Switching careers into accounts receivable can feel daunting, but a focused cover letter helps you connect your past experience to the role. This guide shows you how to present transferable skills and practical examples so hiring managers see your potential.
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Key Elements of a Strong Cover Letter
State your career-change goal in one concise sentence that names the accounts receivable role you want. This helps the reader understand why you are shifting careers and what you hope to contribute.
Highlight specific skills from your previous roles that match accounts receivable tasks, such as attention to detail, reconciliation, or customer communication. Give short examples of how you used those skills to produce reliable results.
Include brief metrics or outcomes from your prior work that relate to accuracy, efficiency, or teamwork, even if they are not financial. Numbers or clear outcomes make your contributions concrete and credible.
Explain why accounts receivable appeals to you and how your background prepares you to succeed in that function. End by inviting next steps, such as an interview or a call to discuss how you can help the team.
Cover Letter Structure
1. Header
Header: Include your name, contact information, city and state, phone number, and a professional email address. Add a link to your LinkedIn profile or a relevant portfolio if you have one.
2. Greeting
Greeting: Address the hiring manager by name when possible, using Mr., Ms., or their full name if you know it. If you cannot find a name, use a concise greeting such as "Dear Hiring Team" to remain professional.
3. Opening Paragraph
Opening paragraph: Start with a clear statement of the position you are applying for and your current career direction. Mention one strong reason you are changing careers into accounts receivable, such as interest in financial operations or comfort with numbers.
4. Body Paragraph(s)
Body paragraphs: Use one or two short paragraphs to connect your transferable skills to core accounts receivable duties, such as invoicing, reconciliation, or customer billing. Provide one specific example where your past work improved a process, reduced errors, or improved communication with customers.
5. Closing Paragraph
Closing paragraph: Reiterate your enthusiasm for the role and how your skills make you a quick study in accounts receivable tasks. Request an interview politely and indicate your availability for a conversation.
6. Signature
Signature: Close with a professional signoff like "Sincerely" or "Best regards," followed by your full name. Below your name, include your phone number and email again for easy reference.
Dos and Don'ts
Do match your cover letter to the job description by echoing key responsibilities in your examples. Doing this helps hiring managers see that you read the posting and understand the role.
Do focus on transferable skills that matter in accounts receivable such as attention to detail, timely follow up, and clear communication. Use brief examples to show how you applied those skills in past roles.
Do keep the letter to one page and three short paragraphs plus a closing to respect the reader's time. Concise letters are easier for hiring managers and recruiters to scan.
Do quantify achievements when possible, for example reduced processing time by a percentage or handled X number of customer contacts per week. Numbers add credibility even if they are not finance-specific.
Do proofread for math errors, dates, and consistency between your resume and cover letter to avoid small mistakes that hurt credibility. Ask a friend or mentor to check tone and clarity if you can.
Don’t repeat your resume line by line, instead use the letter to explain context and motivation for your career change. The cover letter should add color rather than duplicate content.
Don’t use vague claims like "I am good with numbers" without showing how that trait produced a result. Concrete examples matter more than broad statements.
Don’t apologize for changing careers or suggest you lack commitment to the new field. Frame your change as a thoughtful move supported by skills and interest.
Don’t include salary expectations or long explanations of why you left a previous job in the cover letter unless the posting asks for it. Keep focus on fit and what you will bring to the employer.
Don’t use complex accounting jargon unless you are responding to a technical posting that requires it, because unnecessary terms can confuse nontechnical hiring managers. Simple clear language shows you communicate well with internal teams and customers.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Listing every past job responsibility instead of selecting relevant examples makes the letter unfocused and long. Choose two to three points that directly support your readiness for accounts receivable.
Using only generic phrases like "hard worker" without examples fails to convince hiring managers of your impact. Replace general claims with short stories about results or improvements.
Neglecting to explain how you learned core AR tasks such as invoicing or reconciliation can leave doubts about your readiness. Mention relevant training, certifications, courses, or hands-on examples that show competence.
