Arkansas bookkeeper employment contract template

Arkansas Bookkeeper Employment Contract

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

1. Employment

• Option A: The Employer hereby employs the Employee as a full-time Bookkeeper, and the Employee hereby accepts such employment.
• Option B: The Employee is hired as a [Part-time/Contract] Bookkeeper, and the terms herein will be adjusted accordingly.

2. Duties

• The Employee shall perform the duties of a Bookkeeper, including but not limited to:
• Regular maintenance of company financial records.
• Processing accounts payable and receivable.
• Payroll management in compliance with Arkansas wage and hour laws.
• Bank and credit card reconciliations.
• Preparation and submission of Arkansas state tax filings.
• Sales tax compliance.
• End-of-period financial reporting.
• Generation of trial balances.
• Supporting external and internal audit preparations.
• Secure records retention according to Arkansas statute of limitations.
• The Employee will use the following software: [List of Bookkeeping Software, e.g., QuickBooks, Xero].
• The Employee will adhere to the Employer's internal controls and fraud prevention policies.
• The Employee will maintain data entry accuracy standards of [Percentage]%.
• The Employee will follow document retention protocols as established by the Employer.

3. Reporting

• Option A: The Employee shall report directly to the [Chief Financial Officer/Accounting Manager/Business Owner].
• Option B: The Employee shall report to a designated supervisor, who will provide regular performance feedback.
• The Employee is expected to communicate effectively with internal departments and external Arkansas tax authorities or auditors as needed.

4. Work Location

• Option A: The Employee's primary work location shall be at the Employer's principal place of business in Arkansas: [Employer Address].
• Option B: The Employee will work remotely/hybrid, subject to the following requirements:
• The Employee must maintain a private, secure workspace for handling sensitive financial data.
• The Employee must comply with Arkansas data protection standards.

5. Hours of Work

• The Employee's regular full-time hours shall be [Start Time] to [End Time], [Days of the Week].
• Overtime eligibility is subject to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and Arkansas state rules.
• Overtime must be pre-approved by [Supervisor Name/Position].
• The Employee must accurately track their time and adhere to break period requirements per Arkansas law.

6. Compensation

• Option A: The Employee shall be paid an hourly rate of [Hourly Rate] per hour.
• Option B: The Employee shall be paid a salary of [Annual Salary] per year, payable [Bi-weekly/Weekly].
• Payment will be made via [Direct Deposit/Check].
• All statutory deductions (federal income tax, Arkansas state tax, FICA, unemployment, and workers' comp) will be withheld.
• Option C: The Employee may be eligible for performance/accuracy-based bonuses as determined by the Employer.
• Wage reviews will occur [Annually/Bi-annually/As needed].

7. Benefits

• The Employee will participate in Arkansas workers' compensation insurance.
• Option A: The Employee will be eligible for health and dental coverage as per the Employer's policy.
• Option B: The Employee will not be eligible for health and dental coverage.
• The Employee will accrue paid time off (vacation, sick leave, holidays) according to the Employer's policy and applicable Arkansas requirements. Details of accrual rates and usage policies are documented in the Employee Handbook.
• Parental and family leave will be provided according to federal and state standards.
• Option C: The Employee may be eligible for a retirement plan (401(k) or Arkansas state-regulated plan) as per the Employer's policy.
• Option D: Business expenses will be reimbursed according to the Employer's reimbursement policy.

8. Confidentiality

• The Employee shall maintain strict confidentiality regarding all Employer and client financial records, trade secrets, and sensitive business information.
• The Employee shall handle paper and digital records securely and acknowledge their fiduciary duties.
• The Employee shall report any suspected financial misconduct immediately.

9. Ownership of Work Product

• All financial processes, records, and systems created or managed by the Employee are the property of the Employer.
• The Employee is restricted from using external data storage devices without written authorization.
• The Employer retains all rights to any process improvements or accounting templates developed by the Employee.

10. Professional Conduct

• The Employee shall adhere to the Arkansas Board of Public Accountancy's ethical guidelines (even if not a CPA).
• The Employee is prohibited from personal use of company funds or assets.
• The Employee shall communicate any suspected financial irregularities immediately.
• The Employee shall comply with the Employer's internal anti-fraud and anti-harassment policies.

11. Work Record and Document Retention

• The Employer's policy on length and method of storing tax and accounting records is [Description of Policy], compliant with Arkansas statutes.
• The Employee is responsible for organizing records for Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration audits or inquiries as directed.

12. Outside Activities

• The Employee must obtain written Employer consent before serving as a bookkeeper for outside clients.
• The Employee is expected to avoid any conflicts of interest.

13. Non-Solicitation and Non-Disclosure

• The Employee shall not solicit the Employer's clients or disclose proprietary accounting methods for a period of [Number] years following termination of employment, within a [Geographic Area] radius of the Employer's principal place of business, as permitted by Arkansas law. This provision is intended to protect client lists and proprietary accounting methods, and will be enforced to the extent permitted by Arkansas law.

14. At-Will Employment

• The employment relationship is at-will, meaning that either party may terminate the employment relationship at any time, with or without cause or notice, subject to company policy and any required notice period for payroll and benefit processing.

15. Termination

• Upon termination, the Employee shall return all company financial documents and equipment.
• The final paycheck will be delivered as per Arkansas wage payment law (within seven days of discharge).
• Accrued but unused paid leave will be paid out if company policy provides.
• Continuation or cessation of benefits will be handled according to applicable laws and plan documents.
• The Employee will cooperate in transitioning bookkeeping functions to another staff member.

16. Dispute Resolution

• Any disputes arising out of or relating to this Agreement shall be resolved first through good faith negotiation.
• If negotiation fails, the parties agree to [Mediation/Arbitration] in [City, Arkansas].
• Arkansas law shall govern the interpretation and enforcement of this Agreement.

17. Required Postings and Disclosures

• The Employer will maintain required Arkansas posters and disclosures on wage and hour law and anti-discrimination protections (race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, age, genetic information).

18. Safety and Security

• The Employer complies with OSHA standards for office and financial workplaces.
• The Employer has practices for securing sensitive data, including protocols for handling data breaches in line with the Arkansas Personal Information Protection Act.

19. Background Checks

• The Employee acknowledges that periodic background checks and authorization for Arkansas and federal criminal history reports may be required.

20. Amendments

• All clauses in this document can be adjusted or supplemented according to position requirements, individual employment negotiations, or changes in Arkansas or federal law.

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

____________________________
[Employer Legal Name]

By: ____________________________
[Employer Representative Name]
[Employer Representative Title]

____________________________
[Employee Legal Name]