Financial Analyst, Capital Markets

This position is in the Southern Company Services Treasury organization; located at the Southern Company Headquarters in Atlanta, GA. 

The Capital Markets team is responsible for the ongoing analysis and management of Southern Company’s $67 billion long-term debt portfolio, and for all long-term debt and equity financings for Southern Company and our seven issuing subsidiaries.  Please note that this role is NOT a daily cash management position but works specifically on long-term financing activities through capital markets.

Location:  Atlanta, GA (Southern Company Headquarters - Downtown Atlanta) 

Job Responsibilities (will have a subset of the following):

• Support the process of issuing new debt and equity, including the development of investor marketing materials and required legal/regulatory items (due diligence questionnaires, etc.)
• Conduct analytical work related to the overall issuance strategy (when capital markets should be accessed, what investor type should be targeted, which market is appropriate, and what is the optimal security type) and support the execution of the transaction
• Work with other internal partners to help develop financing plans including timing and amount of debt and equity issuances, capital contributions, and short-term financing/ liquidity needs
• Provide analysis on the existing debt portfolio for Southern Company and its subsidiaries and provide recommendations on the optimal capital structure (mix of fixed vs. floating rate debt, target average life of the debt portfolio, maturities, early redemption, use of hybrid securities, etc.)
• Maintain relationships with investment banks, representing Southern Company to Wall Street in a professional and productive manner         
• Research into non-traditional capital markets (including international markets) and new financing structures which could allow the company to broaden our investor base and lower financing costs
• Support the development of the interest rate derivative/ hedging strategy, including pre-issuance hedging of upcoming debt offerings and/or swapping interest rate mode from fixed to floating (or vice versa)
• Develop interest rate and credit spread forecasts to support the long-term financial plan
• Prepare reports regarding any recent market transactions, the current debt portfolio, and derivatives to support earnings calls, SEC filings, SOX controls, ratings agency requests, monthly management reports, and annual disclosures
• Assist with the preparation for utility regulatory filings and company responses to various oversight and regulatory authority’s interrogatories 

Minimum Job Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree with a major in Finance, Economics, Business or another related analytical field required
• Minimum 3 months of experience in corporate finance, investment banking, or asset management
• Strong analytical and financial modeling skills based on a firm understanding of financial principals
• Ability to build relationships and communicate effectively with key stakeholders:  investment bankers, rating agencies, fixed income investors, and all levels of management
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to maintain positive customer/client relationships 
• Knowledge of and interest in the financial markets

Additional Characteristics of Preferred Candidates

• Ability to multitask and prioritize key responsibilities 
• Attention to detail and ability to deliver accurate and reliable work product
• Prior experience with equity issuances and/or debt transactions in either taxable and/or municipal (tax-exempt) debt markets, or experience with similar securities offerings is a plus
• Understanding of interest rate derivatives and other hedging instruments 
• Experience in the Power/Utility industry or related industries such as Energy/Oil & Gas
• Understanding of investment risks faced by equity and fixed income investors
• Working knowledge of statistical concepts such as correlation, regression analysis, and probability distributions 
• Experience working with external stakeholders, including investment banks, investment managers, securities counsel, credit analysts, ratings agencies, and/or investor relations