BlackLine Enhanced Financial Controls and Automation Platform

ICAEW Accreditation Scheme
Online Financial Controls and Automation Software
BlackLine
Enhanced Financial Controls and Automation Platform
Evaluation carried out by John Oates
Date completed: 18 December 2015
Signed: John Oates
Table of Contents
1
Summary ………………………………………………………………………
3
2
Approach to evaluation ………………………………………………………
3
3
Matters to consider before purchase ………………………………………..
4
4
Evaluation conclusion ………………………………………………………..
8
Disclaimer …………………………………………………………………………............
9
5
System Security and Access Controls ………………………………………
10
6
Implementation ………………………………………………………………
18
7
Data Import Process .………………………………………………………...
21
8
Services & Support …..………………………………………………………
24
9
Enhanced Financial Controls and Automation Platform …………...…….
28
10
Software Functionality ………………………………………………...…….
29
11
Account Reconciliations ……………………………………………………..
33
12
Transaction Matching ………………………….……………………………
37
13
Task Management ……………………………….…………………………..
39
14
Journal Entries ………………………………………………………………
44
15
Variance Analysis ………….………………………………………………...
49
16
Consolidation …………………………………………………………………
52
17
Intercompany ………………………………………………………………...
55
18
User Documentation …………………………………………………………
57
2
1
Summary
1.1
Introduction
Financial controls and automation software requirements vary dependent upon the
businesses requirements at the time of purchase. Both business and user requirements
should be fully considered before entering into any software purchase.
Software as a Service (SaaS) allows users to access software from any location where they
have internet access. Users benefit from the collective community as enhancements and new
versions are uploaded seamlessly without any IT requirement.
The quality of the software developer should also be considered at the onset.
1.2
Fundamentally, SaaS accounting platform should:



Be capable of supporting the accounting functions for which it was designed
Provide facilities to ensure the completeness, accuracy, confidentiality and continued
integrity of these accounting functions
Be effectively supported and maintained
It is also desirable that good accounting software should:






