Staff Accountant II or III

Southern Company; Atlanta (GA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual incentive awards

Health benefits

Job summary

Southern Company Gas, based in Atlanta, GA, seeks a Plant Accounting professional to ensure GAAP-compliant financial reporting for asset, capital project, and close processes. You will partner with Operations, Engineering, Shared Services, and external auditors to maintain internal controls and drive improvements throughout monthly close and reporting cycles.

The role emphasizes fixed asset accounting, capital projects, reconciliations, and detailed analysis to support regulatory filings and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in accounting or finance.
• 3–10 years of progressively responsible accounting experience.
• Experience with month-end close, reconciliations, and financial reporting.

Responsibilities

• Apply accounting knowledge in U.S. GAAP to plant accounting and asset activities.
• Lead monthly, quarterly, and annual close processes.
• Prepare, review, and post journal entries for fixed assets and capital projects.
• Maintain balance sheet reconciliations and ensure compliance with policies.
• Investigate reconciling items, perform variance analysis, and drive process improvements.
• Prepare detailed analyses and schedules to support internal and external reporting.
• Support regulatory accounting and audits, including reporting requirements.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams and external auditors to ensure timely reporting.

Skills

Month-end close

Balance sheet reconciliations

Financial analysis

Regulatory accounting

Internal controls

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance

Tools

Oracle General Ledger

PowerPlan

Microsoft Excel

Job description

This position plays a critical role in supporting Plant Accounting operations and ensuring the integrity of financial reporting in accordance with United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (U.S. GAAP), regulatory requirements, and Southern Company Gas accounting policies. The role is heavily focused on month-end close execution, balance sheet account reconciliations, fixed asset accounting, capital project accounting, and financial analysis. The successful candidate will partner closely with Operations, Engineering, Shared Services, Regulatory Accounting, and external auditors to ensure timely and accurate financial reporting, maintain strong internal controls, resolve reconciling items, and support a disciplined financial close process. This role offers the opportunity to contribute to a highly regulated environment while driving accuracy, compliance, and continuous process improvement.

Key Responsibilities

• Apply strong accounting knowledge and expertise in United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (U.S. GAAP) to Plant Accounting, fixed asset accounting, and capital project accounting activities.
• Serve as a key contributor to the monthly, quarterly, and annual financial close processes, ensuring all accounting activities are completed accurately and on schedule.
• Prepare, review, upload, and post journal entries related to fixed assets, depreciation, leases, and capital projects as part of the month-end close cycle.
• Own and maintain balance sheet account reconciliations, ensuring accounts are fully reconciled, supported, and compliant with corporate policies and internal control requirements.
• Investigate, analyze, and resolve complex reconciling items, discrepancies, accounting variances, and coding errors while identifying root causes and implementing corrective actions.
• Prepare detailed monthly account analyses, roll-forward schedules, and supporting documentation to support internal and external reporting requirements.
• Support fixed asset transactional processing, including asset additions, retirements, transfers, impairments, and other adjustments across financial systems.
• Review capital project documentation to ensure proper approvals, asset classifications, capitalization criteria, and accounting treatment.
• Monitor capital work orders throughout the project lifecycle, ensuring accurate accounting, timely closure, and proper unitization of completed projects.
• Perform variance analysis and financial reviews to identify unusual trends, risks, and opportunities for process improvements.
• Collaborate with Plant Accounting, Shared Services, Operations, Engineering, and external auditors to support financial reporting, compliance, audits, and regulatory filings.
• Provide regulatory accounting support, including participation in Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) reporting, Form 21 reporting, depreciation studies, audits, and rate case activities.
• Support testing, validation, and implementation of accounting system enhancements, upgrades, and process improvements.
• Prepare recurring and ad hoc financial reports, analyses, and management schedules to support business decision-making.
• Apply sound professional judgment when performing accounting estimates, calculations, and technical accounting evaluations.
• Continuously seek opportunities to strengthen controls, streamline close activities, improve reconciliation processes, and enhance reporting accuracy.
• Perform additional duties as assigned while meeting deadlines in a fast-paced, highly regulated environment.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Accounting or Finance.
• Three to ten years of progressively responsible accounting experience.
• Experience supporting month-end close processes, account reconciliations, and financial reporting activities.

Preferred Qualifications

• Certified Public Accountant (CPA) certification or active pursuit of certification.
• Experience with Oracle General Ledger.
• Experience with PowerPlan Projects and Assets.
• Experience in utility, energy, or other regulated industries.
• Experience with fixed asset accounting, regulatory accounting, and capital project accounting. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
• Strong working knowledge of United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (U.S. GAAP).
• Demonstrated expertise in month-end closing, balance sheet reconciliations, and financial statement preparation.
• Strong analytical, research, and problem-solving capabilities with the ability to identify and resolve reconciling items.
• High attention to detail and commitment to data accuracy and financial integrity.
• Ability to interpret accounting guidance and apply professional judgment to complex accounting matters.
• Strong understanding of internal controls and compliance requirements.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills with the ability to interact across multiple levels of the organization.
• Intermediate to advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage competing priorities and deadlines.
• Ability to build strong partnerships and collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams.
• Demonstrate ownership of the financial close process and consistently deliver accurate, timely results.
• Maintain high-quality account reconciliations and proactively resolve outstanding reconciling items.
• Exhibit strong business judgment and regulatory awareness.
• Drive continuous improvement in accounting processes, controls, and reporting.
• Build trust through accountability, collaboration, and inclusive teamwork.
• Approach challenges with curiosity, critical thinking, and a commitment to continuous learning.

Working Conditions

• Extensive computer and keyboard use.
• Frequent analysis and review of financial data, reconciliations, and reports within various accounting systems.
• Periodic deadlines are associated with month-end, quarter-end, and year-end close activities.
• Up to 10% of travel.

Benefits

• competitive base salary
• annual incentive awards for eligible employees
• health, welfare and retirement benefits designed to support physical, financial, and emotional/social well-being
• 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

About Southern Company Gas

Southern Company Gas is a wholly owned subsidiary of Atlanta-based Southern Company (NYSE:SO), America’s premier energy company. Southern Company Gas serves approximately 4.2 million natural gas utility customers through its regulated distribution companies in four states and approximately 600,000 retail customers through its companies that market natural gas. Other nonutility businesses include investments in interstate pipelines and ownership and operation of natural gas storage facilities. For more information, visit southerncompanygas.com. 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 recognitions 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.

About the TeamAGL Services Company

About the TeamAGL Services Company