Staff Accountant III

Description

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 support the Company's internal control structure to ensure compliance with Sarbanes-Oxley. The position plans and executes the controls strategy including risk assessment, control design, documentation, testing, and evaluation of operating effectiveness. The successful candidate will be fully engaged in the business, developing and enhancing relationships with the various business units impacted by SOX.

Remote candidates welcome to apply!

Job Requirements (Education, Experience, Knowledge, Skills)

Education & Certifications

• A bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance is required
• Certification (such as CPA or CIA) is preferred

Experience

• Experience in Internal Controls or Internal Auditing performing risk assessments, walk throughs, controls design, testing, and deficiency evaluations is preferred
• Experience using data analytics for auditing is a plus

Preferred Areas of Knowledge

• Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
• Auditing Standard 5
• COSO 2013 Internal Control Framework
• Financial risks and mitigating control design
• Information Provided by the Entity (Key Report) testing
• Data Analytics in control testing
• Generally Accepted Accounting Principles
• Security and Exchange Commission rules and reporting requirements

Preferred Skills

• Ability to work in a changing environment and to build collaborative networks across the organization
• Data analytics
• Overcome barriers to change and engage others to partner in implementing change effectively
• Ability to communicate to all levels of the organization
• 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
• 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
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office and Controls/Workpaper Management application (such as Workiva's Wdesk)

Major Job Responsibilities

• Perform top-down risk-based approach to comply with Sarbanes-Oxley for all Registrants. This includes controls rationalization, effective control design & testing assessments.
• Perform and document: walkthroughs, process flowcharts, control testing, deficiency evaluations (when needed) and periodic status updates
• Partner with Registrants and Shared Service management team 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 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 external audit SOX 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

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 Field: Accounting & Auditing

Job Type: Standard

Primary Location: Alabama-Metro Birmingham/Eastern AL-Birmingham

Operating Company: Southern Company Services

Job Type: Standard

Travel (Up to): Yes, 25 % of the Time

Work Location(s):

APC Corporate Headquarters - 600 North 18th Street (600BIRMINGHAM)

600 North 18th Street

Birmingham, 35203

Req ID: SCS2010749