Embarking on your job search, you've realized a compelling VP of Finance cover letter is your gateway to standing out. Unlike your resume's bullet points, your cover letter is your stage to narrate your proudest financial victory, bringing life to your experiences without the trap of clichés. Striking the right balance between formality and engaging storytelling within the concise frame of one page might seem daunting, but with the right guidance, it's an obstacle you can gracefully overcome.
- Making excellent use of job-winning real-life professional cover letters;
- Writing the first paragraphs of your vp of finance cover letter to get attention and connect with the recruiters - immediately;
- Single out your most noteworthy achievement (even if it's outside your career);
- Get a better understanding of what you must include in your vp of finance cover letter to land the job.
Let the power of Enhancv's AI work for you: create your vp of finance cover letter by uploading your resume.
If the vp of finance isn't exactly the one you're looking for we have a plethora of cover letter examples for jobs like this one:
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VP of Finance cover letter example
Olivia May
San Francisco, CA
+1-(234)-555-1234
help@enhancv.com
- Highlighting relevant job experiences with specific metrics (such as reducing the budgeting cycle by 40% at Salesforce) provides tangible evidence of the candidate's impact and effectiveness in a similar role.
- Emphasizing the integration of financial technology and strategic planning demonstrates a strong alignment with the tech-forward approach many contemporary companies require in a financial leader.
- Mentioning a proactive role in transformational projects (like the implementation of a new financial planning tool) showcases initiative and the ability to drive change, which is crucial for a leadership position.
Structuring and formatting your vp of finance cover letter
Here's what the structure of your vp of finance cover letter should include:
- Header (with your name, the position you're applying for, and the date);
- Salutation (or greeting);
- Introductory paragraph (or your opening statement);
- Body paragraph (or further proof of your experience);
- Closing paragraph (with a call to action);
- Signature (that is optional).
Use the same font for your vp of finance resume and cover letter - modern fonts like Lato and Rubik would help you stand out.
Your vp of finance cover letter should be single-spaced and have a one-inch margins - this format is automatically set up in our cover letter templates and our cover letter builder.
When submitting your cover letter, always ensure it's in PDF, as this format keeps the information intact (and the quality of your document stays the same).
On one final note - the Applicant Tracker System (ATS or the software that is sometimes used to initially assess your application) won't read your vp of finance cover letter.
The top sections on a vp of finance cover letter
Header with Contact Information: Include your name, address, phone number, and email so that the recruiter can easily reach out to you; it also adds a layer of professionalism to your cover letter.
Opening Paragraph with a Strong Introduction: Capture the recruiter's attention by clearly stating your interest in the VP of Finance position and briefly mentioning your most relevant experience or achievements in the financial sector to establish suitability for the role.
Body with Detailed Professional Experiences and Skills: Articulate your key financial management accomplishments, leadership experiences, and strategic skills that directly correlate to the responsibilities of a VP of Finance, ensuring the recruiter understands your capability to handle high-level financial decisions.
Evidence of Financial Acumen and Company Fit: Highlight specific instances where you've successfully driven financial strategy, managed fiscal responsibilities, or improved financial processes, and align these successes with the prospective company's goals to demonstrate a potential cultural and operational fit.
Closing Paragraph with a Call-to-Action: End your cover letter with a confident statement expressing your enthusiasm for the opportunity to discuss how your background and vision can contribute to the company's financial success, along with thanking the recruiter for their consideration.
Key qualities recruiters search for in a candidate’s cover letter
- Strategic Financial Planning and Analysis: Recruiters prioritize VP of Finance candidates who can forecast financial trends, prepare growth plans, and support strategic decision-making to drive the company's financial success and stability.
- Leadership and Team Management: The ability to mentor, guide, and manage finance teams is critical for this role, as the VP of Finance often leads a large team and collaborates with other departments.
- Risk Management and Compliance: Candidates must demonstrate expertise in identifying financial risks and ensuring the company adheres to all fiscal regulations and internal controls. This is essential for maintaining the company's financial integrity and reputation.
- Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) Experience: With this role frequently involved in corporate development, experience in M&A activities, including valuation, due diligence, and integration, is highly sought after.
- Complex Financial Reporting Skills: Mastery in preparing and interpreting complex financial reports is required, as the VP of Finance needs to provide accurate financial information to stakeholders and guide business decisions.
- Advanced Communication and Negotiation Abilities: Exceptional communication skills are necessary to effectively convey financial strategies to both finance and non-finance personnel, and strong negotiation skills are crucial for managing vendor contracts and stakeholder relationships.
What greeting should you use in your vp of finance cover letter salutation
A simple "Hello" or "Hey" just won't work.
With your vp of finance cover letter salutation, you set the tone of the whole communication.
You should thus address the hiring managers by using their first (or last name) in your greeting.
But how do you find out who's recruiting for the role?
The easiest way is to look up the role on LinkedIn or the corporate website.
Alternatively, you could also contact the organization via social media or email, for more information.
Unable to still obtain the recruiter's name?
Don't go down the "To whom it may concern path". Instead, start your cover letter with a "Dear HR team".
List of salutations you can use
- Dear Hiring Manager,
- Dear [Company Name] Team,
- Dear [Department] Department,
- Dear Mr./Ms. [Last Name],
- Dear [Full Name],
- Dear [Professional Title]
The vp of finance cover letter introduction: focusing on your unique value, with a creative twist
You are not the only one wondering how to start your vp of finance cover letter. Those first two sentences introduce your profile and should be memorable.
No pressure.
When beginning your vp of finance cover letter, immediately point out the unique value of working with you. In other words, what you promise to bring to the role by using your past track record of success.
Start your vp of finance cover letter with a creative twist by telling a joke or stating something relatable. Select this type of introduction only if it aligns with the company culture.
How to select your best achievement for the middle, or the vp of finance cover letter body
You probably feel exhausted by this point in your application: you've dived into all the details of your success and skills in your vp of finance resume.
What else can you include in your vp of finance cover letter body?
Well, for starters, the next three to six paragraphs should show you further value as a professional. Or, why should recruiters choose you?
Think back on a noteworthy achievement that answers key job requirements and dive deep.
Structure your vp of finance cover letter middle as you'd a story: following chronological logic and highlighting outcomes, thanks to skills.
At the end of the day, you'd want recruiters to be able to see you as the best candidate for the role and understand more about who you are and what makes your success unique (and valuable to the role).
Ending your vp of finance cover letter: a closing paragraph with a promise
If you're thinking of finishing your vp of finance cover letter with a "Sincerely yours" or "Thanks for the consideration," you need to read on.
End the final paragraph of your vp of finance cover letter with a twist:
- a promise - of how you'd grow as a professional, part of the company, or improve organizational metrics;
- a call to action - prompt interviewers with some follow-up actions if they are interested in your profile.
A personalized ending would surely help you to stand out by being a memorable candidate.
Addressing limited to no experience in the vp of finance cover letter
There's nothing to worry about if you lack professional experience.
Your vp of finance cover letter could bridge the gaps in your professional history by focusing on what matters most to recruiters, that's either:
- skills - focusing on transferable ones you've gained, thanks to your life experience (e.g. volunteering, certificates, etc.);
- achievements - select the most relevant and noteworthy one from your history (e.g. education, projects, etc.);
- motivation - describe how you envision your professional growth in the next up to five years, thanks to this opportunity.
Key takeaways
Creating your vp of finance cover letter should be a personalized experience for the role and the recruiter, where you:
- Format your cover letter using the same ATS-friendly font (e.g. Railway) as you did for your resume;
- Greet recruiters, using their name, and follow up with two sentences to introduce yourself, your interest in the role, and to stand out;
- Map out one key success from your career (or life) that has taught you job-crucial skills;
- Substitute your lack of experience with an achievement from your internships, degrees, or volunteering gigs;
- End with a promise for your potential or your availability for an interview.
