A good bookkeeper cover letter shows your talent for keeping detailed, accurate records of financial transactions. Express your interest in the hiring company, and cite your relevant skills like process streamlining, payroll processing, or advanced Microsoft Excel.
This guide will help you write a cover letter that gets you interviews for your next job as a bookkeeper.
Bookkeeper Cover Letter Templates and Examples
- Entry-Level
- Mid-Career
- Senior-level
How To Write a Bookkeeper Cover Letter
Your bookkeeper cover letter should usually have five sections, outlined below. When possible, connect each section to the employer and its stated hiring needs. The following advice and examples will show you what to include in your bookkeeper cover letter so it’s optimized for each application.
1. Heading
At the top of the page, include:
- Your resume contact header, which should give your full name, address, email, phone number, and LinkedIn or other social accounts if applicable
- The date
- The recipient’s name, title, company, and contact information (when available)
(Note: Feel free to omit this section when sending your letter as an email message, as long as your contact details are part of your email signature.)
Example
Ruby Cordova
Bookkeeper | [email protected] | (776) 655-4433 | 680 Main Avenue, Topeka, KS 75319
April 13, 2024
Linda Hume
Senior Hiring Manager
Supporting Strategies
(111) 222-3333
[email protected]
2. Salutation
Address your recipient by name – this is the quickest way to signal you’re sending a job-specific letter and not a boilerplate. If you can’t find the person’s name, use a variation of “Dear Hiring Manager” so your greeting is still tailored somewhat to each job opening.
Examples
Dear Mr. Barnett,
Dear Intuit Hiring Manager:
3. “Hook” or introduction
Catch the reader’s attention by citing an achievement from your resume or a key credential the company seeks in applicants. Then, connect that highlight to your main strengths and overall candidacy for the advertised bookkeeper role. Refer to the hiring organization by name here to further convince the recipient you’re applying to them specifically.
As an alternative to the work highlight approach, you can set yourself apart by networking. Begin your letter by citing any personal or professional connections you have with the hiring manager. If someone at the company alerted you to the job, use a line like “I was excited to hear from your colleague [Name] about [Company]’s new bookkeeper opening.” Or, if you’ve already met your recipient, mention that with a line like “It was great speaking with you at the [event] last month.”
Example
Last year, I met 100% of my deadlines and delivered ahead of schedule in 76% of cases without compromising accuracy. My supervisor praised my efficiency and robust organizational systems. I am excited to use my skills to benefit your customers as a virtual bookkeeper at Intuit.
4. Body paragraph(s)
On a separate document or sheet of paper, take 10 minutes to brainstorm why this bookkeeper position or employer interests you. When you’re done brainstorming, review your notes: Do any stand out as important or persuasive? Take another 10 minutes to reflect and elaborate on them. Repeat this process until you have one or two concise sentences about the job opening. By making this description a central part of your letter, you’ll have a better chance of persuading the manager to call.
Following this explanation, cite a few more of your bookkeeping skills or achievements, possibly as bullet points. Again, view this section through the lens of the employer’s needs, then choose your highlights accordingly.
Example
Supporting Strategies’s incredible reputation in the industry for going above and beyond for its clients aligns perfectly with my dedicated work ethic. As a skilled bookkeeper with outstanding numerical ability and two years of experience, I have the attributes to become an asset to your team. My recent achievements include:
- Working collaboratively with the management team and other bookkeepers to exceed all team productivity targets in 2023 by 43%
- Successfully resolving an account discrepancy that was causing severe delays within just three hours
- Identifying and capitalizing on opportunities for service upselling, increasing each client account’s value by an average of 12% last year
5. Closing
Finally, request an interview and thank the hiring manager for their time and attention. Consider briefly restating why this bookkeeper job interests you. You can also use this section to refer to your resume or other application materials. To end your cover letter, use a simple closing like “Sincerely” or “Best regards” and then your name.
Example
I would like to attend an interview to explain how my strong numerical skills and excellent understanding of emerging bookkeeping technologies can help your users. Please get in touch to schedule a meeting.
