Senior Accountant

Southern Company; Birmingham (AL); On-site; USD 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Southern Company Services in Birmingham, AL seeks aSenior Accountant to support Corporate Accounting. Responsibilities include journal entries, reconciliations, payroll interlinking, and audit support within a SOX/GAAP framework.

The role emphasizes collaboration across departments and strong Excel and Office usage. Requirements include a Bachelor's in Accounting, CPA or candidate preferred, 5–7 years of accounting experience, and knowledge of GAAP, SEC rules, and FERC rules.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Accounting or related field.
• CPA or CPA candidate preferred; an advanced degree desired.
• 5-7 years of recent general accounting experience (including public accounting experience, preferred).
• Knowledge of GAAP, SEC rules and regulations, SOX 404 compliance, and FERC accounting rules.
• Demonstrated interpersonal skills to collaborate across departments and locations.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office products.

Responsibilities

• Generate prompt, accurate journal entries with documentation for month-end closings and financial statements integrity.
• Coordinate with Payroll and stakeholders to resolve issues and identify risks; implement timely solutions.
• Finalize reconciliations by deadlines with documentary evidence and address irregularities.
• Oversee cash accounting activities and manage multiple deadlines and staff.
• Prepare management analysis on accruals, balance sheet, and cash flow.
• Assist in annual and quarterly external audits with timely information.
• Drive process improvements and automation to enhance reporting and efficiency.
• Mentor team members and promote adherence to standards and best practices.

Skills

Multitasking

Project management

Analytical thinking

Excel expertise

Research skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting

CPA candidate

Advanced degree desired

Job description

Senior Accountant – Birmingham, AL

Southern Company Services (SCS) currently has a position available in our Corporate Accounting department located at our corporate office in Birmingham, AL supporting the accounting functions for Southern Company Services (SCS). This position is an integral part of a team that performs traditional accounting, billing, and financial & regulatory reporting. Read on to learn more about this exciting opportunity!

Position Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in Accounting or related field of study.
• CPA or CPA candidate highly preferred. An advanced degree is desired.
• Minimum of 5 -7 years of recent general accounting experience (including public accounting experience, preferred); including experience in financial reporting and financial statement preparation.
• Knowledge of the following:
• Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP)
• Securities and Exchange Commission rules and regulations
• Sarbanes-Oxley 404 compliance requirements
• Federal Energy Regulatory Commission accounting rules and regulations.
• Demonstrated exceptional interpersonal skills, evidenced by the ability to collaborate effectively with individuals at all organizational levels, across various departments, and spanning multiple geographic locations of the company.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office products.

Job Responsibilities

• Guarantee the prompt and accurate generation of journal entries, including payroll-related journal entries, backed by relevant documentation, to uphold the timeliness of month-end closures and the integrity of the financial statements, while exercising independent judgment in the resolution of complex accounting matters.
• Coordinate with the Payroll team and other stakeholders to resolve accounting issues, identify emerging risks or unfavorable trends, and implement timely, sustainable solutions while fostering strong working relationships across functional areas.
• Finalize account reconciliations by the predetermined deadlines, ensuring that all reconciliations are accompanied by sufficient documentary evidence and any identified irregularities are addressed in a timely and adequate manner.
• Oversee cash accounting activities while independently performing assigned responsibilities, prioritizing multiple concurrent deadlines, coordinating complex work activities, monitoring the work of others, and communicating issues and decisions clearly to management and key stakeholders.
• Compile management analysis reporting covering topics such as accruals, deferred debits/credits, analysis of the balance sheet, and cash flow, among others.
• Prepare for annual and quarterly external audits by providing the necessary information in a timely manner, thus maintaining a positive and productive relationship with auditing personnel.
• Foster innovation and enhance efficiency within repetitive processes, aiming to optimize operations in a dynamic work environment by challenging existing practices, leading process improvements, and advancing technology-enabled solutions that improve reporting, decision-making, and process automation.
• Serve as a subject matter resource for assigned accounting processes, coaching and mentoring team members as needed, facilitating knowledge transfer, and promoting adherence to established standards and best practices.

Skills

• Exhibit a proficient capacity for multitasking and delivering work of exceptional accuracy within stringent and frequently overlapping time constraints.
• Possess sophisticated project management competencies, characterized by the adept prioritization of tasks, cultivation of productive working relationships, equilibrium in managing workloads, foresight in anticipating forthcoming requirements, and agility in responding to evolving circumstances.
• Possesses intellectual curiosity and a questioning attitude.
• Showcase robust analytical and problem-solving abilities, underpinned by a strong aptitude for research and investigation.
• Exhibit a comprehensive command of Microsoft Excel, employing an array of functions and formulas to streamline processes and enhance operational efficiencies.

About Southern Company

Southern Company (NYSE: SO ) is a leading energy provider serving 9 million customers across the Southeast and beyond through its family of companies. Providing clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy with excellent service is our mission. The company has electric operating companies in three states, natural gas distribution companies in four states, a competitive generation company, a leading distributed energy solutions provider with national capabilities, a fiber optics network and telecommunications services. Through an industry-leading commitment to innovation, resilience and sustainability, we are taking action to meet customers' and communities' needs while advancing our goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Our uncompromising values ensure we put the needs of those we serve at the center of everything we do and are the key to our sustained success. We are transforming energy into economic, environmental and social progress for tomorrow. Our corporate culture has been recognized by a variety of organizations, earning the company awards and rections that reflect Our Values and dedication to service. To learn more, visit www.southerncompany.com.

Southern Company invests in the well-being of its employees and their families through a comprehensive total rewards strategy that includes competitive base salary, annual incentive awards for eligible employees and health, welfare and retirement benefits designed to support physical, financial, and emotional/social well-being. This position may also be eligible for additional compensation, such as an incentive program, with the amount of any bonus/awards subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable incentive plan(s). A summary of the benefits offered for this position can be found here https://seo.nlx.org/southernco/pdf/SOCO-Benefits.pdf. Additional and specific details about total compensation and benefits will also be provided during the hiring process.

Southern Company is an equal opportunity employer where an applicant's qualifications are considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other basis prohibited by law.

Job Schedule: Full time

Job Category: Accounting & Auditing

Company: Southern Company Services