Manager, Gas Accounting

SouthStar Energy Services | Southern Company Gas

Job Summary

This position is responsible for managing the accurate and timely calculation, accounting, and recognition of physical natural gas costs, financial derivative instruments, and operational expenses for SouthStar Energy Services. The position is responsible for the preparation of financial statements in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, as well as internal, external, financial, and regulatory reporting requirements across all SouthStar Energy Services markets.

The position oversees accounting activities related to physical natural gas purchases, storage activity, variable and fixed transportation costs, asset management activities, and financial hedging instruments used to mitigate commodity price and weather-related risks.

This role is also responsible for supervising the settlement of physical and financial obligations in accordance with payment terms established with counterparties and suppliers. The successful candidate must have the ability to research complex accounting guidance, evaluate business transactions, and determine the appropriate accounting treatment.

Additional responsibilities include interactions with independent auditors, oversight of internal control and compliance activities, and review of financial disclosures used in Securities and Exchange Commission filings.

About SouthStar Energy Services

SouthStar Energy Services is a wholly owned subsidiary of Southern Company Gas and proudly serves more than 600,000 residential, business, large commercial, and industrial customers in retail energy choice markets throughout the United States.

Depending on location, customers may know SouthStar Energy Services through one of its trade names, including Georgia Natural Gas, Florida Natural Gas, Ohio Natural Gas, Pennsylvania Energy, Grand Rapids Energy, Illinois Energy, or Illinois Energy Solutions.

With more than 25 years of experience in retail energy choice markets, SouthStar Energy Services combines the expertise and resources of a national energy supplier with the local market knowledge of a regional provider. The company operates a service network encompassing approximately 20 interstate natural gas pipelines and successfully manages more than 8 million customer interactions each year.

SouthStar Energy Services is also committed to environmental responsibility through programs such as Greener Life, which allows carbon credits to offset customers' natural gas usage.

Job Responsibilities

The successful candidate will be responsible for supervising, supporting, and performing activities in the following areas:

Monthly Natural Gas Cost Accounting

- Calculate, review, and document monthly natural gas cost estimates and prior-month true-ups for assigned markets.
- Account for all physical natural gas purchase volumes.
- Account for monthly variable and fixed transportation costs.
- Account for monthly changes in natural gas storage values.
- Account for asset management activities within assigned markets.
- Analyze, interpret, and present cost estimates and true ups during monthly natural gas cost close meetings with Physical Operations.
- Prepare and post all journal entries associated with natural gas costs for assigned markets.
- Maintain documentation required to support Sarbanes-Oxley Act compliance.
- Identify internal control weaknesses and recommend opportunities to improve processes associated with calculating, recording, and reporting natural gas costs within the general ledger.
- Support the accurate and timely preparation of financial information in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.
- Partner with operational and financial teams to research and resolve accounting discrepancies.

Monthly Natural Gas Settlements

- Reconcile counterparty invoices to internal accounting records and pipeline supporting documentation.
- Communicate discrepancies to Physical Operations and other appropriate stakeholders.
- Work directly with counterparties to research and resolve invoice and settlement discrepancies.
- Ensure the accurate and timely payment of transportation and physical commodity obligations.
- Ensure the accurate and timely billing of capacity and commodity receivables.
- Ensure timely distribution of net settlement statements to physical trading counterparties.
- Monitor outstanding settlement items and coordinate resolution among internal teams, suppliers, and counterparties.

Natural Gas Storage Accounting

- Calculate monthly weighted average cost of gas for natural gas storage injections within assigned markets.
- Ensure the accurate and timely expense recognition of all natural gas inventory withdrawals for assigned markets.
- Completely required reporting deliverables related to physical natural gas storage volumes and values.
- Reconcile storage-related activity and research variances to ensure accurate financial reporting.

