Becoming a professional staff accountant can be incredibly rewarding. Staff accountants have strong analytical skills, excellent critical thinking skills, and extensive knowledge of accounting procedures and financial reports. Because they are entrusted with sensitive financial records, most organizations value their contributions highly.
To find work in this profession, you’ll need to write an effective staff accountant cover letter and resume. The tips, examples, and templates below will help you make your staff accountant resume sparkle and your cover letter shine. With these in hand, you’ll be able to apply for jobs right away. And with any luck, the callbacks for interviews will start rolling in.
Staff Accountant Cover Letter Guide
A cover letter is a single-page document that offers information about your accounting skills and experiences. There should be several paragraphs in your cover letter, and each of them should emphasize why you’re the perfect candidate for the accounting position you’re applying for. This section covers a few of the things you should keep in mind as you begin writing.
Why Does Your Staff Accountant Cover Letter Matter?
Your cover letter matters because you’re likely to face stiff competition for accounting jobs. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for accountants and auditors is expected to increase at an average rate over the next decade. This means that the demand for accounting jobs is unlikely to surpass the growth of the candidate pool.
Put another way, you should expect that other candidates will be competing with you for staff accountant positions. A good cover letter will help you personalize your application, emphasize your unique strengths, stand out from the competition, and get hired. Cover letters are the best way to add detail that will grab the hiring manager’s attention and compel them to reach out.
Essential Components of Your Staff Accountant Cover Letter
An accounting cover letter can be a tricky document to write. A perfect cover letter has a good structure, with all the body paragraphs working together to present your abilities and experiences. Below is a list of all the elements you’ll need to include to make your letter truly effective.
- Header and salutation. It is essential to provide the hiring manager with some basic contact information, which should go at the top of your cover letter document. Include your name, address, phone number, and email address. Then, between the header and the first paragraph, you should salute the desired recipient by name.
- Introduction. The opening paragraph of your cover letter is meant to introduce who you are as a professional accountant. In three to four sentences, you’ll need to mention your previous and current accountant roles, summarize your financial management skills, and explain why you are the ideal candidate and why the company should hire you.
- Second paragraph. In this paragraph, you will elaborate on the work history outlined in your resume, citing any relevant experience that has prepared you for the role you’re applying for. Focus on highlighting key achievements and job responsibilities that have been essential to your professional growth.
- Third paragraph. This is where you’ll discuss your relevant skills and education. Before writing this paragraph, make sure to research the company you’re applying to. All of the information should be connected to the exact position you’re trying to get. If the role involves working with the finance team, you should mention your collaboration skills in addition to your accounting abilities.
- Closing paragraph. This paragraph should tie together all of the information from the previous paragraphs. Reiterate your motivation for applying for the position, and briefly explain why your work experience, soft and hard skills, and education make you the perfect fit.
5 Tips for Writing a Strong Staff Accountant Cover Letter
Writing a cover letter is no walk in the park. Attention to detail is very important and you don’t want to miss out on an accounting job because you didn’t cover all of your bases. Below are five tips that you should keep in mind as you’re putting together your staff accountant cover letter.
- Personalize the letter. The first rule of writing cover letters is to never send the same letter twice. If you’re applying to several jobs, you should personalize your cover letters so that each company knows you’ve done your homework. Only use the “to whom it may concern” formula if you can’t find the recruiter’s name.
- Use keywords. A lot of hiring managers use applicant tracking system (ATS) software to filter out unwanted applications. A great way to ensure that your application makes it through is to include relevant industry jargon. For a staff accountant position, the best keywords are anything related to degrees in accounting and financial auditing skills.
- Mention your CPA training. In most industries, certifications provide valuable proof of your expertise. This is especially true in the field of accounting, where Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) reign supreme. If you’ve taken the steps necessary to get your CPA or are planning to do so, be sure to talk about it in your cover letter.
- Do not neglect soft skills. While all staff accountants need hard, technical skills to conduct risk assessments and analyze tax returns, soft skills are arguably just as important. Communication skills are especially important for dealing with clients, but the more types of skills you can list, the more well-rounded you will appear.
- Proofread your letter. A professional cover letter is pristine and error-free. If you want to impress the hiring manager, remember to proofread your letter after you’ve finished writing it. This way, you’ll be able to correct any unfortunate typos and maximize your chances of making a good first impression.
