BlackLine Financial Close Management Reviews

“An awesome tool for monthly reconciliations.

Pros

It was great to have all of our monthly reconciliations in one place.

Cons

Sometimes I find it difficult to assign tasks properly and quickly. I have faced these issues too often.

“blackline is a very handy tool

Pros

Blackline features an intuitive interface. We also have access to various transaction data with really practical functions which is great

Cons

I have no dislikes against BlackLine since I started using it.

“Honestly, not a fan of this.

Pros

The concept seemed fantastic in the start but I was not very much pleased after getting into it. I think it could be excellent if they improved the update frequency and overall usability.

Cons

While Blackline is connected to our primary accounting software, there is a major delay. For example, if I am reconciling an account in Blackline and notice a missing entry, I post it in the main software and then return to Blackline to reconcile. Unfortunately the update does not happen instantly like it can take a whole day or more. This delay can be quite problematic when deadlines are tight.

“Great software for automating accounting processes.

Pros

We used Blackline for two and a half years mainly for managing weekly and monthly tasks. The simple dashboard was quite helpful for our accounting work.

Cons

It lacks many features and its "to do list" needs improvement. Compared to other accounting software Blackline has fewer features.

“I tried but it is not suitable for me

Pros

BlackLine does not quite align with my workflow. I prefer a more adaptable and customizable product. While its performance did not impress me the customer support was outstanding.

Cons

The integration is not great and the billing process seems very unprofessional.

“I hope there is a better reconciliation software out there

Pros

It supports data uploads and integrates very well with our bank and Intacct.

Cons

BlackLine is the most weird software I have used. Like it is not very updated and feels like its from the 90s. It performs its functions but the user interface needs serious attention.

“Blackline is an amazing software

Pros

I recently start using Blackline and am working with it as an administrator. As I familiarize myself with the program it has been a positive experience so far. It offers a lot of functions for things like journal entries, reconciliations and various automation processes.

Cons

No negative feedback from my side about Blackline so far. I am still new to the program and in the process of getting accustomed to it.

“Once you have it, you won't want to be without it

Pros

I really love this software. As an accountant it is the best tool for end of month account reconciliation. Also it simplifies account reconciliation and makes audits less daunting. Everything is very well organized which allows auditors to have their own approved login. From account and bank reconciliations to matching the more I used this software the more I loved it. I even looked for a job opportunity to work with them!

Cons

Getting started was typical for example you learn how everything works. In the beginning my only concern was the level of support (back when the software was new). But now there are many online resources to help with any questions. Their customer service is excellent and submitting a ticket is simple with quick response times.

“There is so much to improve here.

Pros

I use BlackLine software for monthly account reconciliations. It is excellent for storing data and summarizing account balances.

Cons

There are too many fields to fill out with many options that are not necessary. When users have multiple accounts assigned Blackline becomes quite slow.

“Awesome software direct and to the point

Pros

The best thing about BlackLine is that I can see all the GL account balances at one place. I can also upload reports from SAP into Blackline which simplifies the reconciliation process. Approval of the ledger is simple and it allows storing Excel sheets for easy review by approvers.

Cons

It would be better if the Blackline team could update the ledger balance within an hour after upload. This would very much reduce the time needed to complete certain tasks within the required timeframe.

“Recommend to accounting departments going paperless

Pros

I like the fact that how simple it is to view unidentified balances for each account from the main page. It helps me focus where I am spending my time. I mainly use it for insurance amortizations and the schedules make the process easy once data is entered with balances closing on the specified date.

Cons

Well it is a minor issue but small functional quirks like having to save a schedule and then click cancel to exit can be confusing. Also it is not very convenient to click cancel if you want to exit after making a change.

“Good tool for account reconciliation in a GBS center

Pros

Thanks to its cloud technology now I can access it from anywhere. Also it is very useful for managing GL reconciliations across multiple entities with different ERPs which was our situation. The interface is easy to use and the support is excellent. It supports both internal and external audit procedures and can help reduce costs. The auto-certification feature is advanced and offers several customization options.

Cons

The installation took longer than anticipated partly due to our internal resources. With our current setup, line level information cannot be loaded so Excel sheets remain as attachments after going live.

“Blackline Integration with Data Management Software such as SAP

Pros

BlackLine web based application is great for reconciling account balances and integrates smoothly with other financial software like SAP.

Cons

the software focuses mainly on reconciliations and intercompany transactions whereas most modern software invests in in-memory feature and cloud technology for more flexible transactions.

“Great Product with a lot of features

Pros

Overall, it is a fantastic product with multiple features and customization options. Also it offers excellent workflow management in addition to its automation features.

Cons

No cons to mention. While I am not sure how many other products offer the same financial solutions as Blackline I find Blackline to be a reliable product.

“Records for Closing are All In One Place

Pros

BlackLine audit trail feature is system certified and auditors have the option to review closing activities such as monthly bank reconciliations, payroll registers and meeting minutes.

Cons

BlackLine interface design is not as smooth as one might hope but you get used to it after using it regularly for your day to day tasks.

“Has some good features but implementation is harder than expected

Pros

BlackLine is a fantastic central hub for reconciliations and journaling in contrast to using spreadsheets and Google Docs.

Cons

Integrating with our ERP system, Netsuite turned out to be more complicated than advertised as it requires a lot of additional development and costs.

“Great tool for balance sheet recs!

Pros

It provides clarity and consistency for balance sheet reconciliations. Moroever it is quite user friendly with various pre built templates available.

Cons

It can be a bit frustrating that the Save button is located in different places on various screens.

“Good Reconciliation software

Pros

BlackLine is an excellent tool for organizing monthly reconciliations.

Cons

takes time to learn involved as is the case with any new system.