How to craft an effective bookkeeper cover letter
Businesses both large and small need reliable bookkeepers who can keep their financial records orderly and up to date with great efficiency. To earn a position as a bookkeeper, you will need a cover letter that perfectly encapsulates your professional drive and dedication to the job.
In this guide, we will teach you the 5 essential steps to writing a bookkeeper cover letter. Keep reading to learn all about:
- How to create a well-formatted cover letter header & headline
- Why you should personalize the greeting on your cover letter
- What to include in your bookkeeper cover letter introduction
- Ways to highlight your professional value as a bookkeeper
- How to conclude your cover letter with a strong closing statement
Still looking for a job? These 100+ resources will tell you everything you need to get hired fast.
See more examples like these
1. How to create a well-formatted cover letter header & headline
The first two elements of any well-written cover letter are the header and headline.
A cover letter header will include the necessary identifying information about the applicant and the company they are applying to, while a cover letter headline will serve as a title that hooks the employer’s attention and leads into the introduction and body text of the letter.
To help demonstrate how to create and format each of these cover letter elements, we have provided more in-depth explanations and examples of each below:
Formatting the header
The header of your cover letter is not bound by a strict format and can vary in appearance according to your personal style preferences. However, it should always include between 3 to 4 lines of text that detail:
- The name of the company and department you are applying to
- Your name and professional title
- Your professional contact information (phone number, email address, LinkedIn, etc.)
Here is an example of what a well-formatted bookkeeper header looks like
To: Johnson Architect Associates, Administrative Department
From: Jane Smith, Bookkeeper
(123) 456-7890 | janesmith@email.com | linkedin.com/in/jane-smith
Writing the headline
To write the headline of your cover letter, you should first consider how journalists use headlines to hook the attention of their target audience. The headline should be equal parts eye-catching and honest, accurately previewing the information to come.
In your headline, you should always use a keyword related to the position, an eye-catching number or trigger word, a powerful adjective or verb, and a promise.
Here is an example of an effective headline from a bookkeeper’s cover letter, followed by a quick breakdown of its components:
My 4 Key Bookkeeping Successes & How I Can Achieve Them at Your Company
Trigger Word/Number: 4 Successes
Keyword: Bookkeeping
Adjective/Verb: Key, Achieve
Promise: Your Company – this fulfills the promise component of the headline because it ensures the employer that you will relate the information you cover directly to the needs of their specific company.
2. How to personalize the greeting on your bookkeeper cover letter
Whenever possible, you should always opt for a personalized greeting on your cover letter.
A personalized greeting will address a specific person or department by name. By doing so, you not only show you have great attention to detail but also that you have thoroughly researched the company beforehand.
If you cannot pinpoint an exact person or department that will review your cover letter and application, try out one of the following alternatives:
To the [Company Name] Team
Or
To the [Company Name] Hiring Manager
Find out your resume score!
3. What to include in your bookkeeper cover letter introduction
With your cover letter greeting in place, your next step is to craft a well-written and compelling introductory paragraph. A strong introduction will generally include:
- A brief overview of your professional history and goals
- A statement on why you are enthusiastic about applying to this company
- A mutual acquaintance (when possible)
Here is an example to help demonstrate how to write a bookkeeper cover letter introduction
To the [Company Name] Hiring Manager,
I am a Bookkeeping professional with 6+ years of experience working in the legal industry. After speaking with your Head of Business Affairs, I was inspired by your company’s dedication to environmental justice. As your new Bookkeeper, I will provide you with the support needed to continue your excellent work within the field.
4. How to highlight your professional value as a bookkeeper
Following the introduction of your cover letter are the body paragraphs. A good cover letter will typically contain between 2 to 4 body paragraphs that answer the following questions:
- What excites you about working at this company?
- What do you hope to learn from working at this company?
- What accomplishments or qualifications make you stand out as an applicant?
- What key skills do you possess that are relevant to the position?
Accomplishments are a particularly good way to showcase your professional value as a bookkeeper because they provide you with ample opportunity to highlight the real-life benefits you can bring to the company.
Here is an example of how to describe an accomplishment in a bookkeeper cover letter
As the primary Bookkeeper for [Former Employer], I identified and implemented a new record-keeping process that increased the company’s bookkeeping efficiency by 25%. Additionally, I streamlined the record management system to flow into one central database, improving the speed at which financial records could be accessed by 40%.
5. How to conclude your cover letter with a strong closing statement
To finish off your bookkeeper cover letter, you will need a strong closing statement that includes:
- An enthusiastic sentence saying you are looking forward to hearing from them
- An additional sentence stating you will follow up, including how you will contact them or how they can contact you
- A formal sign-off
Here is an example of an effective closing statement from a bookkeeper’s cover letter
As your new bookkeeper, I am certain I will optimize your record-keeping efficiency and minimize any bookkeeping errors you currently face. I am eager to further discuss this opportunity and would like to connect in person or virtually within the next week. The best way to reach me to set up a meeting is at (123) 456-7890, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Appreciatively,
[Applicant Name]
Follow this cover letter outline for maximum success.