Failing to tailor your letter to the company and role makes you seem less interested than other candidates. Add one sentence that reflects why this company or team appeals to you specifically.
Practical Writing Tips & Customization Guide
Begin with a one-line summary of your relevant experience and a quick example to capture attention in the first paragraph. This helps hiring managers see fit right away and keeps your opening strong.
If you completed coursework, certifications, or a volunteer role with financial tasks, mention it briefly to show hands-on preparation. Short, concrete examples of practice reduce perceived risk for the employer.
Use active verbs and short sentences to keep the letter readable and professional, focusing on outcomes rather than duties. This keeps your tone confident and clear without sounding aggressive.
End by suggesting a next step such as a brief call or an interview, and offer flexible availability to make it easy for the recruiter to respond. Proactive but polite closing lines increase the chance of follow up.
Cover Letter Examples
### Example 1 — Career Changer: Customer Service to Accounts Receivable
Hello Ms.
After five years in customer service managing billing inquiries for a telecom company, I’m excited to move into accounts receivable at Meridian Billing. In my current role I handled 60+ billing calls per day, reduced invoice disputes by 32% through a new verification checklist, and supported collections that recovered $45,000 in overdue payments in a single quarter.
I’ve used QuickBooks and a proprietary CRM to track chargebacks and reconcile accounts, and I consistently hit my weekly follow-up target of 40 contacts.
I’m drawn to Meridian’s focus on timely cash flow and clear client communication. I can apply my dispute-resolution process to reduce days sales outstanding (DSO); at my current employer I shortened average dispute resolution time from 18 to 11 days.
I’d welcome the chance to walk through how I would structure the first 90-day outreach plan for high-balance accounts.
Thank you for considering my application. I’m available for a call next week and can start with two weeks’ notice.
What makes this effective: it ties customer-service metrics (32% fewer disputes, $45k recovered) to AR goals and proposes a clear next-step (90-day plan).
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### Example 2 — Recent Graduate: Accounting Intern to AR Specialist
Dear Hiring Manager,
I recently graduated with a B. S.
in Accounting and completed a 6-month internship in the finance department at GreenLeaf Foods, where I processed 800+ monthly invoices and helped reconcile a $200K vendor ledger. During my internship I designed an Excel macro that automated three reconciliation steps and cut monthly reconciliation time by 40% (from 10 to 6 hours).
I also assisted with weekly aging reports and contacted past-due clients, helping reduce the 60–90 day bucket by 15%.
I’m eager to join BrightPath Health as an Accounts Receivable Specialist because of your volume of patient billing and emphasis on accuracy. I’m proficient in Excel (VLOOKUP, pivot tables), familiar with Epic billing workflows, and ready to learn your EHR-based billing rules quickly.
I bring disciplined follow-up habits, strong math accuracy (99. 6% error-free on internship reconciliations), and a willingness to own routine tasks.
What makes this effective: it highlights internship results (800 invoices, 40% time savings, 15% aging reduction) and matches technical skills to the employer’s systems.
–-
### Example 3 — Experienced Professional: Senior AR Specialist
Hi Mr.
I offer eight years of accounts receivable experience, most recently as Senior AR Specialist at Horizon Logistics, where I managed a $3. 2M receivable portfolio and supervised a team that processed 1,200 invoices per month.
Over two years I led a workflow redesign that reduced DSO from 62 to 54 days (an 13% improvement) and lowered write-offs by $28,400 annually through tighter credit holds and earlier escalation.
I am proficient with Oracle NetSuite, automated bank feeds, and electronic remittance posting. At Horizon I introduced a priority-tagging system that triaged high-risk accounts and increased on-time cash collections by 9% in one quarter.
I’m interested in the AR Team Lead role at Atlas Freight because you’re scaling B2B terms; I can replicate the triage process and train three junior analysts in the first 60 days.
What makes this effective: it shows leadership and measurable impact (13% DSO drop, $28. 4K fewer write-offs, 9% more on-time collections) and promises a short-term plan for onboarding and training.
