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Accounting Consultant Agreement with Retainer

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Accounting Consultant Agreement with Retainer

Updated September 26, 2023

An accounting consultant agreement outlines the tax and financial-related services to be provided for a client. An accountant is a licensed professional capable of tax planning, reviewing financial statements, and making State and Federal (IRS) filings.

The agreement will commonly include the accountant’s services and the hourly rate. After the client authorizes the agreement, a retainer payment is made and the accountant can begin work.

Bookkeeping Services Agreement – For unlicensed bookkeepers seeking to conduct financial services.

Table of Contents

What Does an Accountant Do?

An accountant is a person that is licensed in the State to handle bookkeeping processes, file taxes, audit statements, create financial reports and offer tax planning and advice to a company or individual.

Primary Roles

  • Financial Reporting;
  • Tax planning;
  • Audit reports; and
  • Business and regulation overview.

How Much Does an Accountant Make?

An accountant, or “CPA”, is paid depending on their experience and their client. More experienced accountants working in competitive markets will be paid more than lesser experienced individuals.

Median Pay

  • Salary: $77,250/yr[1]
  • Hourly Rate: $37.14/hr[2]

How to Become an Accountant

An accountant is an individual licensed by the State with the official title of “Certified Public Accountant” or simply a “CPA”. A four (4) year bachelor’s degree in business or financial-related education is required along with other State accredited courses (if any). After receiving the education the individual must undergo 1-2 years of interning or working alongside a CPA conducting financial reports, audits, and other tax planning tasks.

Minimum Requirements

  • Education: 150 semester hours which is typically 4-5 years of college accredited courses that are business, financial, economic, or management related.
  • Internship: Depending on the State, there may be 1-2 years of intern experience.
  • Exams: Uniform Certified Public Accountant Examination (CPA exam) (minimum score of 75) and depending on the state, may have:[3]

Video

Sources

  1. BLS Salary
  2. BLS Hourly Rate
  3. Minimum Score