Make a finance analyst cover letter that showcases your best assets! It's not as difficult as it may seem to be!
Whether you're just starting out in this profession, or you already have years of experience, our guide is here to make your job search a breeze. So, dive in and help yourself to the best cover letter tips, detailed examples, professional templates, and real-life samples. It's an investment you won't regret!
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In this guide, we teach you how to create an eye-catching cover letter as a finance analyst. Keep reading to learn all about how to:
- Format your finance analyst cover letter header & headline
- Personalize the greeting on your finance analyst cover letter
- Write a compelling finance analyst cover letter introduction
- Showcase your accomplishments as a finance analyst
- Conclude your cover letter with an actionable closing statement
- Access top resources for job-seeking finance analysts
Still looking for a job? These 100+ resources will tell you everything you need to get hired fast.
1. Properly format your finance analyst cover letter header & headline
Before beginning to write the body text of your cover letter, you must first focus on creating a well-formatted header and headline.
A cover letter header refers to the block of text detailing the necessary information about the applicant and company, while a cover letter headline is a brief title statement that draws the attention of employers.
Below is a more in-depth breakdown of each of these cover letter elements and how to write them:
Formatting the header
A well-formatted cover letter header will typically contain between 3 to 4 lines of text that include:
- The name of the company & department you are applying to
- Your name and professional title
- Your professional contact information (phone number, email address, etc.)
Your finance analyst cover letter header should look similar to this example
To: The University of Tennessee, Financial Affairs Department
From: Joe King, Finance Analyst
(123) 456-7890 | joeking@email.com | linkedin.com/in/joe-king
Writing the headline
When writing the headline of your cover letter, you should always use a keyword related to the position, an eye-catching number or trigger word, a powerful adjective or verb, and a promise.
Here is an example of an effective finance analyst headline, followed by a brief breakdown of its key components
My 3 Key Qualifications as a Finance Analyst & How They Can Benefit Your Company
Trigger Word/Number: 3 Key Qualifications
Keyword: Finance Analyst
Adjective/Verb: Key, Benefit
Promise: Your Company – this is a promise because it ensures the employer you will relate your qualifications back to the specific needs of their company.
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2. Personalize the greeting on your finance analyst cover letter
Following the header and headline is the greeting of your cover letter.
Whenever possible, you want to use a personalized greeting that addresses a specific person or department by name. By doing so, you show the employer that you have thoroughly researched their company and have great attention to detail.
If you cannot pinpoint an exact person or department that will review your cover letter, try out one of the following alternatives:
To the [Company Name] Team
Or
To the [Company Name] Hiring Manager
3. Write a compelling finance analyst cover letter introduction
With your greeting in place, it’s time to write the introduction to your finance analyst cover letter. To make this introduction compelling, you should include:
- A brief overview of your professional history and goals
- A statement on why you are enthusiastic about applying to this company
- A mutual acquaintance (when possible)
Here is an example to help demonstrate how to write a finance analyst cover letter introduction
To the [Company Name] Hiring Manager,
I am a Finance Analyst with 3+ years of experience in an academic setting. I am confident I can provide the expertise your university needs to improve its investment strategy. While still in school, I served as a Finance Analyst Student Assistant for your Head of Financial Affairs, Jane Doe, who reached out and recommended I apply for this position.
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4. Showcase your accomplishments as a finance analyst
Next up on your finance analyst cover letter are the body paragraphs. A strong cover letter will generally contain between 2 to 4 body paragraphs that offer in-depth answers to the following questions:
- What excites you about working at this company?
- What do you hope to learn from working at this company?
- What accomplishments or qualifications make you stand out as an applicant?
- What key skills do you possess that are relevant to the position?
Making your accomplishments a priority on your cover letter is essential — after all, your real-life achievements help to showcase the value you can bring to a company.
Here is an example of how to describe an accomplishment in a finance analyst cover letter
As a Junior Finance Analyst at [Former Employer], I assisted in the management of 7 distinct projects, each with a budget of over $200K. As part of my role during these projects, I created multiple impact analyses and reports that resulted in a 30% decrease in overhead costs.
5. Conclude your finance analyst cover letter with an actionable closing statement
The final component of your Finance Analyst cover letter is a strong and actionable closing statement. This statement should include:
- An enthusiastic sentence saying you are looking forward to hearing from them
- An additional sentence stating you will follow up, including how you will contact them or how they can contact you
- A formal sign-off
Here is an example of a well-written closing statement from a finance analyst’s cover letter
I am eager to further discuss how I can apply my analytical skills to improve your company’s Finance Department and investment portfolio. I hope to connect directly within the next two weeks either in-person or via virtual meeting. The best way to reach me is on any weekday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at (123) 456-7890.
Yours Truly,
[Applicant Name]
Follow this cover letter outline for maximum success.
6. Top resources for job-seeking finance analysts
Finance analyst resume? Check! Finance analyst cover letter? Check! Finance analyst job posting? Yet to be found.
Indeed, without having a particular job posting in mind, you won't get far in this job searching race. If you could use some help looking for the right opportunities, try starting with the following resources:
- Industry-specific job boards: Websites with niche focus like eFinancialCareers, FinancialJobsWeb, or CityJobs (UK) are excellent entry points to the world of finance.
- Online job search engines: Next, you can focus on job search engines that aggregate postings from a wide variety of industries, such as Indeed, Glassdoor, Simply Hired, or ZipRecruiter.
- LinkedIn: This platform is fantastic for connecting with fellow finance professionals, but also for discovering new networking opportunities. And with LinkedIn’s new job search tool, it'll give you access to specific opportunities.
- Professional associations: Besides networking opportunities and training programmes, associations like the CFA Institute, the European Financial Planning Association (EFPA), the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (CISI) can offer you so much more. For example, job listings, industry publications, or workshops.
- Specialized publications: To keep up with the latest industry news, developments, studies, and trends, consider looking regularly at media that specialize in the field of finance. For example: “Financial Times,” “The Economist,” “Financial Analysts Journal,”or “Risk.net.”
- Continuous learning: Keep gaining new skills and knowledge with a wide selection of courses and certificates offered by online learning platforms like Coursera, LinkedIn Learning, Udemy, or edX.
Looking for the right job can sometimes feel like an uphill battle. But sooner or later you'll get the job you long for. But, no matter how many job postings you end up applying for, don't forget to custom tailor each and every cover letter you send.
Finance Analyst Cover Letter FAQ
Absolutely! Especially if they’re quantifiable. Because quantifiable achievements provide concrete proof of your capabilities. Whether you've saved a company money, improved financial reporting by 20%, or made a smart investment - all these experiences show you can deliver results.
For once, typos, spelling mistakes, and grammatical errors are a big no-no. They can suggest you lack diligence or attention to detail, both of which are crucial for this particular role. Also, avoid being too generic or overly technical. Your cover letter should be both personalized and accessible to non-finance professionals. Because the recruiters that will go through your job application don't necessarily have to be proficient in the world of finance.
No, not really. You should use your cover letter as an opportunity to delve deeper into what makes you an ideal candidate. While you can refer to achievements in your resume, take the chance to give context and explain what these accomplishments mean in terms of value they added to your previous workplace. You also want to take this opportunity to show that you've done your research about the institution and communicate your passion for the role.
Yes, but make sure to do so in a way that aligns with the role and company you're applying for. Linking your long-term goals with the success of the company shows that you're not only ambitious but also interested in growing with the organization.
Your tone should lean towards professional but not overly stiff. Cordial, but not overly friendly. It's about finding the middle ground. It's essential to maintain an air of courtesy and respect, but you can also sprinkle a bit of your own personality to make it more engaging. But don't try to be forcibly funny. Humour doesn't translate well in written form. Plus, you never know who's going to be the recipient of your cover letter.
