American Electric Power OPT Eligible Jobs USA
American Electric Power hires OPT students across engineering, data analytics, grid operations, and corporate functions. The company has a track record of bringing F-1 talent into technical and infrastructure roles, and its history of H-1B visa sponsorship signals a genuine pathway for OPT students who perform well.
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Get Access To All JobsJob Posting End Date
05-22-2026
Please note the job posting will close on the day before the posting end date.
Job Summary
The Financial Reporting Accountant Principal is responsible for the preparation of timely and accurate financial statements and other reports on a quarterly and annual basis for AEP’s legal entities, including SEC registrants. They will also be responsible for the preparation of internal management reports and other supporting tasks, such as the creation of journal entries and participating in the monthly closing process.
At AEP, we invest in your long-term success. As a Financial Reporting Accountant Principal, you will lead complex accounting processes, mentor junior staff, and influence strategic decisions. These roles position you for progression into specialized leadership roles across the company. AEP supports your growth through leadership development, mentorship, and tuition assistance. If you’re looking to make an impact at a purpose-driven company that values your development, we’d love to meet you.
Job Description
What You'll Do:
- Assist in the preparation of SEC reports, including Forms 10-K and 10-Q, and regulatory reports, including Forms 1 and 3Q.
- Assist in the preparation of journal entries to support the financial statement preparation process.
- Assist in ensuring the accuracy and integrity of financial data for internal and external stakeholders.
- Perform analytical review of financial data.
- Interpret and apply accounting regulations and pronouncements.
- Keep abreast of the latest rules, regulations, and reporting requirements of the SEC, FASB and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).
- Assist in the Edgar and XBRL processes required for SEC filings.
- Maintain compliance with Sarbanes-Oxley control processes.
- Assist in cultivating positive business relationships between financial reporting and AEP.
What We're Looking For:
Education:
- Bachelors degree in Accounting, or Business with a concentration in Accounting
Experience:
- Minimum 4 years of relevant work experience
Other Must Haves:
- Strong understanding of GAAP and regulatory reporting requirements.
- Demonstrate the highest standards of ethical behavior.
- Analytical mindset with attention to detail and accuracy.
- Ability to employ a logical approach to solve problems and achieve objectives.
- Collaborative mindset with the ability to work effectively as part of a team.
- Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and adapt in a fast-paced environment.
- Continuous improvement mindset demonstrated through adaptability, flexibility, creativity, and initiative.
- Detail-oriented with an ability to employ a logical approach to accomplish objectives and solve issues.
- Competency in written and oral communication.
- Proficient in Microsoft applications.
- Experience with business reporting tools preferred.
Where You'll Work:
- This is an On-Site role based out of Columbus, OH.
What You'll Get:
- Base Salary: approximately $98,000 - $120,000
- Annual Bonus
- 401(k) Match
- AEP Pension
- Comprehensive Benefits Package
In addition to base salary, AEP offers competitive Total Rewards including discretionary annual incentive, 401(k), pension, health insurance, vacation, educational assistance, etc.
At AEP, we’re more than just an energy company — we’re a team of dedicated professionals committed to delivering safe, reliable, and innovative energy solutions. Guided by our mission to put the customer first, we strive to exceed expectations by listening, responding, and continuously improving the way we serve our communities. If you're passionate about making a meaningful impact and being part of a forward-thinking organization, this is the company for you.
Compensation Data
Compensation Grade:
SP20-008
Compensation Range:
$98,993.00 - $128,688.00
The Physical Demand Level for this job is: S – Sedentary Work: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally (Occasionally: activity or condition exists up to 1/3 of the time) and/or a negligible amount of force frequently. (Frequently: activity or condition exists from 1/3 to 2/3 of the time) to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time but may involve walking or standing for brief periods of time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally, and all other sedentary criteria are met.
It is hereby reaffirmed that it is the policy of American Electric Power (AEP) to provide Equal Employment Opportunity in all respects of the employer-employee relationship including recruiting, hiring, upgrading and promotion, conditions and privileges of employment, company sponsored training programs, educational assistance, social and recreational programs, compensation, benefits, transfers, discipline, layoffs and termination of employment to all employees and applicants without discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, age, veteran or military status, disability, genetic information, or any other basis prohibited by applicable law. When required by law, we might record certain information or applicants for employment may be invited to voluntarily disclose protected characteristics.
