Assistant Accountant Cover Letter

Your assistant accountant cover letter is your opportunity to introduce yourself in a brief and compelling way. A well-written cover letter highlights what makes you an excellent fit for the job, and it also makes a positive connection with the recruiter.

Here are three tips to ensure your assistant accountant cover letter puts you ahead of other applicants:

1. Highlight your assistant accountant skills

As an assistant accountant, you’ll provide support to accountants by managing financial data and making accurate financial reports. And if you demonstrate you’ve got the necessary abilities and experiences to fill the role, your job application is more likely to stand out. So use your cover letter to emphasise the skills you gained from your previous jobs or internships.

Hard skills (technical abilities learnt on the job or from schooling) are essential for a successful assistant accountant career. So point out the specialised skills you acquired to perform essential assistant accountant job functions, such as:

• Accounting software (Xero, QuickBooks, Zoho Books)
• Office suite software (Microsoft Office)
• Desktop communications software
• Budgeting
• Financial reporting
• Regulatory filings and compliance software

You can also highlight specific accounting certifications to show your successful completion of higher education levels, such as Certified Bookkeeper, Certified Payroll Professional, and other similar national certifications.

Also, don’t forget to describe your soft skills (traits showing how you relate to others) to show how you’ve developed over the years while studying, doing an internship, or working in the accounting industry.

Here are some examples of soft skills that’ll make your assistant accountant cover letter stand out to recruiters:

• Written and oral communication skills
• Active listening
• Critical thinking skills
• Interpersonal skills
• Monitoring and assessment
• Time management
• Mathematical reasoning

If you’re switching career paths, explain why and describe the transferable skills (skills that are useful across different industries) you can take from your previous job to the new one.

2. Provide examples of your achievements

In your cover letter for assistant accountant roles, present your top accomplishments with hard numbers and specific details. Examples that are backed up with figures give the recruiter insight into how you resolve industry-specific problems and how you’ll be an asset to their team.

Here’s an example of how an assistant accountant with two years of experience presents their achievements with numbers and details:

Example of bulleted accomplishments on an assistant accountant cover letter

As an accounting intern at PwC, I had the opportunity to put my academic knowledge into practice. I was eventually promoted to a full-time accounting assistant role in one of the UK’s top accountancy firms, which helped me develop my critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Here are three examples that highlight my accomplishments:

• Simultaneously supported 45 clients in our London office in reconciling bank accounts, reviewing and maintaining sales, purchase, and general ledgers
• Assisted our Senior Accountant in preparing, reconciling, and presenting balance sheet reviews to senior stakeholders
• Managed and coached 50 accounting interns regarding their roles in various accounting tasks and projects

3. End with a convincing closing statement

Conclude your cover letter with a closing paragraph and an effective call to action (CTA). Your CTA is a powerful statement that encourages your target employer to take action. For instance, perhaps you want your target employer to schedule an interview, or to call you to further discuss your qualifications.

The closing statement is also your last chance to express your enthusiasm for the position, while also thanking the reader for their time and consideration.

So remember to summarise two or three takeaways from your cover letter, followed by your contact details.

Finally, don’t forget to sign off with:

•  ‘Yours sincerely,’ when your cover letter addresses the contact person directly
• ‘Yours faithfully,’ if you address a generic job or department title instead of a contact person

Here’s an example of a solid closing statement and sign-off from an assistant accountant cover letter: