Job Description
Job Summary
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.
Key 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.
Education and Experience
Required:
- Bachelor’s degree in accounting or finance.
- Typically 3-9 years of progressive accounting experience, including budgeting, cost analysis, and financial analysis.
Preferred:
- Experience in the energy or utilities industry.
- Experience working with Oracle or similar enterprise financial systems.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- 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.
Job Summary
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.
Key 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.
Education and Experience
Required:
- Bachelor’s degree in accounting or finance.
- Typically 3-9 years of progressive accounting experience, including budgeting, cost analysis, and financial analysis.
Preferred:
- Experience in the energy or utilities industry.
- Experience working with Oracle or similar enterprise financial systems.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- 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.
About Southern Company
Southern Company is one of the largest energy providers in the United States. Based in Atlanta, Southern Company owns electric utilities in four states, natural gas distribution utilities in seven states, a competitive generation company serving wholesale customers across America and a nationally recognized provider of customized energy solutions, as well as fiber optics and wireless communications.
The men and women who work at Southern Company understand that we don’t simply provide a product or service. Clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy is essential to our way of life. More than 100 years ago, our company played a major role in the growth and prosperity of the South – and we continue to play a role today through our support of economic development and our philanthropic efforts. We believe the communities we serve should be better off because we’re there.
Our principal business is to make, move and sell energy. Those are the “whats” of our business. But it’s the “hows” that make us different. The actions of our employees are what truly define us and have earned us a high level of trust among our customers, shareholders and regulators.
