Financial Analyst – Governance

Southern Company•Atlanta, GA

About The Position

The Financial Analyst will provide governance, compliance, allocation, and analytical support to Southern Company Services (SCS) organizations and Southern Company affiliates. The role ensures timely and accurate review and reporting of financial segments for the budgeting organization, and accurate, consistent, transparent assignment of chart-of-account and project segments in accordance with accounting policies, internal controls, affiliate requirements, and Southern Company policies. The analyst supports allocation methodologies and governance, reviews financial account setup, documents decisions, monitors compliance, coordinates affiliate segments, and recommends process and control improvements. The role serves as a partner to financial and non-financial managers by translating allocation and compliance requirements into practical guidance. It also supports annual budget preparation, monthly variance reporting, cost projections, management reporting, and special projects.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Accounting, Finance, or a related business field.
At least 3 months of experience in accounting, finance, industrial engineering, or business administration.
Detail-oriented, with initiative-taking critical thinking skills and excellent follow-through.
Working knowledge of governance, risk, compliance, internal controls, and documentation practices.
Proficient analytical and problem-solving skills.
Organizational and planning skills.
Knowledge of data management and retrieval techniques and strong technical skills.
Ability to evaluate whether an allocation methodology is equitable, supportable, repeatable, and aligned with the beneficiaries of the cost or service.
Ability to identify compliance risks, control gaps, inconsistencies, and root causes, and recommend practical corrective actions.
Ability to quickly understand the Accounting System and POET codes and how segments are used.
Ability to multitask and adapt to a changing environment.
Strong follow-through, documentation discipline, and personal ownership.
Strong interpersonal skills to interact effectively with accounting, auditing, non-financial functional areas, and varying levels of staff and management.
Ability to operate in a matrix organization and communicate clearly.
Effective oral and written communication skills.
Ability to demonstrate personal ownership and initiative, anticipate and proactively communicate process decisions and bottlenecks, and exercise sound business judgment.
Proactive, team-oriented, and strategic approach.
Thorough understanding of accounting, budgeting, cost tracking, financial projections, and interrelationships with affiliate accounting and budgeting functions.

Nice To Haves

CPA, CMA, MBA, or another advanced degree.
Utility accounting experience.
Experience in accounting, allocations, shared services, accounting policy, or governance.
Experience documenting processes, controls, methodologies, decisions, and supporting evidence.
Experience with Oracle Cloud ERP, OACS, Oracle Planning, and PowerPlan.
Strong experience with Microsoft Office products, particularly Excel, PowerPoint, and Access.
Process or project management experience.
Experience coordinating requests from multiple business units and ensuring goals and objectives are met.
Knowledge of utility and regulatory accounting standards and GAAP principles.
Knowledge of Enterprise Foundations principles.

Responsibilities

Lead and support the governance process for SCS Budgeting.
Develop, maintain, and communicate allocation methodologies, procedures, decision criteria, and supporting documentation.
Evaluate allocation bases by determining which organizations, affiliates, customers, projects, or services benefit from associated costs.
Promote consistent use of allocation drivers, POET, template maintenance, class categories, and other financial coding across business units.
Review financial transactions, cost assignments, and allocation results for accuracy, consistency, reasonableness, and policy compliance.
Provide managers with guidance on GAAP, Southern Company accounting policies, affiliate requirements, internal controls, and allocation practices.
Coordinate periodic allocation reviews, certifications, documentation updates, and stakeholder approvals.
Maintain audit-ready support for allocation methodologies, controls, assumptions, approvals, and key financial decisions.
Identify control gaps, compliance risks, inconsistent practices, and opportunities to improve governance, transparency, and efficiency.
Partner with Accounting, Internal Controls, Audit, Legal, Regulatory, Tax, HR, Supply Chain, and business-unit stakeholders as appropriate.
Coordinate affiliate rate case, audit, and regulatory support related to cost assignments, service company charges, and allocations.
Develop and deliver training, job aids, and communications about allocation and compliance requirements for financial and non-financial users.
Consolidate governance and compliance reporting for SCS management, including trends, exceptions, remediation items, and decision points.
Participate in special projects and system or process changes by assessing allocation, compliance, control, and documentation impacts.
Establish and maintain effective relationships and communications with business-unit and affiliate budget managers.
Analyze data and communicate the SCS financial story.
Coordinate annual budget preparation and communications.
Prepare and communicate monthly variance reporting and comprehensive analysis for budget, actual, and projection information.
Ensure compliance with internal controls and recommend needed changes and efficiency improvements.
Provide non-financial managers with guidance on accounting policies and activities.
Consolidate reporting for SCS roll-up and management reporting.
Gather data and analyze periodic cost projections and budget data.
Participate in special projects by gathering information and providing analysis.
Coordinate the project creation process for all project types, including capital projects and integration with PowerPlan.