Team Lead - Tax Reporting & Forecasting

About the role

This Lead role is a key member of the Southern Company Services (SCS) Corporate Tax team, reporting to the Income Tax Reporting & Forecasting Manager. The position is responsible for income tax accounting, SEC tax reporting, tax forecasting, and managing tax reporting for the unregulated non-registrant businesses. The role includes three primary areas of responsibility: Tax Accounting, Tax Forecasting, and Tax Reporting. This position includes one direct report and involves formal coaching, feedback, and performance evaluations. The ideal candidate will provide cross-training and serve as an example to other team members.

Responsibilities

• Lead and support the monthly income tax provision process for assigned unregulated companies, including complex journal entries, current and deferred tax calculations, tax payments, and detailed account analyses.
• Review quarterly consolidated SEC financial statements and underlying workpapers to ensure accurate, consistent, and well-supported income tax reporting.
• Approve monthly income tax entries and certify the tax controls for the unregulated non-registrant businesses.
• Review monthly and quarterly account reconciliations, provision workpapers, and tax analytics; investigate significant variances and reconciling items; develop practical recommendations for timely resolution and accurate reporting.
• Research, analyze, and resolve tax accounting issues, business transactions, and other matters affecting the tax provision process; serve as a technical resource and escalation point for team members.
• Support technical issues and planning initiatives by updating memos, presenting analyses and recommendations to management, leading meetings, and coordinating with stakeholders and operating company contacts.
• Drive process improvement initiatives related to the tax provision and tax basis balance sheet, including strengthening workpapers, improving controls, and identifying opportunities for efficiency, standardization, and audit readiness.
• Provide day-to-day leadership, coaching, training, and technical support to 1–3 team members, including direct supervisory responsibility for at least one employee.
• Prepare, coordinate, and review responses to internal and external auditor requests and other information requests, ensuring timely, accurate, and well-supported deliverables.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, or a related field required.
• Certified Public Accountant (CPA) designation preferred.
• Minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in income tax accounting and/or tax reporting, including demonstrated experience with complex calculations, reconciliations, and issue resolution.
• Public accounting and/or large corporate tax department experience preferred, including experience with income tax accounting processes and workpapers.
• Experience with tax provision software (such as PowerPlan), ERP systems (such as Oracle), and advanced Excel-based analysis preferred.

Skills

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to interpret financial data, identify issues, and develop practical solutions in a complex tax environment.
• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities and projects simultaneously, exercise sound judgment, and deliver high-quality work in a timely manner.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain technical tax matters clearly and present issues to management.
• Demonstrated ability to mentor and develop others by providing day-to-day guidance, reviewing work, and sharing technical knowledge.
• Ability to identify process improvement opportunities, strengthen controls, resolve complex variances, and develop practical recommendations.
• High attention to detail, accountability, and commitment to producing accurate, well-supported work in a deadline-driven environment.

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. 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, a fiber optics network, and telecommunications services. Southern Company is committed to innovation, resilience, and sustainability, aiming for net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

Benefits

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. This position may also be eligible for additional compensation, such as an incentive program. A summary of benefits can be found here.