Staff Accountant Cover Letter Example
Now that we’ve gone through the essential cover letter components and some useful writing tips, it’s time to look at an example. Below is an accounting cover letter sample that prospective staff accountants can use as a starting point. If you’d like to view more templates, tips, and examples, check out our ultimate guide for writing cover letters.
Staff Accountant Cover Letter Sample
[Full name]
[Street address]
[Phone number]
[Email address]
Dear [Hiring manager’s name],
I am writing to apply for the position of staff accountant advertised on your website. Having worked as a staff accountant for three years, I enjoy the responsibility of creating financial reports and interacting with financial team members every day. According to your website, your company was ranked first by [ABC Publication] for having one of the best working environments in [City], and I believe that your corporate values closely resemble mine.
Previously, I was employed by the [XYZ Company] in [City]. In this role, I was responsible for monitoring external audit operations and generating financial reports for the company. I was also responsible for ensuring that company finances were streamlined, healthy, and well-managed on a daily basis.
My favorite part of the job was managing accounts receivable for the company. It was here that I got to use my math skills and analytical abilities to evaluate the company’s financial statements. This responsibility helped me refine my data management skills and gain valuable experience identifying and resolving discrepancies in financial statements.
As a resident of the [City] area, I am deeply impressed with your commitment to social responsibility. I would love to use my accounting skills to help your organization become more efficient and achieve your broader community and business goals.
I have attached my resume to this email. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Respectfully,
[Full name]
Staff Accountant Resume Guide
If you’re looking for a job as a staff accountant, you’ll need an impressive resume. This section includes tips and examples to guide you through the process of writing a good one.
Why Does Your Staff Accountant Resume Matter?
The main objective of your staff accountant resume is to ensure that hiring managers see that you have the skills to succeed in the role. A professional resume serves as a window into your work history, skills, education, and achievements as an accountant. Having a resume that clearly displays information about your skills and expertise is a surefire way to get noticed by employers.
Essential Components of Your Staff Accountant Resume
A well-designed staff accountant resume will increase the likelihood of success in your job search. Make sure to include all of the following components in your resume.
- Contact information. A good resume begins with the candidate’s contact information. Make sure the name is bigger than the rest of the text. This section should also include your email, phone number, physical address, LinkedIn page, and any other information relevant to your professional identity.
- Professional objective. This section is an excellent way to introduce yourself to the reader. Here you’ll briefly mention your career goals and how they line up with your skills, educational background, and work experience. The professional objective section should only be three to four sentences long.
- Work experience section. This section shows off your accounting knowledge. When listing each of your previous jobs, begin with the title of the position. Next, write the employer’s name and the start and end dates of your employment. Underneath each job title, use bullet points to list your work responsibilities and achievements.
- Education section. It’s hard to find accounting work with just a high school diploma, so you’ll want to indicate your postsecondary training, starting with your highest degree. If you have a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, for example, you should state whether it’s a BS, a BA, or BBA, and then list the name of the institution and the years you were in the program.
- Skills section. The skills section is the perfect opportunity for you to show off your accounts payable and accounts receivable skills explicitly. List your technical skills here, but don’t forget to mention a few important soft skills, too. All the skills listed should be relevant to the job you’re applying for.
5 Tips for Writing a Strong Staff Accountant Resume
Even if your resume has all the necessary sections, it still might not be ready to send off. Below are a couple of tips and suggestions to help you write your resume more effectively.
- Format key sections in reverse-chronological order. You should list your previous jobs, education, and skills from newest to oldest. This kind of resume format ensures that you are presenting your professional information in the clearest and most relevant fashion.
- Use action verbs and keywords. When describing your work history, be sure to use both industry jargon and active language. Not only are action verbs and relevant keywords the best tools for illustrating your core competencies, but they will also help you get past a company’s applicant tracking system (ATS) software.
- Use bullet points. Any time you are listing multiple skills, academic achievements, responsibilities, or previous work experiences, be sure to use bullet points. This type of formatting makes it easier for the eye to find relevant information, which could work in your favor when a hiring manager is reviewing a large stack of applications.
- Only include relevant information. All the information you list on your staff accountant resume should be relevant to the job you’re applying for. This means that, if you’re looking to fill a vacant staff accountant role, all of the information should be related to accounting.
