Application Guide
How to Apply for Accountant - Accounts Payable & Controls Specialist
at Bird
🏢 About Bird
Bird is a pioneering company in the eco-friendly urban mobility sector, specializing in dockless electric scooters that aim to reduce carbon emissions and transform city transportation. Working here means contributing to sustainable innovation in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment that values both technological advancement and environmental responsibility.
About This Role
This Accountant - Accounts Payable & Controls Specialist role is critical for ensuring financial accuracy and operational efficiency in Bird's AP processes. You'll be responsible for overseeing payment runs, reconciling vendor accounts, implementing automation solutions like OCR, and acting as the system owner for Navan and BREX platforms, directly supporting the company's financial integrity and scalability.
💡 A Day in the Life
A typical day might involve reviewing and reconciling vendor balances, overseeing weekly payment runs, and addressing any vendor inquiries or discrepancies. You'll also spend time monitoring invoice coding for accuracy, performing controls over journal entries, and collaborating with teams on month-end close activities, all while managing Navan and BREX systems and supporting OCR automation projects from a remote setup.
🚀 Application Tools
🎯 Who Bird Is Looking For
- Has 4–7 years of hands-on AP experience with a strong focus on controls, vendor reconciliations, and payment processes, preferably in a tech or mobility startup environment.
- Is proficient with ERP systems and has practical experience with expense management platforms like Navan and corporate credit card systems like BREX.
- Demonstrates exceptional attention to detail and analytical skills, with the ability to work independently in a fully remote setting while managing multiple priorities.
- Shows enthusiasm for process improvement, such as supporting OCR implementation for invoice automation, and can act as an escalation point for vendor issues.
📝 Tips for Applying to Bird
Tailor your resume to highlight specific AP controls experience, vendor reconciliation successes, and any remote work achievements, using metrics like 'reduced payment discrepancies by X%' or 'improved invoice processing time by Y'.
Mention any familiarity with Navan, BREX, or similar platforms in your application, as these are explicitly called out in the job description as system ownership responsibilities.
Research Bird's recent news, such as expansion into new markets or sustainability initiatives, and reference how your AP expertise can support their growth and eco-friendly mission.
Emphasize your ability to handle escalations and vendor issues independently, as this role requires being a point of contact in a remote environment.
If you have experience with OCR or invoice automation projects, detail your involvement, as Bird is implementing such solutions and values candidates who can contribute to this transition.
✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter
["Highlight your 4–7 years of AP experience, specifically in controls and vendor reconciliations, and how it aligns with Bird's need for financial accuracy in a scaling company.", 'Discuss your proficiency with ERP systems and platforms like Navan and BREX, emphasizing any system ownership or implementation experience.', "Explain your ability to work independently in a remote setting, with examples of how you've managed AP operations or resolved vendor issues without direct supervision.", "Connect your interest in process improvement (e.g., OCR automation) to Bird's innovative and eco-friendly mission, showing how you can contribute to their operational efficiency."]
Generate Cover Letter →🔍 Research Before Applying
To stand out, make sure you've researched:
- → Explore Bird's recent financial news or reports to understand their market position, expansion into new cities, and any sustainability goals mentioned in press releases.
- → Look into Bird's technology and operations, such as their use of electric scooters and dockless systems, to grasp how AP might interact with vendors in the mobility sector.
- → Review Bird's company culture and values on their website or social media, noting any emphasis on innovation, remote work, or environmental impact to tailor your application.
- → Investigate any mentions of Bird's financial processes or AP automation in industry articles or case studies, as this could provide context for the role's responsibilities.
💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics
Based on this role, you may be asked about:
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Submitting a generic resume without tailoring it to highlight AP controls, vendor reconciliation, or experience with specific platforms like Navan and BREX.
- Failing to demonstrate remote work competence or examples of independent problem-solving in AP roles, as this is a key requirement for the position.
- Overlooking the importance of Bird's eco-friendly mission in your application, not connecting your AP skills to how they support sustainable business practices.
📅 Application Timeline
This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.
Typical hiring timeline:
Application Review
1-2 weeks
Initial Screening
Phone call or written assessment
Interviews
1-2 rounds, usually virtual
Offer
Congratulations!