Financial Reporting, Controls, and Compliance

- Support the preparation and review of financial statements in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.
- Research complex accounting guidance and determine appropriate accounting treatment for transactions and contracts.
- Review contracts and perform appropriate accounting assessments to ensure transactions receive accurate accounting treatment.
- Support internal and external financial and regulatory reporting requirements.
- Coordinate with independent auditors and provide supporting documentation as required.
- Support internal control and compliance activities.
- Review applicable financial disclosures included within Securities and Exchange Commission filings.
- Maintain appropriate documentation supporting accounting conclusions, financial reporting, and internal control requirements.
- Identify opportunities to strengthen financial controls, improve processes, and enhance the accuracy and efficiency of financial reporting.

Leadership and Cross-Functional Responsibilities

- Supervise and support accounting and settlement activities within assigned areas of responsibility.
- Provide guidance, coaching, and subject matter expertise to team members, as appropriate.
- Partner effectively with Physical Operations, Finance, Accounting, Risk Management, and other business functions.
- Manage multiple projects, priorities, and reporting requirements while meeting strict and time-sensitive deadlines.
- Cross-train on other physical and financial natural gas cost functions to provide appropriate departmental coverage.
- Perform additional accounting, settlement, reporting, and financial analysis responsibilities as assigned.

Qualifications

Education and Experience

- Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a closely related field.
- Typically, ten or more years of professional accounting experience, including experience with budgeting, cost accounting, financial accounting, and financial analysis. Candidates with fewer years of experience may be considered based on the depth and relevance of their professional experience.
- Demonstrated knowledge of fundamental accounting concepts, practices, procedures, and financial reporting requirements.
- Experience applying accounting principles to assignments and transactions with varying levels of complexity.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

- Thorough knowledge of accounting principles, practices, procedures, and internal controls.
- Demonstrated ability to research complex accounting matters and determine appropriate accounting treatment.
- Strong ability to analyze accounting and financial reports, contracts, supporting documentation, and complex financial information.
- Advanced ability to use applicable software applications to create, modify, analyze, and manage accounting and financial documents and reports.
- Strong understanding of natural gas supply operations and Enterprise Total Risk Management systems.
- Ability to manage multiple projects, responsibilities, and competing priorities while meeting strict deadlines.
- Ability to think proactively, exercise sound judgment, and work independently with limited supervision.
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, organizational, and attention-to-detail skills.
- Demonstrated accountability and commitment to producing accurate, high-quality work.
- Ability to communicate effectively and professionally with employees at all levels of management and operations.
- Ability to work independently while contributing effectively within a collaborative team environment.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to establish effective working relationships across multiple business functions.

Preferred Qualifications

- Previous supervisory or people leadership experience.
- Accounting experience within the utility, natural gas, or energy industry.
- Experience with derivative financial instruments and hedge accounting.
- Intermediate proficiency with Microsoft Word.
- Intermediate to advanced proficiency with Microsoft Excel.
- Strong organizational and cross-functional coordination skills.
- Experience using Oracle Enterprise Resource Planning Cloud.
- Experience supporting internal and external audits.
- Experience with financial reporting and disclosures associated with Securities and Exchange Commission requirements.
- Experience with Sarbanes-Oxley Act internal controls and compliance requirements.

Key Competencies

Successful candidates will demonstrate:

- Accounting and Financial Acumen: Applies strong technical accounting knowledge and sound financial judgment to complex transactions.
- Business Acumen: Understands how natural gas supply, transportation, storage, settlements, and risk management activities affect financial results.
- Leadership: Provides direction, support, and accountability while promoting collaboration and strong team performance.
- Analytical Thinking: Identifies issues, evaluates complex financial information, and develops practical solutions.
- Attention to Detail: Maintains a high level of accuracy across accounting, settlement, and reporting activities.
- Results Orientation: Effectively manages competing priorities and consistently delivers quality work within established deadlines.
- Collaboration: Builds effective working relationships across Accounting, Finance, Physical Operations, Risk Management, and other business functions.
- Continuous Improvement: Identifies opportunities to strengthen controls, streamline processes, and improve the quality and efficiency of financial reporting.