This guide gives a practical career-change Certified Public Accountant cover letter example you can adapt to your situation. You will learn how to present your CPA credential, show transferable skills, and explain your move into accounting with confidence.
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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 by naming the role you want and noting that you hold a CPA credential. Briefly explain your reason for changing careers so the reader understands your motivation and context.
Highlight skills from your previous career that apply to accounting such as financial analysis, project management, or attention to detail. Give one or two brief examples that show how those skills produced useful outcomes.
Include any accounting work you have done, such as internships, freelance bookkeeping, coursework, or volunteer projects. Describe the result or impact of that work without inventing numbers or claims.
Explain why the firm or role matches your strengths and values in two sentences. End with a clear next step, such as requesting an interview or offering to provide work samples.
Cover Letter Structure
1. Header
At the top include your name, CPA credential, phone, email, and LinkedIn URL. Add the date and the employer contact information on separate lines so it is easy to scan.
2. Greeting
Address the hiring manager by name when you can, using their professional title and last name. If you cannot find a name, use Dear Hiring Manager and avoid outdated salutations like To Whom It May Concern.
3. Opening Paragraph
Open with a short sentence that names the role you are applying for and mentions your CPA credential. In the next sentence, state that you are making a career change and give one brief reason why accounting fits your goals and strengths.
4. Body Paragraph(s)
In one or two short paragraphs, connect your transferable skills to the job duties and cite one concrete example of relevant work. Mention any accounting coursework, certifications, or hands-on projects and explain how they prepared you to perform the role.
5. Closing Paragraph
Wrap up by summarizing the value you bring and expressing enthusiasm for the opportunity. Invite the reader to meet or review your work samples and thank them for their time.
6. Signature
Use a professional sign off such as Sincerely or Best regards followed by your full name and CPA credential. Under your name include your phone number and a link to your LinkedIn or portfolio.
Dos and Don'ts
Customize the letter to the specific firm and role, and mention one detail about the employer that appeals to you. This shows you did your homework and are not sending a generic note.
Lead with your CPA credential early so recruiters see your qualification at a glance. Put it next to your name in the header and mention it in the opening sentence.
Show how a skill from your prior career helps you in accounting, and follow with one short example. Keep each example focused and relevant to the job description.
Keep the letter to one page and use short paragraphs for scannability. Recruiters appreciate concise, easy to read letters.
Offer evidence rather than broad claims, such as referencing a project, course, or volunteer work that demonstrates accounting aptitude. Be ready to discuss that example in an interview.
Do not exaggerate or invent accounting experience or numbers in your examples. Stick to verifiable facts and be honest about your level of exposure.
Avoid repeating your resume line by line, and do not paste long lists of responsibilities. Use the cover letter to tell the story behind one or two key experiences.
Do not focus on negative reasons for leaving your prior field or complain about past employers. Frame your change as a positive move toward accounting.
Avoid generic phrases like I am a hard worker without showing proof. Replace vague statements with a brief example or specific skill.
Do not use overly technical accounting jargon that hiring managers outside finance may not understand. Explain technical terms briefly when needed.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Writing long dense paragraphs that are hard to scan. Break content into short paragraphs and front-load the most important points.
Failing to explain why you are changing careers or assuming it is obvious. State your motivation clearly and connect it to the role.
Omitting your CPA credential or licensing details so the reader misses a key qualification. Place your CPA next to your name and mention any state or license number if requested.
Using vague examples instead of concrete evidence that you can perform accounting tasks. Provide a brief project or coursework example to demonstrate capability.
Practical Writing Tips & Customization Guide
Open with a sentence that ties your past work to the employer's needs, then follow with a quick example. This makes your transition feel purposeful and relevant.
If you lack professional accounting experience, highlight recent coursework, continuing education, or volunteer bookkeeping. Show how those activities mirror daily tasks of the job.
Prepare a short one page portfolio or a PDF with sample reconciliations or reports to share when asked. Mention its availability in your closing so hiring managers know you can provide evidence.
Practice a concise verbal version of your cover letter for interviews so you can tell your career-change story confidently. Rehearsed clarity helps you appear intentional and prepared.
Cover Letter Examples
Example 1 — Career Changer (Operations Manager to CPA)
Dear Ms.
After six years managing operations for a regional distribution company, I’m pursuing a career as a Certified Public Accountant. In my last role I managed a $2.
5M annual budget, led monthly close activities and partnered with external auditors to reduce our month-end close from 6 to 4 days (a 33% improvement). I completed two CPA exam sections and have hands-on experience building Excel models, reconciling complex P&L variances, and documenting internal controls.
I want to bring that process discipline and hands-on accounting experience to Brightline Advisors, where your posted staff accountant role emphasizes audit readiness and process improvement.
I’m comfortable with GAAP reconciliations, journal entries, and vendor accruals, and I’m eager to formalize my accounting career under a team that values continuous improvement. I’d welcome the chance to discuss how my operational perspective—plus measurable close-time reductions—can strengthen your month-end and audit workflows.
Sincerely, Mark Reynolds
What makes this effective: Specific metrics (budget, days reduced), clear transfer of skills, CPA progress, and company-focused value proposition.
