Bookkeeper Cover Letter Guide, with Examples

Why a Profession-Specific Cover Letter Matters

Your cover letter can be a key factor in your chances of progressing through to the interview stage. Alongside your CV or resume, you can use your cover letter to show to your employers your skills and experience. The letter itself can also act as an effective showcase of your professional qualities, including letter writing and communication skills.

It’s critical to spend time tailoring your cover letter both to your profession and to the job application itself. If your cover letter includes references to specific bookkeeping skills and experience, and shows how you meet the job description, you can increase your chances of success.

Key Components of a Bookkeeper Cover Letter

A strong cover letter helps to convince the employer to invite you to a job interview. It should make a strong case for you, while not exaggerating your credentials. Include the following components in your cover letter for bookkeeper applications, to give you the best chance of success:

1. Explain why you want the role: Explain your motivation for applying, and how the role fits with your career ambition. This can give the employer a strong sign of how suitable you are for the role, and whether you’re a good fit for the organisational culture and structure.
2. Summary of your career achievements: While your CV provides a more comprehensive list of your previous jobs, your cover letter gives you the chance to focus more on notable achievements. Pick one or two achievements that match the job description, show your strengths and emphasise the value you provide to employers.
3. Demonstrate your skills: Your cover letter gives you the chance to provide further detail on the skills you have. Review the job description for key requirements for the role, and explain how you put some of these skills to use in your current or previous roles.
4. Call to action: Always add a call to action, to encourage the employer to reach out to you. This gentle persuasion tactic keeps the door open for your application. It also lets the employer know you’re confident of passing beyond the initial selection phase.

Cover Letter Format

Follow this format for a cover letter that makes a positive impression with recruiters and hiring managers:

• Header: Include your name and contact details, and the name and address of the employer.
• Greeting line: Greet the hiring manager by name if you know it (for example, ‘Dear Alison Howard’). If you don’t know the name of the hiring manager, use ‘Dear hiring manager’. 
• Introductory paragraph: Identify the role you’re applying for and where you saw it advertised. Explain why you want the role, and how it fits with your career ambitions.
• Bookkeeping skills and experience: Write a paragraph detailing your key work experience and bookkeeping skills. Explain why they make you a good fit for the job.
• Call to action: Finish your letter by re-emphasising your enthusiasm for the role and adding a call to action that encourages the employer to reach out to you.

Sample Cover Letter for Bookkeepers

Martin Newey
13 Haveland Drive
Stamford
PE9 3RF

24/2/23
Hammond Logistics Ltd

Dear Andy Pender,

I’m writing to apply for the position of Bookkeeper, as advertised on LinkedIn on 22/2/23. My experience as a certified bookkeeper, working for seven years with various companies in the shipping and service industries, makes me a strong candidate for the position. Your company’s reputation as an employer that supports its employees’ career development, and the flexibility stated in the job description, make the role ideal for this stage of my career.

For the last four years I’ve been working as a bookkeeper for a local packaging and shipping firm, managing the invoicing and financial record keeping for various prestigious ongoing clients. My role includes liaising with account managers and other members of staff to raise invoices and process payments, keeping record of every transaction in their accounting software. I also produce monthly financial reports for senior management, presenting the current financial status at board meetings. During my time in bookkeeping roles I’ve developed advanced Excel skills, while I’m also a strong communicator with a keen eye for detail and a thorough, meticulous working style.

I’m enthusiastic about the opportunity this role offers, as it represents a positive step in my career, while my skills and experience are an excellent match for your requirements. Thank you for taking the time to consider my application. I would welcome the chance to discuss the role in more detail, so please feel free to contact me if you would like to arrange an interview.

Yours sincerely,
Martin Newey

Dos and Don’ts

Do:

• Address the letter to a named contact: Personalise your letter by addressing it to the hiring manager by name. If you don’t know their name, contact the hiring company to ask them.
• Proofread your letter: Make sure your letter is free of spelling and grammar errors. They can really undermine your chances.
• Keep it concise: Keep your page to a maximum of one side of A4 in a readable font (e.g. size 11 or 12 san serif fonts).
• Name the file appropriately: If you’re sending your letter electronically, give it a suitable, clear and identifiable name and save it as a PDF file before sending.

Don’t:

• Exaggerate or lie: Providing misleading information on your cover letter or CV is never a good idea, and can even be illegal. It can also come back to haunt you in an interview.
• Get bogged down in formalities: Every word counts in your letter, so don’t include too many pleasantries. They won’t do much to improve your chances of success.
• Rely on clichés: Be specific about your qualities and avoid falling back on clichés or vague statements about what you bring to the role.
• Be too forceful: Be gently persuasive, but not forceful or over-confident. Don’t proclaim yourself to be ‘the best candidate for the job’. This approach can appear arrogant and presumptuous.

Additional Tips

Follow these extra tips to increase your chances of success with bookkeeping job applications:

1. Tailor your cover letter: Read the job description to understand the skills and experience the employer is looking for. Make sure the details you include in your cover letter match the requirements for the role.
2. Contact the hiring company for clarification: If you’re not sure of any details in the job description, contact the hiring company for clarification. This can help to ensure your cover letter and CV are relevant and prove you can do the job.
3. Complement your CV: Your cover letter should be an accompaniment to your CV without repeating it. Review our bookkeeper CV example for tips on how to approach this document. 
4. Use an eye-catching cover letter design: Using a clean, professional cover letter design and layout can help it stand out among other applications. Jobseeker offers easy-to-use cover letter templates and CV templates to make a positive impression with employers.

Key Takeaways for a Successful Bookkeeper Cover Letter

A compelling, readable and gently persuasive cover letter can make a big impression with employers and increase your chances of success. Emphasise your skills and experience that match the qualities listed in the job description. Project confidence and enthusiasm without exaggerating or overselling yourself. Finally, use a beautiful cover letter layout and design to grab the attention of the reader. Jobseeker has a wealth of cover letter examples, CV examples and templates to help you stand out in a crowded field of applicants. Sign up today to start the simple process of creating your winning bookkeeper job application.