Blackbird is looking for a high-performing, detail-oriented Accounts Payable Officer with an eye for process efficiencies.

About the Role

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 constantly striving to ensure that we are a transparent, efficient and fully compliant financial services organisation.

As the Accounts Payable Officer, you will play an integral role in shaping how the finance team supports all areas of the business through day-to-day cash management of the Blackbird entities. You will work closely with our Financial Accountant, Josh Golde, and report to our Financial Accountant, Lucia Salim.

This is a full time role and can be based in our Melbourne or Sydney office.

We are delighted to offer a base annual salary of A$65,000 plus super. In addition, all Blackbird employees receive carry in our funds and are owners of the management company. 

Key Responsibilities

Handling payables and receivables processes

• Managing the Blackbird accounts inboxes, so that all invoices are paid in a timely manner.

• Reviewing and entering supplier invoices, ensuring approval processes are followed.

• Running the accounts receivable processes, including preparing the invoices and corresponding with the stakeholders.

Account reconciliations and ad hoc tasks

• Reconciling cash transactions for all bank accounts and corporate cards.

• Assisting with month and quarter-end processes.

• Helping with year-end audits by answering auditors’ queries, providing supporting documentation and demonstrating processes.

Driving payroll functions

• Processing work-related expense claims in accordance with Blackbird’s expense policies and helping employees with reimbursement queries.

• Preparing pay run reports in a timely and efficient manner.

Innovating finance processes

• Driving the continual improvement and automation of processes within the accounts department with a focus on creating efficiencies. This may include integrating new plug-ins and applications with the finance team.

Position Requirements

Key Skills

We believe your background is less important than your key skills, which include:

• Accounting experience: two to three years working in an accounts payable or accounting role, with exposure to running day-to-day bookkeeping processes.

• Australian business taxes: comprehensive understanding of GST, FBT and income tax that can be applied to all reconciliations and invoice entries.

• Ownership: taking control of the AP function and having a relentless thirst to improve our processes in order to streamline the function.

• Hospitality mindset: the whole Blackbird team has a focus on helping each other, and collectively has an obsession for customer service to our founders and investors.

• Communication: great at communicating both internally and externally as well as presenting information in a clear and concise manner.

• Attention to detail: able to reconcile differences between the books and sources of truth, and taking action to resolve discrepancies in a timely manner.

• Compliance: consistently ensuring that you are compliant with procedures and maintain professional scepticism in day-to-day activities.

• Organised: excellent time management with the ability to prioritise.

• Accounting software: experience with cloud accounting software such as Xero helps, though not essential.

You must have working rights in Australia.

Accounting Qualification Benefits

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 modules.

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.

Our July 2021 Culture Amp engagement score was 96.

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 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: Our team is hungry to continuously learn and you’ll receive a budget to spend on expanding your skills and knowledge.

• 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.

Pledge 1% Member

Blackbird is a Pledge 1% member — we pledge 1% of our time, equity and profits to help not-for-profit causes in our community. The Blackbird Foundation has been set up explicitly to partner with organisations that believe in the potential of young people, and the importance of creativity.

About Blackbird

Blackbird is a venture capital fund based in Australia and New Zealand. We invest in every type of technology from software to space, unified by the biggest of ambitions. We invest in wild hearts with the wildest of ideas, right at the beginning. As a result, we have a unique working culture, captured in our Mission & Values and our Operating Principles.

We have more than a billion dollars under management and a portfolio of over 70 companies including some of the most successful Australian and Kiwi startups such as Canva, Zoox, SafetyCulture, Ask Nicely, Halter and Partly.

We’ve written a lot about what we love at Blackbird, so check out our blog if you want some more information about us. In particular, you should read about our mission and values, our master plan, and what we look for in founders.