South Carolina accountant employment contract template

South Carolina Accountant Employment Contract

This Full-Time Accountant Employment Contract (the "Agreement") is made and entered into as of [Date], by and between [Employer Legal Name], a [State of Incorporation] corporation with a principal place of business at [Employer Address] ("Employer"), and [Employee Full Name], residing at [Employee Address] ("Employee").

1. Position:

• Option A: Accountant.
• Option B: Senior Accountant.
• Option C: Staff Accountant.

Employee is hired as a full-time Accountant, responsible for the following duties specific to South Carolina accounting practice: maintaining company general ledgers, preparing and reconciling financial statements, ensuring timely month-end and year-end closing processes, internal and external auditing coordination, payroll processing compliant with South Carolina wage payment law, monitoring Accounts Payable and Receivable, cash flow management, preparation of quarterly and annual tax returns in compliance with South Carolina Department of Revenue rules, property and sales & use tax filings if relevant, and staying abreast of applicable changes in South Carolina and federal accounting/tax laws. The Employee must possess a strong understanding of GAAP, South Carolina-specific accounting standards, and [Specify Industry, e.g., non-profit, real estate] compliance. Experience with [Specific Accounting Software, e.g., QuickBooks, Sage Intacct] is required.

2. Professional Certification and Continuing Education:

• Option A: CPA (Certified Public Accountant) is required.
• Option B: CPA eligibility is required within [Number] months of employment.
• Option C: No professional certification is required.

Employee is responsible for maintaining all required professional certifications. Employer will [Will/Will Not] reimburse the cost of Continuing Professional Education (CPE) up to [Dollar Amount] per year, subject to the Employee providing evidence of completion and compliance with South Carolina Board of Accountancy standards.

3. Work Location:

• Option A: Employee's primary work location will be [City, State].
• Option B: Employee will work remotely.
• Option C: Employee will work in a hybrid arrangement as follows: [Describe Schedule].

Employee's work location is subject to change based on Employer's business needs. All work, regardless of location, must comply with South Carolina data privacy and client confidentiality standards, including record retention requirements.

4. Employment Status and Hours:

Employment is at-will, and full-time. Employee will work at least [Number] hours per week. Overtime will be paid in accordance with the South Carolina Payment of Wages Act and the FLSA, if applicable.

• Option A: Employee is an exempt employee and not eligible for overtime pay.
• Option B: Employee is a non-exempt employee and eligible for overtime pay at a rate of 1.5 times their regular hourly rate.

5. Compensation:

Employee's annual salary will be [Dollar Amount], paid [Pay Frequency, e.g., bi-weekly], subject to applicable withholdings.

• Option A: Employee is eligible for a performance-based bonus of up to [Percentage]% of their annual salary, based on meeting performance goals set by Employer.
• Option B: Employer will reimburse professional membership fees and licensing costs up to [Dollar Amount] per year.

Pay schedule is compliant with South Carolina's pay frequency laws, and wage statements will be provided in accordance with the South Carolina Payment of Wages Act.

6. Benefits:

Employee is eligible for the following benefits, subject to the terms and conditions of the Employer's benefit plans:

• Health Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• 401(k) or other retirement plan
• Life Insurance
• Disability Insurance
• Paid Vacation: [Number] days per year
• Sick Leave: [Number] days per year
• Paid Holidays: [List of Holidays]

7. Reporting Relationship:

Employee will report to [Job Title, e.g., Controller, CFO]. Employee will collaborate with other finance team members, external auditors, legal counsel, and business unit managers as needed.

8. Client Confidentiality and Ethical Obligations:

Employee acknowledges their ethical obligations to maintain the confidentiality of client financial information, in accordance with South Carolina accountancy statutes and the AICPA Code of Professional Conduct.

9. Conflict of Interest:

Employee must promptly disclose any real or potential conflicts of interest involving clients, vendors, or secondary employment. Employee is prohibited from engaging in unauthorized outside accounting work or moonlighting.

10. Intellectual Property:

All financial models, spreadsheets, reports, or client deliverables produced within the scope of employment are the property of the Employer, in accordance with South Carolina law.

11. Confidentiality:

Employee agrees to hold confidential all financial data, client and internal proprietary information, tax identification details, payroll records, and other confidential information obtained during the course of employment, complying with state and federal privacy mandates, including the protection of Social Security Numbers under South Carolina law.

12. Data Protection and Cybersecurity:

Employee must adhere to all data protection, IT use, and cybersecurity requirements relevant to financial recordkeeping and accounting data, including data backup, transmission, and retention protocols, with reference to South Carolina-specific guidance. Employee will not share or use employer/client accounting software licenses or access credentials, and will follow protocols for offsite access.

13. Termination:

As an at-will employee, Employee's employment may be terminated at any time, with or without cause, subject to any contractual limits stated here. Upon termination, Employee will receive their final pay in accordance with South Carolina law and will return all company property and securely transfer or destroy confidential accounting records.

• Option A: Employer will provide [Number] weeks' notice of termination.
• Option B: Employee will provide [Number] weeks' notice of resignation.

14. Prohibited Conduct:

Employee is prohibited from engaging in fabrication or alteration of financial records, unauthorized disclosure of confidential information, accepting gifts/inducements from clients, or any other unethical client-related conduct as defined by the South Carolina Board of Accountancy.

15. Non-Solicitation/Non-Competition:

• Option A: Employee agrees not to solicit Employer's clients or employees for a period of [Number] years following termination of employment within a radius of [Number] miles of Employer's principal place of business. This restriction is narrowly tailored to protect Employer's legitimate business interests and complies with South Carolina law.
• Option B: No non-solicitation or non-competition agreement applies to this employment.

16. Reporting Misconduct:

Employee is required to report any potential accounting misconduct or fraud to [Designated Person/Department]. Employer will protect whistleblowers in accordance with South Carolina law.

17. Anti-Discrimination and Harassment:

Employer is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or any other protected characteristic under South Carolina and federal law. Reasonable accommodations will be provided for qualified individuals with disabilities.

18. Workers' Compensation:

Employee is eligible for Workers' Compensation benefits in accordance with South Carolina law. Employer maintains a safe workplace, including ergonomic considerations for office-based roles.

19. Document Management:

Employee will comply with Employer's document management, record retention, and destruction policies, in compliance with South Carolina and federal minimum timeframes for financial and tax documents.

20. Employment Eligibility:

Employee must provide documentation demonstrating employment eligibility as required by South Carolina's E-Verify legislation.

21. Governing Law and Dispute Resolution:

This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of South Carolina. Any dispute arising out of or relating to this Agreement shall be resolved through [Negotiation/Mediation/Arbitration] in [County, South Carolina].

• Option A: All disputes will be settled by binding arbitration in accordance with the rules of the American Arbitration Association.
• Option B: All disputes will be resolved in the courts of [County, South Carolina].

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 Full Name]