Financial Controller Cover Letter (Sample Letters & Examples)

The job of a Financial Controller is to oversee the smooth running of the accounting department in a business. From preparing budgets to analyzing financial records, it can be a busy and demanding job. It’s a role that requires responsibility and good communication.

Some of the tasks a Financial Controller will need to do are:

• Managing budgets and cash flow
• Supervising a finance team
• Preparing documents for payroll and financial analysis
• Implementation of the accounting process
• Preparing financial reports and financial risk assessments

When writing your cover letter, you want to highlight your skills. The key skills for a Financial Controller are:

• Being good with numbers
• Having experience in the financial sector
• Being an effective communicator
• Having patience and being tactful
• Being able to keep calm under pressure
• Being assertive
• Should have a degree in math, accounting, or business administration
• Have experience using accounting software

You can download one of our templates or samples to get a better feel for how a Financial Controller Cover Letter should look.

Cover letters will differ depending on the industry and job position. However, they do have a basic format that you should follow. A lot of employers look for a good cover letter when reviewing candidates for a position, and it can be the difference between getting hired or rejected.

The format of your cover letter should have:

• Contact section – this should be set at the top middle or top left of the page. It should include your name, a contact phone number, and an email address. You can also add your postal address unless you are sending an email cover letter, where your contact details will go under your signature.
• Employers address – this should be set to the left and just under the contact section. Be sure to address them professionally and include their job title or designation.
• The date
• Salutation/greeting – use their title, for example, Mr., Ms., Doctor, etc.
• Body of the letter – you should have about 2 to 3 paragraphs. Your first paragraph should detail how you heard about the position and why you are applying. Your second paragraph should give a brief overview of your skills and explain why you believe you are the best candidate for the position. Your third paragraph should give details of any soft skills that you have, those that are not related to the field but that you feel would be beneficial to the position and the company.
• Closing paragraph – in the closing paragraph, you should thank the hiring manager for their consideration, let them know when you are available, and give your contact details. 
• Sign off and signature – you should sign off with something, such as “Kind Regards,” “Sincerely,” or “With Thanks,” and be sure to sign your name.

Those are the basics that all cover letters should have. To make your cover letter stand out, you need to personalize it to the position and industry you are applying to.

When writing your first paragraph, you should briefly explain what attracted you to the company or the position. In your second paragraph, aside from highlighting your skills, you should add some achievements of the company that you admired. This shows that you have taken the time to learn about the company. Also, mention your own achievements or successful projects, such as solving a difficult problem for the company you previously worked for. Make sure that you keep your paragraphs brief and to the point.

Keep it simple

While you do want to highlight your skills and grab the attention of the person hiring, make sure that you keep it short and concise. Refrain from using long paragraphs explaining all of your accomplishments and so on because that should be included in your resume.

Don’t Exaggerate

You should never lie about your skills or exaggerate what you are capable of doing. Employers will know right away if you have lied when you are unable to provide the skills you claimed that you have. It can end in ruining your reputation and cost you a job opportunity.

Easy to Read

In a cover letter, it is acceptable to either use a list or uses an essay format when listing your accomplishments. On average, the person hiring will take 6 seconds to skim your letter. The easier you make it to read, the better. You should use a font that is readable with a size of 11 to 14pt, make sure there is proper spacing between your lines, and choose a template that has a nice but simple look to it.

Be Specific

Instead of giving general descriptions of your achievements and skills, mention specific examples, statistics, or figures. Having numbers that support how good your performance is will be more impressive.

Avoid these common mistakes:

• Focusing too much on yourself
• Sharing all of the details of every job you have had
• Don’t turn your cover letter into a novel. One page with 2 to 3 paragraphs will suffice.