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Cover letter example

Financial analyst cover letter example

For an analyst position, the letter has to show that you understand the specific job and the firm's style. A buy-side manager wants to see your investment thinking, a bank wants rigour on credit risk, a group finance team wants someone who can work with operations.

One short example of your analysis does more than a list of qualities.

Cover letter example

Replace the parts in brackets with your own details.

Subject: Application: Junior Equity Research Analyst, Industrials, [Company]

Dear [Recruiter's name],

I am writing to apply for the junior analyst position in your industrials team. I follow your notes on European capital goods companies, and your recent work on the order backlogs of [Listed Company] changed the way I look at their margins.

During my six-month internship at [Previous Firm], I updated the earnings models of [x] companies in the sector and prepared the results previews sent to clients before each publication. I also wrote the first draft of a note on the impact of steel prices on mid-cap equipment makers, which the senior analyst reworked and published.

Before finance, I studied mechanical engineering, which helps me in meetings with industrial companies. When a management team talks about capacity utilisation or a new plant, I can ask concrete questions about lead times and costs rather than only about the guidance.

I passed the AMF certification last year and I am registered for CFA Level II in [month]. I would be glad to show you a sample model or to discuss a company in your coverage during an interview.

Kind regards,[First Name Last Name][Phone][Email]

What to highlight

  • The precise type of analysis you want to do, and why
  • A sector or company you have studied, with one view you formed
  • Your modelling tools and the outputs you produced
  • Your certifications or exams in progress (AMF, CFA)
  • Why this firm's coverage or clients interest you

Mistakes to avoid

  • Saying you are "passionate about finance" without a single company or sector example.
  • Sending the same letter to an asset manager and to a bank's credit department.
  • Paraphrasing your résumé line by line.
  • Making a market prediction you cannot defend in the interview.

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Frequently asked questions

Do Paris finance firms expect cover letters in English?

Many asset managers and investment banks in Paris recruit in English and accept letters in English. French banks' credit departments and corporate finance teams often prefer French. Follow the language of the ad, and if you write in English, mention your level of French in one line.

Should I include a stock pitch in my letter?

A short view, two or three sentences on one company, can work for equity research or buy-side roles. Keep it factual and leave the full reasoning for the interview, where you may be asked to pitch. For credit or FP&A roles, describe an analysis you did instead.

How do I explain a move from audit to financial analysis?

Present audit as training in reading accounts and spotting weak points, then show what you did beyond it: valuation courses, modelling work, a certification. Explain which type of analysis attracts you and why, so the recruiter sees a deliberate choice rather than an escape.

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