Arizona bookkeeper employment contract template

Arizona Bookkeeper Employment Contract

This Arizona Bookkeeper Employment Contract (the “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of [Date] by and between [Employer Legal Name], a [State] [Entity Type, e.g., Corporation] with its principal place of business at [Employer Address] (“Employer”), and [Employee Legal Name], residing at [Employee Address] (“Employee”).

1. Position

The Employer hereby employs the Employee as a Bookkeeper.

• Option A: The Employee's primary duties shall include, but not be limited to: maintaining the general ledger; processing accounts payable and receivable; reconciling bank and credit card statements; preparing periodic financial reports; tracking Arizona sales tax and transaction privilege tax obligations; managing payroll entries compliant with Arizona regulations; maintaining records in accordance with Arizona Department of Revenue (ADOR) requirements; preparing documentation for external audits; and other duties as assigned.
• Option B: The Employee's duties are as described in the attached job description (Exhibit A).

2. Responsibilities and Reporting

The Employee shall report directly to [Name of Supervisor], whose title is [Supervisor Title, e.g., CFO].

• Option A: The Employee will attend financial review meetings [Frequency, e.g., weekly, monthly].
• Option B: The Employee's performance will be reviewed [Frequency, e.g., quarterly, annually].

3. Work Location

The primary work location for the Employee shall be:

• Option A: At the Employer's office located at [Employer Address].
• Option B: Remote, with occasional in-person meetings at [Location], as required by the Employer.
• Option C: A hybrid arrangement consisting of [Number] days per week in the office at [Employer Address] and the remaining days working remotely.

4. Work Hours

The Employee's standard work hours shall be [Number] hours per week, from [Start Time] to [End Time], [Days of the Week].

• Option A: The Employee is a non-exempt employee and is eligible for overtime pay at a rate of one and one-half (1.5) times their regular hourly rate for all hours worked over forty (40) in a workweek.
• Option B: The Employee is an exempt employee and is not eligible for overtime pay.
• Option C: The Employee is entitled to a [Number] minute meal break and [Number] minute rest breaks, per Arizona law.

5. Employment Type

The employment is full-time and at-will, meaning either party may terminate the employment relationship at any time, with or without cause or notice, subject to applicable Arizona law.

• Option A: The minimum hours per week are set at [Number].
• Option B: This is an at-will employment agreement. Nothing in this agreement shall be interpreted to conflict with or modify the at-will nature of this employment relationship.

6. Compensation

The Employer shall pay the Employee a [Salary/Hourly] rate of [Dollar Amount] per [Year/Hour], payable [Frequency, e.g., bi-weekly].

• Option A: The Employee is eligible for a performance bonus based on [Criteria, e.g., company profitability, individual performance], as determined by the Employer.
• Option B: The Employee is not eligible for a performance bonus.
• Option C: Payment will be made via [Payment Method, e.g., direct deposit, check].

7. Benefits

The Employee shall be eligible for the following benefits, subject to the terms and conditions of the Employer’s benefit plans:

• Health insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Paid time off (PTO) - [Number] days per year
• Paid sick leave - as mandated by Arizona law
• [Number] paid holidays per year (List holidays)
• Retirement plan (e.g., 401(k)) - eligibility and matching contributions as per plan documents.

8. Garnishments and Deductions

The Employee acknowledges that their wages may be subject to garnishments, wage deductions, or child support withholding orders in accordance with Arizona statutes and the Arizona Department of Economic Security. The Employer will comply with all applicable legal requirements.

9. Travel Reimbursement

If the Employee is required to travel for business purposes, the Employer shall reimburse the Employee for reasonable travel expenses, including mileage at the current IRS rate, upon submission of proper documentation.

• Option A: Pre-approval for travel expenses exceeding [Dollar Amount] is required.
• Option B: Mileage will be reimbursed at [Dollar Amount] per mile.

