Senior Accountant I
Description
Senior Accountant
Southern Company is a leading producer of clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy, and we approach each day as a vital step in building the future of energy. At Southern Company we are always looking ahead, and our innovations in the industry-from new nuclear to deployment of electric transportation and renewables -help brighten the lives and businesses of millions of customers nationwide.
This position will lead efforts to ensure the Company complies with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and work directly with the Registrant and Shared Services management & control performers throughout Southern Company. This position will be responsible for performing and documenting control walkthroughs, updating flowcharts/narratives, designing controls, creating control test plans, performing control testing, evaluating exceptions/deficiencies, and reporting system-wide SOX results to management across the system. Responsibilities also include developing and enhancing relationships with Registrants and Shared Services, which will help create business partnerships while designing new processes, testing controls, or assessing potential control failures.
Position is anticipated to be remote with occasional in-person requirements. Commuting distance to downtown areas of Birmingham or Atlanta is required.
Major Job Responsibilities
Effectively lead top-down risk-based approach to comply with Sarbanes-Oxley for all Registrants. This includes controls rationalization, effective control design & testing assessments.
Partner with Registrants and Shared Service management teams to ensure Internal Controls activities are designed and operating effectively. Maintain open communication to ensure timely reporting of monitoring and testing results
Support non-SOX related projects or activities (such as Payment Card Industry compliance, Disclosure Controls & Procedures, Accounting Risk Profile, and Fraud Risk Assessment) as required
Independently plan and schedule routine and non-routine projects
Work with both financial and non-financial business units to develop a working knowledge of their end-to-end processes
Work closely with and coordinate internal and external audit on SOX related activities
Continuously identify process improvements to achieve Company goals efficiently and effectively
Effectively assess and evaluate deficiencies timely and properly communicate status to impacted stakeholders
Leverage available tools to perform data analytics
Education & Certifications
A bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance is required
Certification (such as CPA or CIA) or willingness to pursue certification is strongly desired
Experience
Four years of Internal Controls or Internal Auditing experience performing risk assessments, walk throughs, controls design, control testing, and deficiency evaluations is preferred
Experience as a control owner or performer in the Southern Company system may, in some cases, substitute for direct internal controls or internal audit experience
Preferred Areas of Knowledge
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
Auditing Standard 5
COSO 2013 Internal Control Framework
Financial risks and mitigating control design
IT General Controls (Security, Change Management, Patch Release, etc.)
Information Provided by the Entity (Key Report) testing
Data Analytics for automating control testing
Generally Accepted Accounting Principles
Security and Exchange Commission rules and reporting requirements
Preferred Skills
Data analytics
Creative problem-solving skills
Effectively resolve conflict, confront disagreements positively, and express different points of view
Excellent oral and written communication skills with the ability to communicate with control owners and management
Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to develop and foster lasting relationships
Effective leadership skills with the ability to train less experienced employees
Effective organization skills as well as project development and management skills, along with ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously
Good business judgment and decision-making skills
Excellent teamwork abilities both within immediate team as well as across the enterprise
Ability to work independently and demonstrate self-confidence and initiative
Desire to learn the Utility financial and operational functions
Disclaimer:
This information describes the general nature and level of work performed by employees in this job. The description is not designed to be a comprehensive inventory of duties, responsibilities and qualifications required in the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to qualified disabled individuals for performance of essential duties and responsibilities
Southern Company (NYSE: SO) is America's premier energy company, with 46,000 megawatts of generating capacity and 1,500 billion cubic feet of combined natural gas consumption and throughput volume serving 9 million customers through its subsidiaries. The company provides clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy through electric operating companies in four states, natural gas distribution companies in seven states, a competitive generation company serving wholesale customers across America and a nationally recognized provider of customized energy solutions, as well as fiber optics and wireless communications. Southern Company brands are known for excellent customer service, high reliability and affordable prices that are below the national average. Through an industry-leading commitment to innovation, Southern Company and its subsidiaries are inventing America's energy future by developing the full portfolio of energy resources, including carbon-free nuclear, natural gas, renewables and energy efficiency, and creating new products and services for the benefit of customers. Southern Company has been named by the U.S. Department of Defense and G.I. Jobs magazine as a top military employer, recognized among the Top 50 Companies for Diversity by Diversity Inc, listed by Black Enterprise magazine as one of the 40 Best Companies for Diversity and designated a Top Employer for Hispanics by Hispanic Network. The company has earned a National Award of Nuclear Science and History from the National Atomic Museum Foundation for its leadership and commitment to nuclear development and is continually ranked among the top energy companies in Fortune's annual World's Most Admired Electric and Gas Utility rankings. Visit our website at www.southerncompany.com.
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. #LI
Job Type: Standard
Primary Location: Georgia-Metro Atlanta-Atlanta
Operating Company: Southern Company Services
Other Locations: Alabama-Metro Birmingham/Eastern AL-Birmingham
Job Type: Standard
Travel (Up to...): Yes, 25 % of the Time
Work Location(s):
Georgia Power Headquarters - 241 Ralph McGill Blvd. NE (241ATLANTA)
241 Ralph McGill Blvd. NE
Atlanta, 30308
APC Corporate Headquarters - 600 North 18th Street (600BIRMINGHAM)
600 North 18th Street
Birmingham, 35203
Req ID: SCS2010375