Job Posting End Date
05-22-2026
Please note the job posting will close on the day before the posting end date.
Job Summary
The Financial Reporting Accountant Principal is responsible for the preparation of timely and accurate financial statements and other reports on a quarterly and annual basis for AEP’s legal entities, including SEC registrants. They will also be responsible for the preparation of internal management reports and other supporting tasks, such as the creation of journal entries and participating in the monthly closing process.
At AEP, we invest in your long-term success. As a Financial Reporting Accountant Principal, you will lead complex accounting processes, mentor junior staff, and influence strategic decisions. These roles position you for progression into specialized leadership roles across the company. AEP supports your growth through leadership development, mentorship, and tuition assistance. If you’re looking to make an impact at a purpose-driven company that values your development, we’d love to meet you.
Job Description
What You'll Do:
- Assist in the preparation of SEC reports, including Forms 10-K and 10-Q, and regulatory reports, including Forms 1 and 3Q.
- Assist in the preparation of journal entries to support the financial statement preparation process.
- Assist in ensuring the accuracy and integrity of financial data for internal and external stakeholders.
- Perform analytical review of financial data.
- Interpret and apply accounting regulations and pronouncements.
- Keep abreast of the latest rules, regulations, and reporting requirements of the SEC, FASB and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).
- Assist in the Edgar and XBRL processes required for SEC filings.
- Maintain compliance with Sarbanes-Oxley control processes.
- Assist in cultivating positive business relationships between financial reporting and AEP.
What We're Looking For:
Education:
- Bachelors degree in Accounting, or Business with a concentration in Accounting
Experience:
- Minimum 4 years of relevant work experience
Other Must Haves:
- Strong understanding of GAAP and regulatory reporting requirements.
- Demonstrate the highest standards of ethical behavior.
- Analytical mindset with attention to detail and accuracy.
- Ability to employ a logical approach to solve problems and achieve objectives.
- Collaborative mindset with the ability to work effectively as part of a team.
- Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and adapt in a fast-paced environment.
- Continuous improvement mindset demonstrated through adaptability, flexibility, creativity, and initiative.
- Detail-oriented with an ability to employ a logical approach to accomplish objectives and solve issues.
- Competency in written and oral communication.
- Proficient in Microsoft applications.
- Experience with business reporting tools preferred.
Where You'll Work:
- This is an On-Site role based out of Columbus, OH.
What You'll Get:
- Base Salary: approximately $98,000 - $120,000
- Annual Bonus
- 401(k) Match
- AEP Pension
- Comprehensive Benefits Package
In addition to base salary, AEP offers competitive Total Rewards including discretionary annual incentive, 401(k), pension, health insurance, vacation, educational assistance, etc.
At AEP, we’re more than just an energy company — we’re a team of dedicated professionals committed to delivering safe, reliable, and innovative energy solutions. Guided by our mission to put the customer first, we strive to exceed expectations by listening, responding, and continuously improving the way we serve our communities. If you're passionate about making a meaningful impact and being part of a forward-thinking organization, this is the company for you.
Compensation Data
Compensation Grade:
SP20-008
Compensation Range:
$98,993.00 - $128,688.00
The Physical Demand Level for this job is: S – Sedentary Work: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally (Occasionally: activity or condition exists up to 1/3 of the time) and/or a negligible amount of force frequently. (Frequently: activity or condition exists from 1/3 to 2/3 of the time) to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time but may involve walking or standing for brief periods of time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally, and all other sedentary criteria are met.