10. Confidentiality

The Employee acknowledges that they will have access to confidential and proprietary information of the Employer and its clients, including financial data, business strategies, and customer information. The Employee agrees to hold such information in strict confidence and not to disclose it to any third party without the prior written consent of the Employer, in compliance with federal and Arizona privacy/confidentiality law (e.g., keeping SSNs, EINs, and taxpayer data private per ARS § 44‑1373). This obligation shall survive the termination of this Agreement.

11. Intellectual Property and Record Ownership

All bookkeeping records, workpapers, and related files produced by the Employee in the course of their employment shall be the sole and exclusive property of the Employer. Upon termination of employment, the Employee shall promptly return all such materials to the Employer, in accordance with Arizona record retention periods for accounting and tax data.

12. Standards of Performance

The Employee shall perform their duties with accuracy, timeliness, and integrity, in compliance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and professional standards, including any relevant codes from the American Institute of Professional Bookkeepers (AIPB) or National Association of Certified Public Bookkeepers (NACPB).

13. Behavioral Expectations

The Employee shall adhere to the Employer’s code of ethics and conduct themselves in a professional and ethical manner at all times. The Employee is prohibited from engaging in any personal use or misappropriation of client or employer funds, AP/AR fraud, or any other unlawful activity. The Employee is required to report any suspected financial irregularities to [Designated Person/Department] as mandated by Arizona state law.

14. Non-Solicitation/Non-Compete

• Option A: During the term of employment and for a period of [Number] months following termination, the Employee shall not solicit any clients or employees of the Employer.
• Option B: During the term of employment and for a period of [Number] months following termination, within a [Number] mile radius of [Employer Location], the Employee shall not engage in any business that competes with the Employer's bookkeeping services. The parties acknowledge that this restriction is reasonable and necessary to protect the Employer's legitimate business interests, consistent with Arizona law.
• Option C: There is no non-solicitation/non-compete agreement included in this employment contract.

15. At-Will Employment/Termination

As stated above, this is an at-will employment relationship. The Employee may resign at any time by providing [Number] days written notice to the Employer. The Employer may terminate the employment at any time, with or without cause or notice, subject to applicable Arizona law.

• Option A: In the event of termination by the Employer without cause, the Employee shall receive [Number] weeks of severance pay.
• Option B: Immediate dismissal for cause may occur for reasons including, but not limited to: theft, falsification of records, or gross negligence.
• Option C: Upon termination, the Employee's final paycheck will be issued within the timeframe required by Arizona law. All company property must be returned on or before the termination date.

16. Anti-Discrimination

The Employer is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.

17. Health and Safety

The Employer shall comply with all applicable Arizona and federal occupational health and safety standards, including providing a safe and ergonomic work environment and workers' compensation coverage as mandated by Arizona law. The Employer will provide reasonable accommodations for employees with disabilities.

18. Employer Reporting and Tax Withholding

The Employer will comply with all Arizona-specific employer reporting and tax withholding requirements, including payroll tax filings, unemployment insurance fund contributions, and Arizona Department of Revenue obligations for employment taxes.

19. Fraud Prevention Training

The Employee is required to complete mandatory training on Arizona fraud prevention, red flag reporting, and identity theft awareness.

• Option A: Training will be provided within [Number] days of hire.
• Option B: Ongoing training will be required on a [Frequency, e.g., annual] basis.

20. Dispute Resolution

Any disputes arising out of or relating to this Agreement shall be resolved through good faith negotiation. If negotiation fails, the parties may agree to mediation or binding arbitration in Arizona. Any legal action shall be brought in the courts of Arizona and governed by Arizona law.

21. Professional Development

The Employee is encouraged to pursue ongoing professional development to stay current with changes in Arizona law and tax treatment.

• Option A: The Employer will reimburse the Employee for approved professional development expenses up to [Dollar Amount] per year.
• Option B: Specific required training includes [List Training].

22. Amendments

The Employer reserves the right to amend its policies or handbook provisions, provided that material changes are communicated to the Employee in writing.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

[Employer Legal Name]

By: [Employer Representative Name]

Title: [Employer Representative Title]

[Employee Legal Name]

Signature: ____________________________

Date: ____________________________