Mr John Edwards

389 Mile End Street

Leicester, LE1 6RJ
07XXXXXXXXX
DATE

Ms Sarah Miles
Graduate Recruitment Manager
Smith, Jones & Coopers
12-15 Regent Street
London, EC1 6PY

10th November 2014

RE: Graduate Accountancy Training Scheme

Dear Ms Miles

I am writing to apply for the Graduate Accountancy Training Scheme as advertised on the University
of Leicester Career Development Service’s website and in its current vacancy bulletin.

As you will see from my CV I am due to shortly complete an Honours degree in Mathematics with an
Upper Second classification. Alongside my degree I have been working part time for XYZ Bank and
also undertaken various extracurricular activities to develop relevant skills and experience which I
feel would be beneficial to Smith, Jones & Coopers. One such example was working on my final year
project which was employer led, where my team claimed first prize. Whilst at university I attended
various career presentations from finance employers which sparked my interest in management
accountancy and its influence in informing key strategic decisions and formulating business
strategies, to help business to succeed, which fits it with my personal values of continual progression
and long term planning.

Whilst studying my degree I have developed my mathematical and analytical skills, helping me to
resolve complex financial problems. I have applied these skills whilst working on a business
development project at the bank, to help them introduce new procedures to increase their
effectiveness and profitability. This has also enabled me to develop my commercial awareness of the
business, in particular within finance as well as improving my communication, research and
organisational skills. Presenting my findings to senior managers I received recognition for my work
and good positive feedback which further excelled my interest in working in finance.

Smith, Jones and Coopers attract me because of the variety of your training scheme and the
emphasis on early responsibility together with all necessary support. Your position as one of the top
20 firms attracts me and as a leading firm I feel Smith, Jones and Coopers offers the opportunity to
work with the type of businesses and clients that I am seeking.

I hope my CV shows that I have the skills and potential to join Smith, Jones and Coopers’ training
programme. I am available for interview at any time and look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely,

John Edwards
John Edwards