It is hereby reaffirmed that it is the policy of American Electric Power (AEP) to provide Equal Employment Opportunity in all respects of the employer-employee relationship including recruiting, hiring, upgrading and promotion, conditions and privileges of employment, company sponsored training programs, educational assistance, social and recreational programs, compensation, benefits, transfers, discipline, layoffs and termination of employment to all employees and applicants without discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, age, veteran or military status, disability, genetic information, or any other basis prohibited by applicable law. When required by law, we might record certain information or applicants for employment may be invited to voluntarily disclose protected characteristics.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding American Electric Power OPT Eligible Jobs USA
Target AEP's technical and engineering pipelines
AEP's core hiring for OPT students sits in electrical engineering, power systems, and data analytics. Apply directly to roles tied to grid modernization and renewable energy projects, where degree-to-role alignment is clearest and hiring managers expect specialty occupation candidates.
Verify your STEM OPT eligibility before applying
Engineering and computer science degrees from accredited programs qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension. Confirm your degree's CIP code with your DSO early, so you can tell AEP recruiters upfront that you offer three years of work authorization without an H-1B transition.
Confirm AEP's E-Verify enrollment before accepting an offer
STEM OPT requires your employer to be enrolled in E-Verify. Ask the recruiter or HR contact directly during the offer stage, not after. Unenrolled employers cannot support the 24-month extension, which collapses your timeline to 12 months and accelerates H-1B dependency.
Research AEP's H-1B filing history by role
Use Migrate Mate to review AEP's H-1B and LCA filing history filtered by occupation code. This shows which job titles and departments have a proven sponsorship track record, helping you target roles where conversion from OPT to H-1B is a documented pattern, not a promise.
Benchmark your offer against DOL prevailing wage data
Before negotiating, look up your role's wage level in the OFLC Wage Search and cross-reference with Bureau of Labor Statistics data for your metro area. AEP must pay prevailing wages for H-1B roles, so knowing the floor protects you from underpaying and strengthens your negotiating position.
Submit your I-983 training plan before your OPT end date
For STEM OPT, you and your AEP supervisor must both sign the I-983 training plan before your standard OPT expires. File the extension with USCIS well before your EAD end date, since USCIS processing can take several months and any gap interrupts authorized employment.
American Electric Power OPT Eligibility: Frequently Asked Questions
Does American Electric Power sponsor OPT visas?
AEP doesn't sponsor OPT directly. OPT is work authorization USCIS grants to F-1 students, so you arrive with your EAD already in hand. What AEP does is hire students who hold valid OPT authorization and, for qualifying STEM roles, support the STEM OPT extension by maintaining E-Verify enrollment.
Which roles and departments at AEP typically hire OPT students?
AEP's strongest OPT hiring is concentrated in electrical engineering, power systems analysis, grid operations, and data science. Corporate functions like finance and IT also bring in OPT students, but engineering roles tied to transmission, distribution, and renewable energy projects tend to have the clearest degree-to-role alignment that AEP's hiring process expects.
How do I navigate the OPT-to-H-1B transition at AEP?
AEP has a documented history of H-1B sponsorship, which signals a genuine transition pathway for strong performers. Build your case during your OPT period by taking on work that maps clearly to a specialty occupation. Your manager's support and HR's willingness to engage early with the H-1B timeline, ideally before the March registration window, are the two most critical factors.
What timeline should I expect for STEM OPT extension approval?
USCIS processing for the STEM OPT extension typically runs several months. File well before your standard 12-month OPT expires, because timely filing gives you a cap-gap bridge that keeps you authorized while your application is pending. Don't wait until the final weeks, as delays are common during peak filing periods.
How do I find open OPT roles at AEP and verify sponsorship history?
Search AEP's careers site directly and filter by job type or early-career programs. To verify which roles have genuine H-1B sponsorship history, use Migrate Mate, which surfaces AEP's LCA filing data by occupation code so you can confirm which departments have a track record of sponsoring work visas before you apply.
How does American Electric Power hire OPT students?
OPT is work authorization granted directly to F-1 students after graduation — no employer petition is required. American Electric Power can hire OPT students as soon as their EAD card is approved. STEM degree holders can extend OPT by 24 months when their employer is enrolled in E-Verify. Most companies that hire OPT students also support the transition to H-1B when the student's OPT period is ending. Check American Electric Power's individual postings on Migrate Mate to confirm OPT acceptance per role.