Be sure you use the proper cover letter format to make your cover letter readable and professional.
Finance cover letter template (text format)
[Today’s Date]
[Contact Person]
123 Mosley Road
Manchester
M2 3JL
01623 577 775
contact.person@email.com
Dear [Mr/Ms/Mx] [Contact Person],
I’m delighted to apply for the Financial Analyst position at Optum. With 10+ years of experience guiding large-scale financial decisions for various institutions, I’m well equipped for the responsibilities of this role.
Throughout my career, I’ve excelled at transforming complex financial data into actionable reports that drive business development. I’m adept at preparing monthly P&L variance analysis reports as well as handling month-closing processes, forecasting, budgeting, and quarterly key metrics reporting.
Here are some highlights of my experience:
- Audited 4 years of financial statements and P&L reports for three leading financial services providers
- Drove 15% increase in the commercial margin by managing key financial metrics, including scenario planning and sensitivity analysis
- At Aviva, improved cash flow position by 15% by tracking aged accounts
I’d be an excellent fit on the team at Optum. Please review my attached CV for more information about my qualifications and achievements. I look forward to meeting with you soon to discuss the position further in a job interview. You can reach me by email (your.email@gmail.com) or phone (07123 456 789) at your earliest convenience.
Yours sincerely,
Your Name
3 Tips for Writing a Job-Winning Finance Cover Letter
Before you begin writing, make sure you know how to write a cover letter in a way that makes you seem like the best candidate for the job.
In the intensely competitive world of finance, your cover letter can make the difference between getting an invitation to interview and stony silence from the employer. Even more so if you’re applying for an entry-level position or finance internship.
But if you know what to include in your cover letter and how to format it professionally, you’ll be able to relate your skills to the employer’s needs and present yourself as a natural fit for the position.
So follow these three tips to create a cover letter that tells the employer why you’re a candidate worth investing in.
1. Use an industry-appropriate font and format
Employers in finance prefer cover letters that are formal, succinct, and logically structured.
Write your cover letter as you would any formal business letter, keeping your cover letter length to under 400 words divided into short, scannable paragraphs.
Then, choose a standard cover letter font that can be read with ease.
Serif fonts, such as Times New Roman, Georgia, and Cambria, are typically best for finance cover letters because they appear dignified and professional. For the same reason, you should size your font to 11–12 points.
2. Establish a connection in your opening statement
Start your cover letter with a short, professional introduction that tells the reader:
- who you are
- what your biggest selling point is
- why you’re applying for the job
Here’s a finance cover letter introduction that hits all those points:
If you have a connection within the company, name them in your opening statement (with their prior permission). Taking this approach will create a sense of familiarity between you and the employer and boost your credibility as an applicant.
3. If you’re writing a cover letter for a finance internship, emphasise your interests and career goals
Employers always read the cover letters when filling a finance internship or graduate scheme.
Particularly at major financial institutions, entry-level finance opportunities receive extremely high application volumes. According to a graduate market report by High Fliers, banking and finance employers received 13,200 applications on average between 2021 and 2023.
So it’s likely another applicant will have a similar CV to yours. But if you also provide a personalised cover letter that outlines your career goals and the benefits you offer the employer, you’ll put yourself ahead of the competition.
For example, this finance internship cover letter clearly aligns the applicant’s education and career goals with the programme’s key objectives:
Use This Cover Letter Template