A bookkeeper cover letter is an excellent way to convince an employer or hiring manager that you are the best person for the job. Bookkeepers are an essential part of any business. Responsible for recording transactions, balancing budgets and light accounting duties, bookkeepers make sure the money flows smoothly in both directions.
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Bookkeeping is an analytical job, requiring sharp math skills, attention to detail and a penchant for data entry. Bookkeepers work closely with accountants and financial advisors to make sure both corporate and personal accounts are accurately recorded.
Many of the skills needed for bookkeeping can be learned on the job, but any previous experience in math or accounting is a plus. Bookkeeping is a great entry-point into the world of accounting and finance.
So how do you highlight your strengths and set yourself apart from other candidates for bookkeeping positions?
A great cover letter will help you catch a hiring manager’s attention and increase your chances of landing the job you want. This bookkeeping cover letter example along with our adaptable sample sentences and formatting guidelines are designed to help simplify the writing process.
This bookkeeper cover letter example along with our adaptable sample sentences will:
- Explain why a cover letter is an essential tool to land your next bookkeeping role
- Offer free cover letter examples, samples and templates to help you start the writing process
- Demonstrate how to showcase the credentials you need to stand out in today’s field
- Help you create formatting that stands out from the crowd and impresses the employer!
Sample cover letter for bookkeeper position
One of the best ways to begin your cover letter is by looking at a sample. Our cover letter sample for a bookkeeper position will help you formulate your experience into thoughtful paragraphs that highlight your skills. But first, let’s answer the question “What is a cover letter?”
A cover letter is a one-page document (about 200-400 words) that accompanies your resume and allows you to expand on your most impressive accomplishments, relevant education and key skills for the bookkeeping position you are applying to.
Primary purpose of the bookkeeper cover letter
The primary purpose of a bookkeeper cover letter is to introduce you to the hiring manager and make a personal connection before they ever meet you in person. Taking the time to write a thoughtful cover letter is one of the best things you can do to make a great first impression and stand apart in a crowded applicant pool.
What if the bookkeeping job application DOESN’T require a cover letter?
Despite cover letters being one of the most requested application materials, many candidates find themselves wondering whether one is actually necessary. This happens often when applying to small businesses with no formal application process, but online applications are also notorious for marking cover letters as “optional.”
So what should you do? Don’t make the mistake that many others might make in your position – unless asked NOT to submit a cover letter, it’s always a smart idea to create one specific for the position you’re applying to. A cover letter is one of the best ways to increase your chances of landing the position. Why give up such a golden opportunity?
A great cover letter isn’t only about writing. Your formatting and visual presentation will likely be the first thing a hiring manager notices about your application so it’s worth making sure you’ve followed professional guidelines, especially in a formal field like finance. For complete tips and the rules of creating a visually attractive cover letter, check out our comprehensive guide.
Now let’s check out a bookkeeper cover letter sample that can serve as a jumping-off point for your own.
Dear Mr. Marwick,
Bookkeepers who work in public education understand the value of keeping the finances on a tight leash. The ability to track spend and manage wasteful investments have a direct impact on the educational outcomes of students.
Having worked as the lead bookkeeper for two school districts over the course of eight years, I have collaborated with many dedicated and passionate education leaders, not all of whom have possessed the financial acumen to balance the books. Education budgets are not a bottomless pit, but by setting strict guidelines and communicating them to all involved, public funds can be stretched further than you might think.
My experience covers all the needs of a school district, and more:
- Multi-distract payroll, benefits and supplier payment management & receivables.
- Running the school district P&L, general ledger and budgeting reports.
- Invoice management, collections, contract negotiation, payments, PO management.
- Found errors and made corrections amounting to $38,000 over one year.
Having successfully introduced the latest accounting software to my previous employer, the model of its rollout was copied by another five school districts across the state. It allowed me to track delinquent accounts easier and led to a 35% improvement in debtor days.
I strive to be a great communicator with my colleagues and understand that their heads need to remain with education. If accounting is hassle-free and straightforward, they can get on with their pivotal roles. 95% of former colleagues rated me as doing a “great job” at my last appraisal.
I would welcome an interview to understand your accounting challenges and hope that I can help you to save money and spend more sensibly as I have for previous employers.
Sincerely,
Kane Jones
Secondary purpose of the bookkeeper cover letter
The secondary purpose of a bookkeeper cover letter is to allow you to stand out from other candidates who may have the same exact programs or skills on their resume. If you’re a recent graduate or entry-level candidate, then a cover letter is your secret weapon: It allows you to discuss your willingness to learn and passion for bookkeeping, even if you don’t have much previous experience.
There are certain types of entry-level jobs that are great for earning cash or to hold you over until you find the work you are passionate about. Then there are others that allow you to advance into a more complicated field and can quickly become a career path of their own. Bookkeeping is a great door-opener for a career in banking or administration.
While that’s great for you as the candidate, it also means you might face stiff competition when it comes to the best bookkeeping jobs. Furthermore, entry-level bookkeeping jobs are becoming harder to find as software and other technology can track income and expenses without much human input. To land the type of position you’re after, you need to show a hiring manager what makes you a better choice than all the other candidates.
Customize your cover letter for success
Writing a cover letter is half the battle, but there’s one more step you’ll need to take before you can rest easy that your cover letter will be effective. Customizing your cover letter means tailoring it with the right skills, experiences and accomplishments based on the employers’ needs. One of the best ways to do this is to closely read the job description to pick out the most important characteristics to fit into your potential workplace. The time it takes to tailor your cover letter will pay off big when a hiring manager notices your attention to detail and reaches out to schedule an interview.
That’s where your cover letter comes in. This document is all about maximizing your chances of landing an interview and ultimately the job. Although bookkeeping might be seen by some as a rote data entry position, there’s much more to it than that. A cover letter is the best place to show off your organization skills, clear communication and even the professional personality that makes you a pleasure to work with.
Resumes are often rigid documents that don’t allow for much creativity, save for the few lines of profile summary. A cover letter for a bookkeeper allows you to show off what makes you unique and go beyond the math skills and software found on the majority of applicants’ resumes.
Bookkeeping cover letter structure, writing examples
One of the most difficult parts about writing a cover letter is simply getting started. The blank page feels like a canvas of endless possibilities – or rather endless decisions holding you back from submitting your application. Fear not! In this next section we will break down the cover letter writing process into manageable steps so you can rest assured you’ve checked all the boxes.
Here are the key components of a bookkeeper cover letter:
- The cover letter header
- The cover letter greeting or salutation
- The introduction
- The letter body
- The conclusion
- The signature.
You can find even more details about how to write and format each of these sections in our comprehensive cover letter writing guide.
Cover Letter Header
Located at the very top of your cover letter, the header is intended to serve two important purposes. The first is to identify your document with your name and contact information so that a hiring manager knows 1. who’s cover letter they are reading and 2. how they can get in touch with you should they want to set up an interview. If applying online, there’s no need to include your physical mailing address – email and phone number should suffice.
The second function of your cover letter header is to spruce up the page with the right amount of visual design. This is one of the only places you’ll be able to get creative with your formatting so it’s worth taking the time to make sure your layout says the right thing about you. For a bookkeeper position, you’ll likely want to stick to a neutral color palette with a formality that is appropriate for a financial job.
The goal of the cover letter header: Make it easy for a hiring manager to quickly find your name and contact information, create attractive formatting that catches a hiring manager’s attention while still being industry-appropriate.
Align document styles!
As a bookkeeper, professional presentation is a must. Before you can even think about what to wear to an interview, you’ll first need to consider the appearance of your application. One of the easiest ways to make sure your application stands out is by aligning the document styles of your cover letter and resume. Matching fonts, colors and design elements creates a polished look and quickly cues a hiring manager into your interest in the position.
Aligning document styles need not be complicated. A cover letter template and corresponding one for our resume can help simplify this process by offering an expertly-designed format just waiting for you to plug your information in. For bookkeeping positions, we recommend Resume.io’s Professional templates. Don’t forget to consider the company tone and branding when choosing a template.
Cover Letter Greeting
Your cover letter greeting is a short section but essential to getting your cover letter off to the right start. Whenever possible, aim to address the hiring manager or letter recipient by name in order to establish a personal connection and friendly tone. For professional professions like bookkeeping “Dear” followed by the correct salutation and last name is generally the safest and most-appreciated option.
The goal of the cover letter greeting: Address the letter recipient by name to establish a personal connection, inject some human relatability and start a dialogue with the hiring decision-maker.
The importance of names and addressed greetings.
Using colleagues' names is one of the best things you can do to establish rapport and mutual respect in your office, according to the Washington Post. And the evidence for that is not just anecdotal. In fact, studies have shown we have a positive neurological response to hearing our own names. The same is true for writing which is why we recommend addressing your cover letter recipient by name whenever possible.
In many sizable companies, however, hiring is often taken care of by a team. It can be difficult to find any hiring manager’s name, let alone be sure they’re the one who will read your letter. In that case you’ll have to resort to a different approach. Instead of using the outdated and overly formal “To Whom It May Concern,” you can opt for a collective greeting that uses the company name. Nouns like “Hiring Team” or even “Company Family” can work well depending on the tone of the workplace.
Cover Letter Introduction
In a crowded applicant pool, your cover letter introduction is one of your best chances to stand out and encourage the hiring manager to keep reading your cover letter. Try to avoid bland and generic openings. Instead opt for a relevant statistic, interesting anecdote or strong belief statement. Make sure to keep your tone professional and mention the job you are applying for within the first two sentences.
