Financial Analyst

Job Description

This position supports financial planning, analysis, regulatory and budgeting needs for Southern Company and its subsidiaries.


Responsibilities include:

• Provide timely solutions using critical thinking to resolve complex requests from the subsidiaries
• Understand, develop, maintain, and effectively use the UI Solutions models to support the needs of the various Southern Company subsidiaries
• Train and support users on the UI Solutions Models
• Continuously examine and improve processes and tools used throughout supported organizations
• Build and sustain trusted relationships and communicate effectively based on the audience

JOB REQUIREMENTS

Education:

• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Finance, Accounting, or related field required
• Minimum 1 year of experience in Engineering, Finance, Accounting, or related field required
• Experience using UI Solutions (Utilities International) financial, capital or tax model strongly preferred

Experience

• Experience in financial systems/planning, analysis, or regulatory preferred
• Experience with Excel based models or reporting systems preferred
• Experience in utility finance, accounting and rate making principles preferred

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Financial & Business Acumen requirements:
  • Knowledge of all of the common financial statements and the interactions/interrelationships between them
  • Knowledge of general financial concepts and common financial formulas (for example, debt structures, earnings per share (EPS), cost of capital, etc.)
  • Knowledge of finance principles and processes
  • Knowledge of basic macro-economic values (e.g., CPI, GDP, exchange rates, etc.)
  • Knowledge of accounting concepts and practices (e.g., accrual accounting, cash accounting, etc.)
  • Knowledge of the accounting close process
  • Knowledge of sources of information about tax policies and their implications on projections
  • Ability to read and interpret corporate annual reports
  • Ability to provide input or support financial close and reporting activities
  • Ability to define, incorporate and report on financial and/or non-financial key performance indicators
  • Ability to define and schedule project/work flow elements and their interaction
  • Ability to coordinate and communicate deadlines, deliverables and expectations in the work flow process
  • Ability to synthesize information to create conclusions, alternatives and recommendations
  • Ability to perform variance analysis and reporting (e.g., actuals v. prior periods, actuals v. plan, actuals v. forecast, etc.)
  • Ability to create financial statement projections - (P&L/income statement, cash flow, balance sheet, equity statements, etc.)
  • Ability to create a capital expenditure/investment analysis
  • Ability to create and perform sensitivity analyses and scenario analyses, including "what-if" scenarios and analyses
• Thought process and analytical requirements:
  
  • Seek out and embrace opportunities to research and resolve complex and challenging problems
  • Supplement previous knowledge and experience with robust critical thinking skills to effectively and efficiently solve complex problems
  • Ability to perform an information gap analysis (i.e., determine the information that is missing or needed to complete the task)
  • Ability to integrate information and data into analysis
  • Ability to identify outliers in data and determine the causes (i.e., data that does not seem to fit, etc.)
  • Ability to distill (combine and/or aggregate data while excluding irrelevant data) from numerous sources to create meaningful information
  • Ability to determine and assess the seasonality of an industry
  • Ability to assess reasonableness of conclusions and to test conclusion against various scenarios
  • Ability to research and self-educate to close knowledge gaps and learn new concepts
• Systems and Models requirements:
  • Knowledge of user acceptance testing (UAT) during software implementation
  • Knowledge of spreadsheet and database structures and functions
  • Knowledge of software/data version control concepts and techniques (e.g., naming conventions, annotations, comments, protocols and documentation, etc.)
  • Ability to identify processes that can be automated and communicate desired output to the implementation team
  • Ability to create templates for information gathering
  • Ability to assess existing systems and reporting tools
  • Ability to review a completed task and identify continuous improvement opportunities
  • Ability to engage with stakeholders to achieve management expectations
  • Ability to test and validate a model (e.g., cross-footing, consistency testing, reasonableness assessment, etc.)
• Able to adjust easily to changing priorities
• Exhibits a high degree of initiative and is proactive
• Takes personal responsibility for assignments and pride in their work product
• Understands broad implications of decisions and work activities
• Grasps new concepts quickly
• Ability to build effective relationships with team and other groups
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Strong organization and documentation skills
• Demonstrate basic leadership skills
• Ability to prioritize, organize and complete projects

Behavioral Attributes:

• Able to adjust easily to changing priorities
• Exhibits a high degree of initiative and is proactive
• Takes personal responsibility for assignments and pride in their work product
• Understands broad implications of decisions and work activities
• Grasps new concepts quickly
• Ability to build effective relationships with team and other groups
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Strong organization and documentation skills
• Demonstrate basic leadership skills
• Ability to prioritize, organize and complete projects

About Us

About Southern Company


Southern Company (NYSE: SO) is a leading energy provider serving 9 million customers across the Southeast and beyond through its family of companies. Providing clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy with excellent service is our mission. The company has electric operating companies in three states, natural gas distribution companies in four states, a competitive generation company, a leading distributed energy solutions provider with national capabilities, a fiber optics network and telecommunications services. Through an industry-leading commitment to innovation, resilience and sustainability, we are taking action to meet customers' and communities' needs while advancing our goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Our uncompromising values ensure we put the needs of those we serve at the center of everything we do and are the key to our sustained success. We are transforming energy into economic, environmental and social progress for tomorrow. Our corporate culture has been recognized by a variety of organizations, earning the company awards and recognitions that reflect Our Values and dedication to service. To learn more, visit


Southern Company invests in the well-being of its employees and their families through a comprehensive total rewards strategy that includes competitive base salary, annual incentive awards for eligible employees and health, welfare and retirement benefits designed to support physical, financial, and emotional/social well-being. This position may also be eligible for additional compensation, such as an incentive program, with the amount of any bonus/awards subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable incentive plan(s). A summary of the benefits offered for this position can be found here Additional and specific details about total compensation and benefits will also be provided during the hiring process.

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.

About the Team

Southern Company Services