Practical Writing Tips
1. Open with a specific hook and outcome.
Start with one short sentence that states your role and a key result (e. g.
, “I managed a $3. 2M receivable portfolio and cut DSO by 8 days”).
This grabs attention and frames the rest of the letter.
2. Use a three-part structure: intro, evidence, closing.
Limit to three short paragraphs: who you are and why, two to three concrete achievements, and a clear call to action with availability. Recruiters scan—this format makes decisions faster.
3. Quantify achievements with numbers.
Replace vague claims with metrics (dollars recovered, percent reductions, invoice volumes). Numbers prove impact and help hiring managers compare candidates.
4. Mirror language from the job posting.
Copy 2–3 keywords or skills exactly (e. g.
, "NetSuite," "DSO reduction") and place them naturally in your examples. ATS systems and hiring managers both notice matched terms.
5. Focus on relevance, not history.
Pick 2–3 accomplishments that map directly to the job’s priorities rather than listing everything you’ve done. Depth beats breadth in short cover letters.
6. Show process, not just results.
Briefly name the steps you took (e. g.
, "implemented a weekly aging review and escalation") so employers see how you’ll act on day one.
7. Keep tone professional but human.
Use active verbs and one or two words that show personality (e. g.
, “detail-oriented,” “tenacious”) without overdoing it. Match the company’s formality.
8. Avoid repetition of the resume.
Use the letter to explain context or outcomes behind a top bullet on your resume. Tell the story behind the number.
9. Close with a clear next step.
Offer availability, a proposed meeting window, or a one-line plan (e. g.
, "I can share a 30-60-90 AR onboarding outline in an interview"). This moves the conversation forward.
Actionable takeaway: follow the three-part structure, use 2–3 quantifiable examples, and always end with a defined next step.
How to Customize for Industry, Company Size, and Job Level
Strategy 1 — Match industry priorities
- •Tech: Emphasize systems and automation (e.g., “built a reconciler in Excel and reduced manual posting by 60%,” or “integrated Stripe settlement reports into month-end”). Mention APIs, SaaS billing models, and subscription metrics like MRR and churn when relevant.
- •Finance: Stress compliance and controls. Cite SOX exposure, error rates (e.g., “reduced payment posting errors from 1.8% to 0.3%”), and experience with banking formats (ACH, wire, lockboxes).
- •Healthcare: Focus on billing codes, denial rates, and patient-responsibility workflows. Include specifics like “reduced denials by 12% through corrected CPT/ICD mappings.”
Strategy 2 — Adjust for company size and culture
- •Startups: Highlight adaptability and hands-on tools. Say you can own end-to-end AR tasks, set systems from scratch, and work without established SOPs. Example: “built an invoice template and credit policy that scaled from 50 to 300 customers in six months.”
- •Large corporations: Emphasize process adherence, cross-team coordination, and audit readiness. Mention experience with ERPs (Oracle, NetSuite), and give examples of formal reporting cadence (weekly aging dashboards, monthly GL reconciliations).
Strategy 3 — Tailor by job level
- •Entry-level: Lead with learning outcomes and accuracy. Use internship numbers and time-savings (e.g., “processed 800 invoices/month, maintained 99.6% accuracy”). Promise a short training ramp and list core technical skills.
- •Mid/senior: Lead with leadership and impact metrics (DSO, write-offs, team size). State a concrete plan for the first 30–60–90 days, such as implementing a priority-tagging process or retraining collectors.
Strategy 4 — Practical customization tactics
1. Scan the job posting and pick the top three responsibilities; make each one a short sub-point in your letter tied to a past result.
2. Use the company’s language—mission, product names, or customers—and name one relevant competitor or client type to show market awareness.
3. Swap tools and metric emphasis based on industry: mention Epic or patient-responsibility rates for healthcare; Stripe and MRR for SaaS; lockbox and remittance formats for logistics.
Actionable takeaway: pick two of these strategies per application—one to match industry needs and one to match company size/level—and use 2–3 specific metrics to prove fit.