The goal of the cover letter introduction: Create an exciting introduction that draws a reader into your letter by leading with a related fact, skill or experience
Cover Letter Body
The longest section of your cover letter, the body is where you’ll have space to expand on your most relevant achievements, skills and all the reasons why you’re the right candidate for the job. One of the best ways to organize this section is by creating short anecdotes using the STAR method. First, describe a Situation and the Task required of you, then list your Action and the positive Result that followed.
In a second body paragraph you can more directly discuss your strengths and interest in the company as well as your potential contributions.
The goal of the cover letter body: Use the STAR method to create short anecdotes about your most relevant experiences, expand on the most important skills needed for the position
Cover Letter Conclusion and Signature
When it’s time to wrap up your cover letter, you’ll want to create an effective Call to Action. This sentence expresses your interest in the position and invites a hiring manager to contact you without sounding entitled to an interview.
Then, finish your letter with the appropriate signature. “Best regards” or “Sincerely” can work well for formal positions like bookkeeping.
The goal of cover letter conclusion: Create a call to action that encourages a hiring manager to get in touch, sign off with a professional signature
Most important qualities for bookkeepers + job description
As a bookkeeper, there are a few key qualities that are essential to the role no matter where you apply:
- Attention to detail: If a bookkeeper’s work is not accurate, then it amounts to nothing at all. Or worse, it could land the company in serious trouble come tax time. You can show your attention to detail through the examples you choose and also by making sure your writing is free of spelling and grammar errors.
- Accounting basics: There’s no way around it: being good with numbers is key to bookkeeping. You should be comfortable with calculations and strong mental math skills are also a bonus. Your cover letter should mention your most relevant and advanced accounting experience right from the start.
- Organization: Spreadsheets, invoices, pay slips – it’s all in a day’s work for a bookkeeper. Make sure to give the impression that you keep good records and that data entry is your second nature. Your cover letter formatting is a great place to convey your sense of organization.
- Computer skills: Xero, Quickbooks, Excel and others – modern businesses run on accounting software and spreadsheet programs. Make sure any that you know are briefly highlighted on your cover letter.
The modern bookkeeper job description
The job description for a bookkeeper includes:
- Record financial transactions including deposits, withdrawals and transfers
- Create a system of account management through the use of programs and spreadsheets
- Studies legal requirements and make sure company complies with them
- Organizes historical records by collecting, scanning and storing receipts and invoices
- Prepares ledger and accounts for tax filing and completes preliminary steps
The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that the job market for bookkeepers will continue to shrink over the coming decade. This is largely because modern software allows more of the bookkeeping work to be done by a single person instead of multiple. Bookkeepers are still an essential part of functional businesses, but their role is changing. To land a job as a bookkeeper in today’s landscape, your cover letter should show that your skills go beyond rote data entry.
Knowledge of the accounting cycle, programs like Quickbooks and even some HR tasks like onboarding can go a long way to set you apart from other candidates.
What is the difference between a bookkeeper and an accountant?
Bookkeepers and accountants work together closely but their roles are slightly different. A bookkeeper records and organizes financial transactions and prepares a general ledger to be handed off to the accountant. Since accountants are certified professionals they are better equipped to handle more complex procedures like analyzing financial records, creating balance sheets and income statements and filing federal and state taxes.
Bookkeeper cover letter format and common mistakes
By avoiding these common cover letter pitfalls, you can quickly surpass many of the other candidates for bookkeeping roles.
- Typos and grammar mistakes: These errors may seem small but they quickly undermine the credibility and attention to detail you worked so hard to cultivate in your cover letter. Make sure to use spell check or ask a friend to proofread your application before you submit.
- Formatting errors: Your visual presentation is just as important to your professionalism as your writing. Make sure your format is clean and organized with a formal color scheme and fonts that are appropriate for your potential employer.
- Irrelevant experience: While bookkeeping can be an entry-level position, you’ll need some sort of experience that shows you have the right skills and interest. If you’ve never worked as a bookkeeper before, make sure you focus on only the most transferable skills from other positions.
- Generic cover letters: There may be similarities in bookkeeping duties across companies but that doesn’t mean your cover letter should be one-size-fits-all. Make sure you’ve customized your experience, skills and even your tone and visual design to the needs of each employer.
Key takeaways
- Since the resumes of many bookkeeping candidates will contain similar skills and experiences, your cover letter is a key opportunity to stand out from the crowd.
- Make sure your cover letter is tailored to each company and position you apply to so that a hiring manager can easily see why you are the perfect fit.
- The cover letter structure can be used as a guide to make sure you’ve included all the necessary sections that recruiters expect from your document.
- As bookkeeping positions become more advanced, make sure to leverage your knowledge of computer programs and basic accounting practices to have the best shot at landing the position.
- Your formatting is likely the first thing a hiring manager will notice when reviewing your cover letter. Follow professional guidelines, use our accounting & finance cover letter examples and templates to be certain your layout will impress.
