Accounting Assistant Cover Letter Example & Templates
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When you find a job you want, submitting a well-written resume is a good start, but it’s not enough alone. You also need to send a persuasive cover letter that fills in the gaps and illustrates your fit for the role.
This guide to writing an effective cover letter for an accounting assistant position will help you highlight your knowledge of accounting software, bookkeeping and problem-solving skills to improve your chances of getting an interview.
Accounting assistant cover letter (text)
Noah Miller
Houston, TX 77016
(555) 555-5555
example@example.com
June 1, 2023
Marlyn Cameron
Houston Restoration Group
Houston, TX 77001
Phone: 555-555-5555
E-Mail: example@example.com
Dear Marlyn Cameron,
As an accomplished accounting professional, I read your posting for a new accounting assistant with interest. My experience aligns well with the qualifications you are seeking at Houston Restoration Group, in particular my role as an accounting assistant with Denver Property Management Group. I am certain I would make a valuable addition to your organization.
With more than 11 years of experience as an accounting assistant, I am adept in invoicing, vendor management and document control. Moreover, while my on-the-job responsibilities have afforded me a well-rounded skill set, including first-rate clerical and problem-solving abilities, I excel at:
- Overseeing accounts payable and accounts receivable.
- Tracking spending and creating detailed monthly and quarterly reports.
- Improving workflow processes and department efficiency.
- Providing clerical support to an accounting staff of 15.
- Investigating and resolving variances in over 200 digital and physical records to promote 100% integrity and accuracy.
In addition to my professional background and personal qualities, I have a solid educational foundation and a passion for accounting. I am extremely enthusiastic about Houston Restoration Group’s focus on historical property renovations and would welcome the opportunity to contribute to your continued growth and success.
Please review my attached resume for additional details regarding my expertise and career achievements. I will follow up to request an appointment to discuss how my experience and background meet your needs.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Noah Miller
How to format your cover letter
A cover letter is your chance to introduce yourself to a hiring manager. It allows you to expand on your resume skills, connect with the hiring manager and show them why you’re the one for the job.
Your cover letter should highlight your reconciliation and data entry skills, as well as attention to detail and organizational skills. Accounting assistants need to demonstrate these skills in their cover letter to show that they’re a great fit for the role.
Include specific examples of how you’ve reconciled payments and assisted with payroll or accounts receivable in previous positions, how you’ve used problem-solving skills, and how you prioritize multiple tasks.
That’s a lot for one page, but we’re here to help! It all starts with the correct cover letter format for your document.
Use the business letter format
A cover letter is a business letter, so use the layout of a standard business letter to guide the format of your document.
Use 1-inch margins on all sides, 1.15 to 1.5 spacing and left alignment on your one-page letter.
As our cover letter for an accounting assistant job sample shows, your cover letter must include:
- A header with your name, city, state, ZIP code and telephone number.
- The recipient’s address and contact information.
- A greeting, like “Dear Sarah Campbell,” “Dear Hiring Manager,” or “Dear Accounting Department.”
- A simple closing, like “Best regards” or “Sincerely.”
Using an accounting assistant cover letter template is the best way to ensure your cover letter is formatted correctly and won’t be rejected by applicant tracking systems (ATS).
Plug your letter into our Cover Letter Builder and we’ll give you step-by-step guidance and job-specific phrases to use. You’ll have a professional cover letter for an accounting assistant position in no time.
Discussing relevant skills in your cover letter shows hiring managers that you’re a great fit for the role. We’ll offer ready-made content ideas for your cover letter that target essential skills such as time management, operations management and administration.
How to write your cover letter
Start with a compelling introduction
A hiring manager will spend seconds scanning job applications, so you must immediately hook them with your accounting assistant cover letter.
Think of your cover letter introduction like an elevator pitch and be as clear and convincing as possible.
Mention why you’re interested in the job and highlight why you’re the best candidate for it. Convey passion and confidence in your skills.
Use accomplishments to explain why you’re a great fit for the role
When you review our accounting assistant cover letter examples, you’ll see that the body paragraphs are used to paint an in-depth picture of the applicant’s career history, while also offering insight into their interests and values.
In one or two paragraphs, give potential employers a sense of who you are and what you’re capable of.
Use strong action verbs and numbers to describe your past work accomplishments. For example, “At XYZ Company, I decreased accounts receivable by streamlining invoicing processes, increasing revenue by 10%.”
Remember to highlight both hard skills and soft skills that are relevant to the role throughout your cover letter.
Close with an invitation
As our sample accounting specialist cover letter shows, the final paragraph is for thanking the hiring manager for their time and to reiterate both your love of accounting and your eagerness to be considered.
Close the cover letter by inviting them to contact you to learn more about your qualifications.
Pair your accounting assistant cover letter with a matching resume
FAQ
How do you write a successful accounting assistant cover letter?
Start by reviewing the job requirements against your qualifications and then draw parallels in your letter.
Remember to detail relevant work achievements using numbers and percentages where possible.
Your cover letter should follow the standard business letter format, with a header outlining your contact information, a formal greeting and a professional sign off.
It should also highlight specific relevant qualifications you have for the role. Before you send off your cover letter, proofread it to pick up and fix any mistakes.
How long should an accounting assistant cover letter be?
As our example of a cover letter for an accounting assistant role shows, a cover letter doesn’t have to be very long to make an impact.
The ideal length for a cover letter is anything from half a page to one page long or 250-500 words.
How do you write an accounting assistant cover letter with no experience?
Even if you’ve never held a formal paid job before, you can still write a compelling cover letter to pair with your resume for an accounting assistant position. The key is to not dwell on your lack of experience; rather, focus on your training and the transferable skills that you acquired through practice.
Be sure to detail relevant volunteer work, internships and extracurricular activities. Communicate confidence in your abilities; show the reader that you’re passionate about accounting and make it clear that you are ready and willing to learn on the job.
To increase the likelihood of your cover letter being read by the hiring manager, remember to also include keywords from the job description — doing so will help ensure that your letter gets past an ATS and into human hands. For more guidance on what makes a strong cover letter, have a look at our accounting assistant sample cover letter.
Best practices
- Address the recruiter or hiring manager directly.
- Explain what attracted you to the company in one or two sentences.
- Customize your accounting assistant cover letter for the job.
- Include keywords from the job description throughout.
- End with a clear call to action.
- Proofread your cover letter more than once.
- Write a generic accounting assistant cover letter.
- Write more than one page.
- Use generic salutations, like “To Whom It May Concern.”
- Regurgitate your accounting assistant resume.
- Rely on automatic grammar or spell-checkers.
- Write a fan letter, even if it is your dream job.
Resume examples for the next step in your accounting career
CV examples for the next step in your accounting career
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Toni is a Career Expert who has been providing career advice to professionals for over 16 years. Her areas of expertise include interview prep, salary negotiation, resume writing and career change coaching.
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