Mississippi bookkeeper employment contract template

Mississippi Bookkeeper Employment Contract

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

Position

The Employer hires Employee as a Bookkeeper.

Option A: The Employee's duties include, but are not limited to:

• Maintaining general ledgers.
• Preparing accurate financial statements.
• Managing accounts payable and receivable.
• Processing payroll in compliance with Mississippi and federal wage and hour laws.
• Reconciling bank statements.
• Managing petty cash.
• Supporting external audits.
• Assisting with tax preparation and filings.
• Upholding records retention procedures as per Mississippi Secretary of State and IRS guidelines.
• Performing other financial reporting functions as required.

Option B: The Employee's duties are detailed in Exhibit A attached hereto.

Accounting Systems and Proficiency

The Employee is expected to utilize and maintain proficiency in the following software and systems:

Option A:

• QuickBooks [Version]
• Microsoft Excel [Version]

Option B:

• Peachtree [Version]
• Company-Specific ERP System: [Name of ERP]
• Microsoft Excel [Version]
• Other: [List any other software/systems]

Employee must maintain a [Proficiency Level, e.g., Intermediate/Advanced] level of proficiency in all listed systems.

Reporting Structure

The Employee will report directly to [Supervisor Name/Title].

Option A: Employee has full authority to access confidential financial data necessary for fulfilling job duties.

Option B: Employee's access to confidential financial data is limited to [Specify limitations].

The Employee is responsible for interacting with [Mississippi Tax Authority, e.g., Mississippi Department of Revenue] and other compliance authorities as needed, under the direction of their supervisor.

Work Location

The primary work location is [Employer's Business Address], located in [City, Mississippi].

Option A: Remote work is not permitted.

Option B: Remote work is permitted subject to the Employer's remote work policy.

• All access to financial documents from outside company premises must be secured using [Specify security measures, e.g., VPN, encryption].

Employee will comply with all requirements of the Mississippi Data Breach Notification Law.

Employment Status

Employee's employment is full-time, approximately 40 hours per week.

Option A: Employee is entitled to a [Duration] minute break for lunch and [Number] fifteen-minute breaks during the workday.

Option B: Break schedule will be determined by supervisor based on business needs.

Employee is [Exempt/Non-Exempt] from overtime pay. Overtime will be calculated as required by the Fair Labor Standards Act and Mississippi Code Title 71.

Compensation

The Employer will pay the Employee an annual salary of [Dollar Amount], payable [Frequency, e.g., bi-weekly].

Option A: Employee is eligible for a bonus based on performance, as determined by the Employer.

Option B: Employee is eligible for profit sharing according to the company's profit-sharing plan.

Option C: Employee is not eligible for bonuses or profit sharing.

Payment will be made via [Payment Method, e.g., direct deposit].

Benefits

The Employee is eligible for the following benefits:

• Health Insurance: [Specify details, e.g., medical, dental, vision]
• Retirement Plan: [Specify details, e.g., 401(k)]
• Paid Time Off: [Number] days of vacation, [Number] days of sick leave, and holidays recognized by the Employer.

Option A: Continuing professional education reimbursement up to [Dollar Amount] per year for bookkeeping, accounting, or payroll certifications.

Option B: No reimbursement for continuing professional education.

Confidentiality

The Employee agrees to hold all financial records, customer data, employee payroll, tax information, trade secrets, and sensitive company information in strict confidence, in accordance with the Mississippi Trade Secrets Act. Upon termination, all such information must be returned or securely destroyed.

Intellectual Property

All templates, internal accounting process improvements, or proprietary spreadsheets developed during employment are the property of the Employer.

Option A: The Employee retains no rights to such intellectual property.

Option B: This clause does not apply to generic bookkeeping skills and knowledge.

Compliance with Laws

The Employee agrees to comply with all applicable Mississippi and federal laws regarding business, tax, accounting, and licensing.

Recordkeeping Standards

The Employee will maintain accurate and timely records, processing transactions according to the Employer's established procedures and Mississippi business cycles.

Conflict of Interest

The Employee will not engage in unauthorized outside accounting, payroll, or bookkeeping work for entities competing with or doing business with the Employer without written consent. The Employee will avoid any personal financial interests that conflict with the Employer's interests.

Behavioral Standards

The Employee will maintain a high level of professionalism, timeliness, and accuracy in reporting, and will cooperate with audits or regulatory inquiries. The Employee will adhere to the Employer's and industry's ethical codes.

Technology Use Restrictions

Employee's use of technology must comply with company policy, especially regarding personal devices and cloud storage. Employee will comply with the Mississippi Identity Theft Protection Act.

Data Security and Breach Reporting

The Employee will promptly notify the Employer of any suspected financial data compromise, consistent with Mississippi's legal notification triggers and protocol.

Public Funds (If Applicable)

If the Employer is a public entity or receives public funds, the Employee will comply with Mississippi public records law and the requirements of any applicable government grants or contracts.

Background Checks and At-Will Employment

The Employer may conduct background checks. Employment is at-will under Mississippi law, meaning that either party may terminate the employment relationship at any time, with or without cause or notice, except as otherwise required by law.

Termination

Option A: Employee must provide [Number] days' written notice of resignation.

Option B: Immediate termination may occur for gross misconduct.

Upon termination, the Employee will receive final pay and return all company property, records, and access credentials.

Anti-Discrimination

The Employer is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or any other protected characteristic under federal law. A clear reporting and complaint procedure is available.

Non-Solicitation (Optional, Review Carefully)

The Employee will not solicit the Employer's clients or divert company business during or after employment for a period of [Number] months within a [Number] mile radius of [Employer's Business Address]. This clause is narrowly tailored to protect the Employer's legitimate business interests, as permitted by Mississippi law.

Dispute Resolution

Any disputes arising under this Agreement will be resolved through good faith negotiation and mediation. This Agreement is governed by Mississippi law, and venue for any legal action will be in [County Name] County, Mississippi.

Workers' Compensation

The Employer maintains workers' compensation insurance coverage as required by Mississippi law. The Employee will adhere to the Employer's safety policies and procedures.

Tax Withholding and Compliance

The Employer will comply with all applicable Mississippi and federal tax withholding, unemployment insurance contributions, and required compliance reporting for payroll processing.

Employee Warranties and Acknowledgments

The Employee warrants the accuracy of their resume and qualifications provided and agrees to maintain ongoing skills and compliance training as necessary for the Mississippi business environment.

Performance Reviews

The Employee's performance will be reviewed periodically, with feedback on accuracy and timeliness in core bookkeeping deliverables, especially before fiscal year-end or regulatory filing deadlines specific to Mississippi business practices.

Signed:

____________________________
[Employer Representative Name/Title] (Employer)

____________________________
[Employee Legal Name] (Employee)