Financial Analyst – Budgeting and Forecasting

Financial Analyst

JOB SUMMARY

The Financial Analyst will provide budgeting and analytical support to Southern Company Services (SCS) organizations and Southern Company affiliates by ensuring the timely and accurate review of financial transactions and the reporting of those transactions to various levels of management. This position will coordinate the timely and accurate data gathering and analysis of the periodic cost projections of the organization and projects they support and provide counsel and planning to various levels of management regarding the findings of various analyses as needed, will assist organization in meeting corporate and business unit goals and objectives, and will establish and maintain effective relationships and communication both within SCS Budgeting and Reporting and with our business partners.

MAJOR JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:  

• Develop and communicate budgets and financial reporting for the SCS Departments and Major Projects
• Ability to analyze data and effectively communicate SCS Business Unit financial status
• Coordinate annual budget preparation and communications
• Prepare and communicate monthly variance reporting and comprehensive analysis for budget, actual, and projection information
• Provide guidance to managers regarding GAAP and Southern Company accounting policies
• Ensure compliance with internal controls and make recommendations regarding needed changes and efficiency improvements
• Provide guidance on accounting policies and activities to non-financial managers
• Consolidate reporting for roll up and management reporting for both SCS Departments and/or Major Projects
• Gather data and analyze periodic cost projections and budget data
• Participate in special projects by gathering information and providing analysis
• Establish and maintain effective relationships and communications with business unit and project managers.
• Strong organization skills are a must.

JOB REQUIREMENTS:

Education:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Accounting, Finance, or related business field required
• CPA, CMA or MBA/other advanced degree preferred

Experience:

• 1+ year’s experience in accounting, finance, or business administration required
• Capital and O&M budgeting experience desired
• Utility accounting experience is preferred
• Experience in accounting, cost management and reporting preferred
• Demonstrated experience with Oracle Cloud ERP, OACS, Oracle Planning, and PowerPlan is preferred
• Strong experience in Microsoft Office Products (Excel, Power Point, and Access) highly desired
• Project cost tracking experience desired
• Experience coordinating multiple business units’ requests and ensure goals and objectives are met

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Detail-oriented with strong initiative-taking critical thinking skills, and excellent follow through
• Proficient analytical and problem-solving skills
• Demonstrate organizational and planning skills
• Knowledge of utility and regulatory accounting standards and GAAP principles desired
• Knowledge of data management and retrieval techniques with strong technical skills
• Conceptual thinker and ability to quickly understand our Accounting System, POET Codes and be able to understand and report cost drivers
• Ability to multi-task and adapt to a changing environment
• Ability to coordinate activities of multiple people and pull the end result together as one deliverable
• Ability to pull disparate pieces of information together to form one consolidated and concise report
• Strong interpersonal skills to effectively interact with accounting, auditing, various non-financial functional areas, and varying levels of staff and management
• Ability to operate in a matrix organization and communicate clearly with people at various levels including upper management
• Effective oral and written communication skills
• Demonstrate personal ownership and initiative
• Anticipate and proactively communicate financial impacts of business unit decisions
• Demonstrate sound business judgment in decision making
• Other attributes include proactive, team player, and strategic thinker
• Knowledge of Enterprise Foundations principles preferred
• Understanding various views of SCS data and ability to translate and communicate appropriately to various audiences
• Thorough understanding of techniques and methods for accounting, budgeting, cost tracking, financial projections, and interrelationships with affiliate accounting and budgeting functions