Cover Letter Examples
Example 2 — Recent Graduate (Entry-Level CPA Candidate)
Dear Hiring Manager,
I am a recent accounting graduate from State University and a CPA candidate who completed internships at a local public accounting firm where I assisted on 8 small-business audits and prepared tax returns for more than 120 individual clients during busy season. I built Excel pivot tables to analyze receivables trends that helped partners identify overdue accounts exceeding 90 days, reducing write-offs by 8% the next quarter.
During school I completed a capstone in financial statement analysis and learned QuickBooks Online and Tableau to present cash-flow scenarios. I’m looking for an entry-level staff accountant role where I can apply my technical coursework, internship audit experience, and commitment to passing the remaining CPA sections within 18 months.
I’d appreciate the opportunity to discuss how my audit exposure and analytical skills can support your team this tax season.
Best regards, Aisha Patel
What makes this effective: Concrete internship outcomes, technical tools, timeframe for CPA completion, and a clear next-step ask.
Cover Letter Examples
Example 3 — Experienced Professional (Senior Accountant)
Dear Mr.
I bring eight years of progressive accounting experience, most recently as Senior Accountant for a medical device manufacturer where I owned month-end close for three entities and managed a $12M CAPEX program. I led an ERP reconciliation project that eliminated a recurring $45k variance and reduced external audit adjustments to zero over two years.
I also implemented standardized month-end checklists used by a 6-person accounting team.
I’m interested in the accounting manager position at Meridian Health Systems because of your expansion into ambulatory services; I can drive scalable close processes, strengthen internal controls for Medicare billing, and present clean financials for leadership. I’m proficient in NetSuite, BlackLine, and advanced Excel modeling.
Can we schedule 20 minutes to review how my closing and audit-readiness improvements can support your growth plans?
Sincerely, Daniel Ortiz
What makes this effective: Emphasizes leadership, large-dollar responsibility, system proficiency, and a specific meeting request.
Practical Writing Tips
1. Open with a concise hook that ties you to the role.
Start with one sentence that names the role, your current title or status, and one specific result or credential—this quickly proves relevance.
2. Mirror key language from the job posting.
Use 2–3 exact terms from the ad (e. g.
, "SOX", "month-end close") so ATS and hiring managers see a direct match.
3. Use concrete numbers.
Replace vague claims (“improved processes”) with metrics like “reduced close time by 33%” to show impact.
4. Keep paragraphs short—3–4 sentences each.
Short blocks read faster and highlight achievements without overwhelming the reader.
5. Show progress toward CPA licensure.
State how many sections you’ve passed and a realistic timeline; this signals commitment and planning.
6. Name technical tools and levels of proficiency.
List exact software (NetSuite, QuickBooks, BlackLine, Excel pivot tables) and specify experience (daily user, implemented workflows).
7. Tailor one sentence to the company.
Mention a recent company initiative, product, or value and explain how you support it with a skill or result.
8. Close with a clear next step.
Ask for a 15–20 minute conversation or offer interview availability to convert interest into action.
9. Proofread for numbers and names.
Verify hiring manager spelling, company name, and any dollar figures to maintain credibility.
Actionable takeaway: Draft a 3-paragraph letter that leads with relevance, proves impact with numbers, and ends with a specific ask.
Customization Guide: Industry, Company Size & Job Level
Strategy 1 — Industry-specific emphasis
- •Tech: Emphasize automation, SaaS billing, subscription revenue recognition (ASC 606), and data skills (SQL, APIs). Example: “Automated invoice reconciliation using SQL scripts, cutting manual effort by 40%.”
- •Finance: Focus on SOX controls, SEC/IFRS reporting experience, treasury work, and forecasting. Example: “Managed monthly cash forecasts for $50M in liquidity and shortened forecasting variance to under 3%.”
- •Healthcare: Highlight reimbursement, Medicare/Medicaid familiarity, cost accounting, and compliance. Example: “Streamlined cost allocations across 4 clinics, improving margin visibility by 6 percentage points.”
Strategy 2 — Company size adjustments
- •Startups/early stage: Emphasize breadth—modeling, fundraising support, and building processes from scratch. Mention experience creating budgets for Series A/B raises or preparing pitch-deck financials.
- •Mid-market/corporation: Stress process optimization, policy documentation, and cross-functional stakeholder management. Cite managing multi-entity consolidations or leading ERP integrations.
Strategy 3 — Job-level tailoring
- •Entry-level: Lead with internships, coursework, CPA progress, and eagerness to learn. Keep claims modest but measurable (e.g., “supported audit work for 12 clients”).
- •Senior roles: Emphasize leadership, P&L or CAPEX responsibility, and strategic initiatives. Quantify team size, budget oversight, and outcomes (e.g., reduced audit adjustments by $45k).
Strategy 4 — Three concrete customization tactics
1. Mirror the job posting’s top 3 qualifications in your first body paragraph and provide one metric for each.
2. Use the company’s language—if they say “scale,” explain a scalable process you built with numbers.
3. Swap one example in your letter to match the role: for tech roles emphasize automation; for healthcare swap in compliance wins.
Actionable takeaway: For each application, change at least three elements—opening hook, one measurable example, and the closing ask—to reflect the industry, company size, and level.