An Accounting Consultant Agreement is a legal contract between an accountant and a client. It sets forth vital details about your work, such as the cost of your services, the job you will perform, and the client’s expectations. This is a binding and enforceable agreement that helps protect your legal rights.
Why Use
- Sets clear expectations between the accountant and client.
- Outlines what services the accountant will provide.
- Prevents confusion or arguments about what has been agreed upon.
- Creates an enforceable legal agreement in case of non-payment.
What Is an Accountant?
An accountant is a financial professional who handles bookkeeping and interpretation of financial records. They are responsible for various financial tasks for individual clients or large businesses.
Most accountants have at least a bachelor’s degree in accounting, and many are certified public accountants (CPAs). A CPA is a licensed accountant who passed state licensing requirements. Not all accountants are CPAs, but all CPAs are accountants. CPAs are obligated to complete professional continuing education requirements and must stay up-to-date with changes in accounting that affect them.
Services Provided
Accountants perform many finance-related tasks, such as:
- Tax preparation
- Profit and loss statement preparation
- Consulting services
- Analysis of financial records
- Auditing and ensuring the accuracy of financial documents
- Maintaining and preparing financial reports.
Salary and Hourly Rate
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average hourly rate for an accountant is currently $41.70 per hour. However, this hourly rate may differ considerably depending on the accountant’s experience and the work they perform.
The average salary for an accountant is $86,740 per year. Again, this salary will vary greatly depending on the accountant’s experience, licensing, and other factors.
Accountant Vs. Bookkeeper
“Accountant” and “bookkeeper” are often used interchangeably, but some key differences exist.
Bookkeepers usually earn an associate degree and record financial transactions. They do little to no analysis and perform financial maintenance tasks. They typically make less than accountants because they do not provide the same level of professional services.
Accountants typically have a bachelor’s degree in accounting or are licensed CPAs. They interpret financial information and can provide expert advice about financial documents. Accounting encompasses many job titles and roles, but a bookkeeper is typically only focused on maintaining the books.
Accounting Consultant Agreement Sample
Below, you can download an accounting consultant agreement in PDF or Word format:
