOOKUP, pivot tables), and bank reconciliations.
I can start full time on March 1 and am eager to contribute to tighter month-end closes and cleaner audit trails.
Sincerely, Jordan Lee
Why this works
- •Shows measurable results (30% faster close, 40% fewer duplicates).
- •Connects past responsibilities to accounting tasks and lists specific tools.
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Example 2 — Recent Graduate (150–180 words)
Dear Hiring Manager,
I graduated with a B. S.
in Accounting (3. 7 GPA) from State University and completed a 10-week internship at Bright CPA, where I reconciled 500+ client accounts and found discrepancies that saved clients $12,400 in overpayments.
I led a small team to automate invoice matching using Excel macros, reducing manual review time by 45%.
I’m applying for the Junior Accountant position because your firm’s focus on small-business clients matches my experience. I bring strong audit support skills, experience preparing bank reconciliations, and comfort with QuickBooks Online and Excel.
I welcome the opportunity to support your tax season workflow and improve client reporting accuracy.
Best regards, Maya Patel
Why this works
- •Includes GPA, internship accomplishments, and a dollar amount saved.
- •Demonstrates immediate value for the employer’s client base.
–-
Example 3 — Experienced Professional (160–180 words)
Dear Mr.
I am a Senior Accountant with eight years of experience in corporate finance, most recently managing a $50M operating budget and supervising a team of four staff accountants. I led implementation of a new ERP module that cut monthly close tasks from 12 to 9 steps, saving approximately 20% of staff time each month.
At my current company I redesigned reporting templates to highlight margin by product line, which informed pricing changes that improved gross margin by 2 percentage points. I am skilled in SAP, Oracle NetSuite, and advanced Excel modeling.
I am excited about the Finance Manager opening because I can both manage the team and improve month-end accuracy and cadence.
Sincerely, Alex Morgan
Why this works
- •Highlights leadership (team of four), scale ($50M budget), and quantified impact (20% time savings, +2% margin).
- •Aligns technical skills to the target role.
Writing Tips
1. Start with a specific hook.
Open with one sentence that names a recent achievement or a connection to the company. This draws attention and shows you can produce results (e.
g. , “I reduced month-end close time by 25% at X Company”).
2. Keep it to one page and one voice.
Limit the letter to 3–4 short paragraphs and use a professional, conversational tone. Hiring managers read quickly; brevity increases your chance of being read.
3. Quantify three accomplishments.
Use numbers—dollars, percentages, counts—to prove impact. For example: “saved $12,400,” “managed a $50M budget,” or “reconciled 500 accounts.
4. Mirror the job posting language.
Pick 3–4 keywords from the listing (e. g.
, “reconciliations,” “ERP,” “SOX”) and use them naturally. This shows fit and helps pass automated filters.
5. Show relevant tools and certifications.
List software and certificates only if they matter to the role (e. g.
, QuickBooks, NetSuite, CPA). That helps employers see you can be productive quickly.
6. Explain why this company.
Spend one sentence on why you want this employer—mention a product, client base, or initiative. Specificity beats vague praise.
7. Use one short story, not a résumé dump.
Illustrate a problem you solved in 2–3 sentences rather than repeating every job duty. Stories are memorable and demonstrate thinking.
8. Close with a clear next step.
End by saying when you can start or that you’ll follow up, and thank the reader. This makes your intent clear and proactive.
9. Proofread for numbers and names.
Verify company names, figures, and titles. One numerical or name error can cost credibility.
Customization Guide
Strategy 1 — Match industry priorities
- •Tech companies: Emphasize automation, data skills, and speed. Note experience with APIs, SQL queries, or finance automation tools and cite outcomes such as "reduced manual journal entries by 60%" or "cut reporting time from 10 days to 3." Tech employers value scalable solutions.
- •Finance firms: Focus on accuracy, compliance, and audit experience. Highlight SOX work, audit support, or experience preparing financial statements for GAAP; include metrics like number of audits supported or error-rate reductions.
- •Healthcare: Stress regulatory knowledge and internal controls. Mention HIPAA-aware billing reconciliations, patient-revenue reconciliation volumes, or improvements in claim denial rates (e.g., "reduced denials by 15").
Strategy 2 — Tailor to company size
- •Startups: Show broad responsibility and learning agility. Emphasize hands-on tasks (payroll, AR, AP) and any cross-functional projects; give examples such as handling payroll for 35 employees and building the first accounting chart of accounts.
- •Corporations: Emphasize process ownership, scalability, and collaboration with stakeholders. Cite leading a month-end close across 3 divisions or implementing an ERP used by 200 users.
Strategy 3 — Adjust for job level
- •Entry-level: Highlight internships, coursework, and measurable academic projects (e.g., a capstone that reconciled mock company accounts, or a 3.7 GPA). Stress eagerness to learn and reliability.
- •Senior roles: Emphasize leadership, budget responsibility, and strategic outcomes. Include team size, budget scale, and percent improvements you drove (e.g., "managed $30M budget; cut reporting lag by 40%").
Strategy 4 — Use company-specific language and metrics
- •Research the company’s public filings, press releases, or Glassdoor reviews for priorities (growth rate, margin pressure, compliance issues). Then echo those priorities in one sentence and quantify how you can help (e.g., "I can shorten your quarterly close to support your 20% annual growth target").
Actionable takeaway: For each application, swap 3–5 lines in your template to reflect industry, company size, and job level—always add at least one concrete number that shows impact.