You can generate the Bernoullis through the combinatorics of permutahedra and graphical interpretations of surjections presented in OEIS-[A133314][1]  (cf. [A049019][2], [A019538][3], [A008292][4]) weighted by the reciprocal integers. (See also MOQ-[61252][5].)

This is equivalent to determining the reciprocal of the exponential generating function 

$$\frac{e^t-1}{t}=1+\frac{1}{2}t+ \frac{1}{3}\frac{t^2}{2!}+ \frac{1}{4}\frac{t^3}{3!}+\cdots\;\;.$$

Naturally, it's an involution, so you can go in the reverse direction from the Bernoullis to the reciprocal integers by the same surjections weighted by the Bernoulli numbers.

Alternatively, consider the e.g.f. $ \displaystyle \frac{2}{1+e^{2x}}$ for $ \displaystyle a(n-1)= \frac{2^n-4^n}{n} B_n$ , which without the zeros and signs are the tangent or zag numbers [A000182][13] (a different normalization gives [A002105][14]). The reciprocal e.g.f. encodes $ \displaystyle b(n) = 1,2^0,2^1,2^2, ... $, which can be used as signed weights of surjection mappings to reconstitute the $a(n)$. These mappings are in turn encoded in the signed, refined face (partition) polynomials of the permutahedra of [A133314][1].  

But, with the o.g.f., using the normalized Bernoulli numbers, compositional inversion ([A134264][6]), rather than reciprocation enters the picture and, therefore, weighted noncrossing partitions and Dyck lattice paths (and myriad other related combinatoric structures). 

These number arrays can be related to volumes of structures, as well as the Bernoullis (see [Noam Elkies][7]). 

Also see these papers relating the Bernoullis to permutations, decomposition of hypercube volumes, and quantum algebras (related to [A119467][8] and [A119879][9]):

[Hodges][10] and Sukumar, [Sukumar][11] and Hodges, [Hetyei][12].

Finally, looking at the Bernoulli polynomials as an Appell sequence generated by the associated numbers allows a number of connections to differential operators that might reveal some relevant topological interpretations. 




  [1]: https://oeis.org/A133314
  [2]: https://oeis.org/A049019
  [3]: https://oeis.org/A019538
  [4]: https://oeis.org/A008292
  [5]: http://mathoverflow.net/questions/61252/why-do-bernoulli-numbers-arise-everywhere
  [6]: https://oeis.org/A134264
  [7]: http://arxiv.org/abs/math/0101168
  [8]: https://oeis.org/A119467
  [9]: https://oeis.org/A119879
  [10]: http://m.rspa.royalsocietypublishing.org//content/463/2086/2401
  [11]: http://m.rspa.royalsocietypublishing.org//content/463/2086/2415
  [12]: http://arxiv.org/abs/0909.4352
  [13]: https://oeis.org/A000182
  [14]: https://oeis.org/A002105