Writing an external auditor cover letter can feel like a daunting step after you've already dived into the job-hunting process. You know it's not just echoing your resume; it's your chance to share a compelling story about your proudest professional moment. Striking the right balance between formality and personal touch without resorting to clichés is tricky, especially when you need to keep it concise. In this guide, you'll learn how to craft a cover letter that is both impactful and a perfect one-page introduction to your unique auditing skills.
- Step your best foot forward in the external auditor cover letter introduction;
- Be inspired by other professionals' certified cover letters;
- Structure your external auditor cover letter to feature what matters most;
- Close off your external auditor cover letter to make a memorable impression on recruiters.
But where to start writing? Upload your resume into Enhancv's AI, which will prepare your external auditor cover letter (all you need to do is personalize it, and you'll be good to go).
If the external auditor 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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External auditor cover letter example
Harper Garcia
Columbus, Ohio
+1-(234)-555-1234
help@enhancv.com
- Alignment with company values: The cover letter starts by aligning the candidate's experience and mindset with the core values and strategic vision of the organization, demonstrating a thoughtful consideration of the company's culture and goals.
- Quantifiable achievements: It specifically highlights a past achievement of identifying $2M in potential cost savings, showcasing the candidate's ability to deliver tangible results through financial compliance and process optimization, which is relevant and impressive to a hiring manager.
- Relevant expertise: The cover letter emphasizes the candidate's skills in auditing, risk assessment, and compliance management, which are central to the role of an External Auditor and essential for the potential employer.
- Call to action: The candidate expresses a strong interest in bringing their expertise to the team and invites the hiring manager to arrange an interview, which is a proactive approach to securing the next step in the application process.
What about your external auditor cover letter format: organizing and structuring your information
Here is one secret you should know about your external auditor cover letter assessment. The Applicant Tracker System (or ATS) won't analyze your cover letter.
You should thus focus on making an excellent impression on recruiters by writing consistent:
- Header
- Greeting
- Introduction
- Body paragraphs (and explanation)
- Promise or Call to action
- Signature (that's optional)
Now, let's talk about the design of your external auditor cover letter.
Ensure all of your paragraphs are single-spaced and have a one-inch margins on all sides (like in our cover letter templates).
Also, our cover letter builder automatically takes care of the format and comes along with some of the most popular (and modern) fonts like Volkhov, Chivo, and Bitter.
Speaking of fonts, professionals advise you to keep your external auditor cover letter and resume in the same typography and avoid the over-used Arial or Times New Roman.
When wondering whether you should submit your external auditor cover letter in Doc or PDF, select the second, as PDF keeps all of your information and design consistent.
The top sections on a external auditor cover letter
- Header: This section includes your contact information, the date, and the employer’s contact details, which is essential for the recruiter to identify and reach out to you for further communication regarding the auditing position.
- Greeting: Use the recruiter's or hiring manager's name if known to personalize the cover letter, demonstrating that you've done your research and are serious about the position as an external auditor.
- Opening Paragraph: Introduce yourself by stating your current role, your professional background in auditing, and express your enthusiasm for the opportunity, as this sets the tone and shows your fit for the thorough and regulatory nature of an external auditor’s job.
- Body: Outline your relevant auditing experience, specific skills such as risk assessment and compliance knowledge, and any key achievements that demonstrate your ability to perform external audits effectively, as recruiters look for candidates with a proven track record.
- Closing Paragraph: Reiterate your interest in the position, mention your willingness to explain how your skills match the role in a personal interview, and thank the recruiter for considering your application, showing both your courteous professionalism and eagerness to engage further.
Key qualities recruiters search for in a candidate’s cover letter
- Attention to Detail: Auditors must be able to identify the smallest discrepancies in financial records to ensure accuracy and compliance with laws and regulations.
- CPA Certification: Having a Certified Public Accountant designation is often a significant advantage as it demonstrates a recognized level of expertise and commitment to the accounting profession.
- Analytical Skills: The ability to analyze complex financial data and systems is crucial for identifying potential issues and generating comprehensive audit reports.
- Independence and Objectivity: Auditors must maintain an impartial stance when reviewing a company's finances to provide unbiased conclusions.
- Experience with Regulatory Compliance: Knowledge of relevant financial regulations, such as GAAP, Sarbanes-Oxley, or industry-specific requirements, is critical for ensuring that audits meet legal standards.
- Strong Communication Skills: The ability to articulate audit findings clearly and effectively to management, stakeholders, and regulatory bodies is essential for an external auditor.
Greeting recruiters with your external auditor cover letter salutation
What better way to start your conversation with the hiring manager, than by greeting them?
Take the time to find out who the professional, recruiting for the role, is.
Search on LinkedIn, the company website. And for those still keen on making a fantastic first impression, you could even contact the organization, asking for the recruiter's name and more details about the job.
Address recruiters in the external auditor greeting by either their first name or last name. (e.g. "Dear Anthony" or "Dear Ms. Smarts").
If you're unable to discover the recruiter's name - don't go for the impersonal "To whom it may concern", but instead use "Dear HR team".
List of salutations you can use
- Dear Hiring Manager,
- Dear [Name of the Hiring Manager] [Surname],
- Dear [Mr./Ms./Dr.] [Surname],
- Dear Members of the [Department Name] Team,
- Dear [Job Title] Search Committee,
- Dear [Company Name] Recruiter,
What to include in those first two sentences, or your external auditor cover letter introduction
Have you ever wondered what the best way is to present your profile in the external auditor cover letter introduction?
There's no right or wrong answer if you're being concise and authentic to yourself.
Some professionals start their external auditor cover letter by:
- congratulating the company - focusing on something impressive, whether that's an award, an industry-leading project, or a key event;
- aligning their passion for the field or industry with the job - if you're enthusiastic about what you do, you'd thus grow your skill set and value as a professional.
How to select your best achievement for the middle, or the external auditor 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 external auditor resume.
What else can you include in your external auditor 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 external auditor 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).
Two ideas on how to end the final paragraph of your external auditor cover letter
Closing your external auditor cover letter, you want to leave a memorable impression on recruiters, that you're a responsible professional.
End your cover letter with how you envision your growth, as part of the company. Make realistic promises on what you plan to achieve, potentially, in the next six months to a year.
Before your signature, you could also signal hiring managers that you're available for the next steps. Or, a follow-up call, during which you could further clarify your experience or professional value.
Is it beneficial to mention that you have no experience in your external auditor cover letter?
Lacking professional experience isn't the end of the world for your external auditor cover letter.
Just be honest that you may not have had roles in the industry, but bring about so much more.
Like, your transferable skills, attained thanks to your whole work and life experience (e.g. the skills your summer spent working abroad taught you).
Or, focus on what makes you, you, and that one past success that can help you stand out and impress recruiters (think of awards you've attained and how they've helped you become a better professional).
Alternatively, write about your passion and drive to land the job and the unique skill set you would bring to enhance the workplace culture.
Key takeaways
Turning your external auditor cover letter into a success is all about staying authentic to yourself and relevant to the job:
- Be creative with your external auditor cover letter introduction by stating something you enjoy about the company (that is genuine) or about your skill set (to get the recruiters' interested);
- Use single spacing and have a one-inch margin wrapping all around the content of your external auditor cover letter;
- Select just one past achievement from your career or life to tell a story of how you've obtained job-crucial skills and how they'd be beneficial to the role;
- The finishing paragraph of your external auditor cover letter doesn't necessarily have to be a signature but could be a promise of what you plan to achieve in the role;
- Instead of focusing on your lack of experience, spotlight your transferable skills, one relevant achievement, and career dreams.
