Accountant cover letter: example and tips

A complete cover letter for accountant jobs in Switzerland, what recruiters in the field look for, and the openings available right now.

What the recruiter wants to read

Your training (federal certificate, federal diploma in finance and accounting, chartered expert) and how independently you work.
What you handle alone: general ledger, closings, VAT, payroll, tax.
Software (Abacus, SAP, Bexio, Sage) and one concrete result.

A complete example

Names and facts are made up: replace each one with your own. A copied letter shows, an adapted one gets read.

Example

Subject: Application for the accountant position

Dear Ms Rochat,

Your listing for a full-time accountant caught my attention: Atelier Mabillard SA is moving to project-based cost accounting, which is exactly the project I have led for the past two years.

At Fiduciaire du Molard, I keep the books of fifteen small companies, from the journal to the year-end close. I introduced monthly closings in Abacus for four of them, bringing reporting time down from twenty days to eight. I also prepare quarterly VAT returns and am the auditors’ contact during reviews.

Your growth in Geneva and your commitment to training make me want to put this experience to work for a single company, for the long term.

I am available from 1 January, after a two-month notice period, and would be glad to present my background in an interview.

Kind regards,
Julien Favre

Enclosures: CV, work references, diplomas