- Pay attention to structure. Ensure that your resume structure both includes all the essential components listed above and arranges them in an order that makes sense for the position you’re applying for. A well-structured resume that’s tailored to the specifications laid out in the job ad is more likely to be seen by a hiring manager.
Staff Accountant Resume Examples
There are many ways to write a staff accountant resume, but we recommend a simple approach. Below are a few staff accountant resume examples to get you started. The first is a sample work experience section, complete with bullet points for each job duty. The second is a complete template, which you can use for inspiration when writing your own resume.
Staff Accountant Resume Sample: The Work Experience Section
Work Experience
Staff Accountant | [XYZ Company] | August 2018 – Present
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Venus, Software Engineer at Rockbot
- Examined and resolved discrepancies in company financial plans and reports
- Developed training programs for financial staff to keep operations running in accordance with company policies and accounting systems
- Performed quarterly reviews of business ledgers, invoices, payroll, and company accounting systems
- Assisted management with budgets, project planning, and financial reporting
Junior Accountant | [ABC Company] | March 2015 – July 2018
- Kept accurate and detailed records of accruals, vendor invoices, and accounts payable and receivable
- Presented documentation to clients to justify payments they were required to make
- Conducted monthly review of compliance laws and [ABC Company]’s adherence to them
- Improved cash flow processes and decreased late fees by 8%
Sample Staff Accountant Resume Template
[Full name]
[Street Address]
[Email Address]
[Phone Number]
Professional Summary
[Two to three sentences outlining your career goals, relevant skills and experiences, and significant accomplishments]
Work Experience
[Position] | [Company] | [Dates]
- [Responsibility]
- [Responsibility]
- [Responsibility]
- [Responsibility]
[Position] | [Company] | [Dates]
- [Responsibility]
- [Responsibility]
- [Responsibility]
- [Responsibility]
[Position] | [Company] | [Dates]
- [Responsibility]
- [Responsibility]
- [Responsibility]
- [Responsibility]
Education and Certifications
[Degree type and field OR certification name] | [School OR organization] | [Dates]
[Degree type and field OR certification name] | [School OR organization] | [Dates]
[Degree type and field OR certification name] | [School OR organization] | [Dates]
Skills
- [Skill]
- [Skill]
- [Skill]
- [Skill]
Staff Accountant Resume Template Resources
- Career Karma. This wide selection of effective resume templates includes options for a variety of positions and roles.
- ResumeGenius. Here you can choose a template to build a professional resume in a short amount of time. Most of these are compatible with Microsoft Word.
- Zety. With this easy-to-use resume creator, you can download templates, customize your CV, and apply to jobs right away.
Importance of a Staff Accountant Cover Letter and Resume
A cover letter is an excellent way to add details to your job application and convince the hiring manager to contact you for an interview. Furthermore, a well-designed resume that emphasizes your accounting experience and skills is a reliable way to get noticed. When combined with a structured, job-specific resume, a well-crafted cover letter is your ticket to the interview stage.
Staff Accountant Cover Letter and Resume FAQ
There’s a long list of relevant soft and hard skills for staff accountants. Pay attention to the job description and tailor your resume accordingly. A typical staff accountant should be knowledgeable about financial statements, asset management, internal audit controls, payroll, account analysis, account reconciliation, conflict resolution, Microsoft Office, and IT.
Yes. A well-written cover letter is your chance to prove you’re the right candidate for a staff accountant position. By citing specific examples from your education and work history, you can illustrate your ability to maintain and verify financial statements, perform audits, write annual financial reports, report financial information to clients, and offer investment advice.
At a basic level, the contact information should be the same on both documents. You should also make sure that the fonts match. In a proper job application, the resume, cover letter, and the rest of your job materials will use the same font and a similar design. And of course, everything you discuss in your cover letter should be reflected somewhere in your resume.
There are several things you need to keep in mind when writing a professional summary. First, it’s essential to keep this section brief, no more than three or four sentences. Second, it should include a summary of your accounting skills and achievements. Lastly, it’s a good idea to refer to the company and the position you’re applying to by name.
About us: Career Karma is a platform designed to help job seekers find, research, and connect with job training programs to advance their careers. Learn about the CK publication.
