Staff III or Sr, Accountant

Southern Company•Atlanta, GA

About The Position

SouthStar Energy Services, a wholly owned subsidiary of Southern Company Gas, serves more than 600,000 residential, commercial, industrial, and compressed natural gas (CNG) customers across multiple retail energy choice markets in the United States. Operating under trade names such as Georgia Natural Gas, Florida Natural Gas, Ohio Natural Gas, Pennsylvania Energy, Grand Rapids Energy, Illinois Energy, and Illinois Energy Solutions, SouthStar combines national scale with strong regional market expertise. With more than 25 years of experience in retail energy markets, SouthStar manages a diverse portfolio of customers and supports more than 8 million customer interactions annually. The company is also committed to environmental stewardship through its Greener Life program, which enables customers to make their natural gas usage carbon neutral. This position is responsible for the accurate recognition, analysis, and reporting of gas costs and related expenses for SouthStar Energy Services and its operating markets. The role supports monthly financial close activities and contributes to financial analysis, reporting, and compliance requirements.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in accounting or finance.
Typically 3-9 years of progressive accounting experience, including budgeting, cost analysis, and financial analysis.
Working knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and the ability to apply accounting concepts to moderately complex assignments.
Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret and evaluate complex accounting and financial data.
Demonstrated attention to detail, accountability, and organizational skills.
Effective problem‑solving skills, including the ability to think critically and develop practical solutions.
Ability to manage multiple tasks and meet deadlines in a time‑sensitive environment.
Ability to work independently with limited supervision while functioning effectively as part of a team.
Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to interact effectively with all levels of management and operations.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, with strong emphasis on Microsoft Excel.

Nice To Haves

Experience in the energy or utilities industry.
Experience working with Oracle or similar enterprise financial systems.

Responsibilities

Prepare, analyze, and post general ledger journal entries, including gas cost and operating expense accruals, for assigned markets.
Calculate monthly gas cost estimates and prior month true ups, including natural gas inventory.
Analyze, interpret, and present gas cost estimates and true‑ups during monthly gas cost review meetings with cross‑functional stakeholders.
Assist with preparation of monthly counterparty settlement packages, as required.
Complete monthly balance sheet account reconciliations and investigate variances.
Support preparation of monthly financial reporting packages, including income statements, balance sheets, cash flow statements, and variance analysis.
Provide accounting and financial support to management and operational teams to facilitate understanding of business performance.
Work closely with internal and external auditors by preparing supporting schedules and responding to audit inquiries.
Maintain documentation and controls to support Sarbanes‑Oxley (SOX) compliance requirements.
Participate in special projects and represent accounting requirements related to system, process, or business changes.
Support cross‑training initiatives and provide secondary accounting coverage for additional markets, as assigned.