At Blackbird, our mission is to be a generational owner of the most ambitious tech companies founded by Aussies and Kiwis. To match this ambition as we grow, we are building a world-class Finance function to empower the wider Blackbird team to deliver on key initiatives and to ensure that we are a transparent and fully-compliant financial services organisation.

We are looking for a high-performing, detail-oriented Financial Accountant to level up the Finance team at Blackbird. In this role, you will assist with Blackbird’s management entities month-end processes, tax compliance, payroll function and annual audit.

This role is full-time, based in our Sydney or Melbourne office with the flexibility to work from home.

Ideally, you would have proven hands on experience in a Financial Accountant or Public Accounting role, with a demonstrable ability to manage tax obligations, a month-end close and the payroll function. Experience with Xero helps, though not essential. If you have strong commercial acumen, are resourceful and enjoy operating in a fast pace, high energy environment - this role is for you!

We know that candidates, especially women and people from underrepresented backgrounds, often hesitate to apply unless they meet 100% of the qualifications. If this role excites you and you meet most of the requirements, we encourage you to apply. We value potential and are committed to supporting growth in this role.

Key qualifications and skills:

• Accounting knowledge: Demonstrated proficiency in applying accounting principles and financial reporting standards, including GST, FBT, and income tax. CA or CPA qualification (or working towards) is a bonus.

• Ownership & continuous improvement: The ability and resourcefulness to take ownership of tasks and continuously improve internal processes. 

• Time management: Excellent time management skills, with a proven ability to prioritise/ re-prioritise your day.

• System savvy: Familiarity with accounting and payroll systems (eg Xero, Dext, HiBob) and Google Sheets/Excel with the ability to suggest tools and automation around various processes.

• Attention to detail: Being detail-oriented, including self-review of work.

• Humility/low-ego: A humble, low-ego attitude with empathy in spades. We’re a small team, and we all take out the trash (literally and figuratively!).

• Hospitality mindset: In our dealings with founders and investors, we take a hospitality mindset. We serve our founders, not the other way around. We are about people, not companies. Similarly, we treat our colleagues with generosity and respect. One team, one dream!

• Stakeholder management: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with an ability to coordinate, motivate and influence team members and other key stakeholders.

Reporting to our Head of Finance, Rebecca McCallum, here is what success could look like in your first 6-12 months:

• General ledger management: Preparation of monthly, quarterly and annual journals. Supporting workpapers to aid the month end close process (BD7), including inter-company recharges and balance sheet reconciliations. Preparation of insightful analysis to communicate YoY and MoM movements in a succinct manner. 

• Taxation: Preparation and lodgement of Blackbird’s payroll tax returns, FBT returns, BAS/GST returns (AU & NZ) and supporting workpapers.

• Financial reporting & audit: Assisting with our annual audit (30 June year end) including liaison with external auditors, compliance with internal controls and preparation of the financial statements in accordance with Australian Accounting standards.

• Carbon accounting: Taking ownership of Blackbird’s carbon accounting by preparing annual reconciliations to calculate our office emissions and working with Blackbird’s Impact Team to analyse year-on-year results.

• Team player: Assisting and coaching Blackbird’s Assistant Accountant, who is responsible for  Accounts Payable & Receivable and the day-to-day cash management functions of Blackbird’s entities.

• Process improvement: We will be introducing new applications to streamline and automate our financial accounting function, where you will be responsible for liaising with stakeholders and assisting with the implementation of these platforms.

We believe that building a diverse and inclusive team is critical to Blackbird’s success. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, national origin, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, or marital, veteran, or disability status. We use Applied to ensure every applicant gets an equal chance of success.

We offer:

• Flexible working: Whether it’s working from home, leaving early to pick up the kids or fitting in your favorite exercise class. We encourage you to explore when you're most productive and work in that style.

• Generous parental leave: We know family comes first, and we are proud to offer 20 weeks of parental leave for all parents (an additional 4 weeks for the birth parent), with no minimum tenure. In addition, we offer IVF, adoption and surrogacy leave. We also continue to pay superannuation and vest carried interest for up to 12 months of parental leave, and offer a supportive return-to-work policy to help with the ramp back.

• Learning & Development Budget: Our team is hungry to continuously learn and you’ll receive a budget to spend on books, conferences, training, coaching and courses relating to your profession.

• Wellbeing: We think in decades not days. To support our Blackbirds over the long haul we offer a range of holistic wellbeing benefits including a monthly healthy living allowance, 24/7 access to wellbeing support, a home office allowance, personal kit-kat days, and more!

• Unplugged weekends: We work hard without letting work get in the way of life. We’ve implemented no Slack or emails on weekends, so you can switch off and enjoy yourself.

• Connection: While being big fans of a fully distributed workforce, we value our vibe and time to connect online and IRL through team and company offsites, monthly social activities, weekly lunches and our many social clubs (#fun-manis, #fun-fantasybookclub, #bb-craft just to name a few!).

• A share of Blackbird’s success: We think it is important to share successes with the whole team. All Blackbird employees receive carry in funds raised while they are at the firm.

Blackbird is a Pledge 1% member —  we pledge 1% of our time, equity and profits to help not-for-profit causes in our community. Through Pledge 1%, we established the Blackbird Foundation to supercharge the creative capabilities of young people.

We are also very proud to have won the 2023 AFR Best Place to Work award in three categories including Overall winner. In 2022, we became certified as one of Australia’s Great Places to Work. Additionally, you can find us on the 2024 Hatch hotlist!

Blackbird is Australia's biggest venture capital fund whose mission is to supercharge Australia and New Zealand’s most ambitious founders. We do this by raising venture capital funds, investing into the best startup companies and helping them succeed. Our portfolio is worth over $8B, and includes more than 130 companies across Australia and New Zealand, from Canva and CultureAmp to rising stars like Halter, Partly, Carepatron, Gilmour Space, Eucalyptus, Fleet and Tracksuit.

We are inspired by investment firms such as Berkshire Hathaway and Bridgewater Associates. Like the companies we back, we want to build a business that lasts for decades and produces excellent returns for our investors. Most of all, we want to support our region’s most talented founders build category-defining technology companies.

We’ve written a lot about what we love at Blackbird, so check out ourblog if you want some more information about us. In particular, you should read aboutour mission and values, ourBlackbird’s Operating Principles (BOPs) andwhat we look for in founders.