Blackbird is looking for a high-performing, detail-oriented fund accountant. 

About Blackbird

Blackbird is a venture capital firm 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. We have A$1.3 billion dollars of committed capital and a core portfolio of over 60 companies including some of the most successful Australian startups such as Canva, Safety Culture and CultureAmp.

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 our blog on our website blackbird.vc if you wish to learn more about us.

About the Role

The fund accountant will be assisting the Financial Controller in the day-to-day financial operations of the Blackbird funds, such as balance sheet reconciliations, financial reporting and tax compliance. 

This is a full time role based in our Sydney office. Blackbird also offers flexible working, whether it’s working from home or leaving early to pick up the kids from daycare or school.  

We are delighted to offer a base salary of A$100,000 plus super, carried interest in the Blackbird 2020 Funds and management company profit share. 

Role Responsibilities

• Financial reporting: Reconciling the Funds’ balance sheets. Preparing the Funds’ quarterly Net Asset Value Statements. Assisting with the audit and preparing the draft financial statements. Preparing capital account statements for investors.

• Tax compliance: Assisting the compilation of information for the external tax advisers and managing the process of disseminating tax statements to investors.

• Cash management: Forecasting the Funds’ cash needs for capital calls. Preparing capital call and distribution notices. Ensuring that all capital calls have been received from investors, and all distributions have been successfully paid to investors. 

• Investor relations: Answering any queries investors might have on their investments or the Blackbird Funds. 

• Process improvement: With a growing number of staff in a relatively young company, there are plenty of opportunities for streamlining and automating processes.

• Assisting Operations: Where required, assisting the Operations team with ad hoc tasks. 

Position Requirements

Ideally, you would have at least three to four years of experience in fund accounting, with a strong foundation in day-to-day finance operations such as reconciliations, tax and reporting. Experience with Xero helps, though it is not essential.  

You must have working rights in Australia. 

Background is less important than the key skills, which include:

• The ability to reconcile differences between the books and sources of truth, and taking action to resolve those differences in a timely manner

• Familiarity with concepts such as carry, IRR hurdle rates and investment revaluations

• A solid working knowledge of accounting standards and tax 

• Taking ownership of tasks, including thorough self review of work

• A hospitality mindset, whether it’s helping out a colleague above and beyond your role, or providing great customer service to our founders and investors

• Extremely detail-oriented

We’re looking for someone who is as passionate as us about building an iconic investment business. You must have a high ownership mentality and the ability to take responsibility for goals and outcomes.

Working at Blackbird

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, or leaving early to pick up the kids from daycare or school.

• Generous parental leave: We know that family comes first and we are proud to offer 16 weeks for primary carer and 6 weeks for a secondary carer, subject to a 12-month minimum tenure. This includes a continuation of super payments while on unpaid parental leave and a supportive return-to-work policy.

• Learning and development: You’ll receive an annual budget to spend on whatever you’d like to learn that will further your career. 

• 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.

• Sharing in Blackbird’s success: We think it is important to share successes with the whole team. All Blackbird employees receive carry in our funds and are owners in the management company.

If you intend to start or are already studying for the CA or CPA qualification, Blackbird will support your pursuit of professional qualifications by giving time off work for study leave and exams, and reimbursing course fees upon passing the exams. 

Blackbird is a Pledge 1% member — we pledge 1% of our time, equity and profits to help not-for-profit causes in our community, with a focus on greater gender diversity in STEM education.