Sincerely,
Eshan Carty
Bookkeeper Cover Letter Tips
1. Show you can keep detailed, accurate financial records
Start your letter strong with a clear example or measure of your success as a bookkeeping clerk. For instance, you could cite the amount by which you reduced ledger inaccuracies. When possible, connect to the big picture. Spell out how your work organized financial records and made the company more strategic, efficient, or adaptable.
Example
Achieving an accuracy rate of 100% for accounts receivable and accounts payable management in 2023 was my most significant career achievement to date. I accomplished this rating while meeting all personal productivity targets, and I’m excited to demonstrate the same efficiency and diligence at Supporting Strategies.
2. Explain why this bookkeeping job caught your attention
For example, maybe it requires careful invoice preparation, a key focus of your recent work. Or maybe you share the company’s mission to develop agile, online reporting systems.
Example
As a passionate professional with over 13 years of experience, the opportunity to nurture new talent as a leader in your organization appeals to me. I have the vision and interpersonal skills to become an inspiring mentor.
3. Highlight your related strengths
Use your list of bullet points to show success in key work areas for a bookkeeper, such as legal compliance, process streamlining, or data accuracy.
Example
The following achievements show my aptitude for the role:
- Receiving 100% positive feedback from clients on my roster for service quality and interpersonal communication
- Managing over 25 accounts while ensuring 100% accuracy over three years
- Successfully retaining at least 98% of existing clients year over year since commencing my employment
Bookkeeper Text-Only Cover Letter Templates and Examples
- Entry-Level
- Mid-Career
- Senior-Level
Eshan Carty
Bookkeeper | e.carty@myemail | (665) 544-3322 | 864 First Street, Topeka, KS 31086
April 13, 2024
Roy Barnett
Senior Hiring Manager
Intuit
(443) 322-1100
[email protected]
Dear Mr. Barnett,
Last year, I met 100% of my deadlines and delivered ahead of schedule in 76% of cases without compromising accuracy. My supervisor praised my efficiency and robust organizational systems. I am excited to use my skills to benefit your customers as a virtual bookkeeper at Intuit.
As a diligent bookkeeper with 6+ years’ experience multi-tasking across multiple client accounts, Intuit’s innovative and technology-driven approach to customer service is intriguing to me. I believe that your company’s ethos of providing agile, online solutions represents the future of bookkeeping.
I know that you are looking for an organized professional with the drive to manage their own workload. The following achievements show my aptitude for the role:
- Receiving 100% positive feedback from clients on my roster for service quality and interpersonal communication
- Managing over 25 accounts while ensuring 100% accuracy over three years
- Successfully retaining at least 98% of existing clients year over year since commencing my employment
I would like to attend an interview to explain how my strong numerical skills and excellent understanding of emerging bookkeeping technologies can help your users. Please get in touch to schedule a meeting.
Sincerely,
Eshan Carty
Bookkeeper Cover Letter Frequently Asked Questions
Is it OK to bold words in a cover letter?-
Yes, but only sparingly. Consider bolding the keywords or brief phrases that start each bullet point as a way to further emphasize your work highlights. But generally avoid having bold text in your body paragraphs, as it’s unnecessary and can distract the hiring manager.
Do hiring managers still read cover letters? -
Some don’t, but many do. And all hiring managers seek fast ways to reduce a large pile of applications to just a few promising candidates. One common way they do this is by focusing on applications that include cover letters, then on cover letters that speak to their hiring needs. Send a tailored cover letter with your resume, and you can be confident you’ll end up in that select group.
What’s the difference between a resume and a cover letter?-
A resume may show you’re qualified for the job, but a cover letter shows you want it. Your resume should display your various relevant experiences for the role you’re after. By contrast, your cover letter should explain why a specific job posting caught your attention or why the hiring organization seems like a fit for you. These details let you express your interest in the opportunity and set the stage for a positive and productive interview. A cover letter sharpens your job application by saying directly what your resume can only indicate.
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