Be easy to learn, understand and operate
Be administered by Finance teams
Adhere to all current data security regulations
Have a good audit trail
Provide dashboard visibility across all processes
Provide online training certification for users
It is essential, when SaaS software is implemented, for appropriate support to be available 24
hours a day, 7 days a week.
2
Approach to evaluation
2.1
Objective
To evaluate BlackLine against a set of criteria developed by the ICAEW to ensure that the
software meets the requirements of a SaaS Accounting Platform, as laid down in the
summary above.
2.2
Approach and Work performed
In order to effectively evaluate BlackLine, a product specialist from BlackLine completed
the detailed questionnaire and provided it to the evaluator to examine. The evaluator then
visited the BlackLine office in London and in conjunction with the operation of the various
aspects of the software assisted by a member of BlackLine technical staff checked the
answers to confirm their validity. The questions were individually reviewed and commented
on and the majority of assessments were confirmed.
3
The evaluator discussed the assessments with a member of BlackLine staff in order to
clarify certain points. In the event of disagreement between BlackLine and the evaluator,
the evaluator's decision was taken as final and the response changed accordingly.
BlackLine Version 7.3.6.351 was used throughout the evaluation. The evaluation covered
the fully integrated SaaS platform for enhanced controls and automation of financial close
processes covering Account Reconciliations; Transaction Matching; Variance Analysis;
Task Management; Journal Entry; Consolidation Integrity Manager and Intercompany hub.
When the evaluation had been completed, the responses were completed by the evaluator
and a draft copy sent to the ICAEW for review before completion of the final report.
2.3
Software/hardware utilised
The accreditation evaluation was performed using version 7.3.6.351 on a standard wifi
connection. A Dell Latitude laptop with Chrome Browser was used to demonstrate the
platform, though this cloud-based software can be used on anything including a tablet.
There is no restriction on what is seen, except for the mobile version. The dataset for the
evaluation demonstration is taken from demonstration data located in the US. However,
an instance also exists with the data retained within the EU.
2.4
Report structure
The report has been broken down into its main constituents in the contents page. The
evaluation questionnaire was provided by the ICAEW and has been used without alteration
or amendment.
3
Matters to consider before purchase
3.1
General overview
BlackLine Finance Controls and Automation Platform consists of 7 modules spanning
finance and accounting processes that are typically performed during the financial ‘close’.
(‘Close’ is the portion of the accounting cycle when figures are substantiated and analysed,
so that financial reporting can be prepared). The platform also extends to purpose-built
solutions for business process including intercompany, financial transformation, controls
assurance, and a comprehensive reconciliation solution.
3.2
Supplier background
BlackLine’s platform and modular range of solutions was originally developed in 2001.
The software was introduced to meet the demands of Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) compliance
regulation. Finance professionals worked directly with product development to provide
additional functionality as requested by the user community as the company clients grew
in number.
BlackLine has headquarters in Woodland Hills, California, USA and operates additional
offices in the US (Atlanta, Chicago, New York City), Canada (Vancouver), France (Paris),
Australia (Sydney, Melbourne) and the UK (London). For more information on BlackLine
and its products and services please refer to www.blackline.com
3.3
Product background and Suitability for user
The first implementation of the software was in 2005.
4
BlackLine provides enhanced financial control and automation for close processes. There
is strong integration between the seven modules in the platform that enables the
introduction of workflow across the close processes.
The BlackLine solution is highly configurable to address the specific needs of individual
customers, as well as the needs of end users. As a web-based SaaS application, BlackLine
is globally accessible, 24/7/365.
With BlackLine, the client is not required to purchase, install or maintain any
software/hardware. It is designed for clients to receive rapid deployment, and obtain 24/7
instant access to their instance from any location.
3.4
Typical implementations
BlackLine software is implemented across all industries in mid- to large enterprise clients.
Number of users range from 10 to thousands globally depending upon the client’s business
requirement.
The software can be implemented by the client themselves with BlackLine Implementation
Consultants and/or clients can choose to work with any of the fully certified third-party
implementation partners.
3.5
Vertical applications
BlackLine clients often run shared service operating models for finance and accounting
processes. In some instances they operate a hybrid model using the services of a third party
Business Process Outsourcer (BPO) to deliver certain Finance and Accounting Processes
that are required for the close.
3.6
Software specifications
3.6.1
Development environment
Format
Process
Development
Environment
Version control
Planning and work
tracking
Issue / Bug tracking
Documentation
Test / Quality
Assurance
3.6.2
Agile development process
Microsoft Visual Studio
Git
Atlassian Jira
Atlassian Jira
Atlassian Confluence
Atlassian Jira, code scans, and various QA tools. BlackLine utilises
both automated and manual QA testing for all releases
Server platforms
BlackLine clients can choose whether to store their data in EU or U.S. data centres. The EU
primary data centre is in Amsterdam; the secondary is in the Greater London area. The U.S.
primary data centre is in Virginia; the secondary is in Florida.
5
BlackLine Systems has complied with the U.S. –EU Safe Harbor Framework and the U.S.Swiss Safe Harbor Framework as set forth by the U.S. Department of Commerce regarding
the collection, use and retention of personal information from European Union member
countries and Switzerland.
BlackLine Systems has certified that it adheres to the Safe Harbor Privacy Principles of
notice, choice, onward transfer, security, data integrity, access and enforcement.
In light of recent EU legal decisions, as an alternative to Safe Harbor, BlackLine now
offers customers a data processing addendum to their agreements that incorporates the
European Commission’s standard contractual clauses, commonly referred to as “model
clauses”. Use of these model clauses will allow for the continued transfer of personal data
under EU data protection laws.
3.6.3
Databases
Microsoft SQL Server Database
3.6.4
Operating software
ASP.NET 3.5; SQL Server 2014
Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2
3.6.5
Minimum client PC specification
Any machine capable of running a modern ‘Web Browser’
3.6.6
Support and maintenance
BlackLine is a SaaS offering. All maintenance is provided in-house by BlackLine personnel.
Support is available to clients on a 24 hour, 7 days a week basis.
3.7
Software installation and support
BlackLine is a SaaS offering and does not require client installation. Support is provided to
clients free of charge on a 24 hour, 7 days a week basis.
User licence fees are based on a number of factors including desired functionality and
number of users; BlackLine should be contacted for a cost quotation. The standard
BlackLine service level agreement (SLA) allows for credits for any downtime under the
100% uptime service level.
3.8
Partner network and related accreditation process
BlackLine states,
“Working together with our global network of Partners to deliver world-class cloud business
software and outstanding service for more customers in more places means added strength.
As an organisation, we understand that there is a necessity to meet local needs while also
6
addressing the global requirements of many of our customers. To complement our direct
sales teams, our partners offer local sales, marketing, services and support, delivering topclass localized services.
“Fundamental to our partner strategy is bringing excellence and added value to every phase
of the product lifecycle - from partners at the strategic level through to channel partners,
outsourcing partners and implementation partners at the delivery level. These relationships
increase the value of our solutions and BlackLine to our customers —value that comes from
leveraging domain expertise, long-term partnership and investments, and qualified and
efficient delivery that reaches every corner of the globe, and support to help BlackLine
customers meet their unique regional and local requirements.
Channel Partners
“Channel Partners play an integral role in supporting BlackLine's overall product strategy.
Our Channel Network is a key part of our success, and our goal is to provide our partners
with best-in-class financial solutions to help them build a sustainable and profitable business.
BlackLine recognizes local relationships with customers and offers a partner program
designed to preserve those relationships on an ongoing basis while expanding the reach of
BlackLine.
Business Process Outsourcing Partners
“BlackLine has formed partnerships with leading providers of finance and accounting
outsourcing and transformation services to automate and control the financial close process.
These outsourcing partnerships allow companies to leverage providers’ expertise, best
practices and efficiencies, so management can focus on core business activities.
“BlackLine's Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) Partners provide BPO services and
Business Process as a Service (BPaaS) solutions for BlackLine's SaaS Financial offering.
Similar to our BlackLine end-customers, our BPO partners can reduce costs, improve
efficiency and visibility, and speed time to value with a single platform that scales from
small clients to global enterprises.
BlackLine Technology and Implementation Partners
“BlackLine technology partners help us deliver the best possible services to our clients. An
extension of our team, they demand the same high standards and quality of service we do—
and we wouldn’t accept any less.
“BlackLine has built a global community of highly qualified technology and implementation
partners who provide expert quality implementation and related services. Our partners work
closely with BlackLine to provide our customers with deep industry vertical experience and
best business practices.
“BlackLine technology and implementation partners are all certified by BlackLine and on an
ongoing basis. BlackLine ensures our partners maintain the highest functional and technical
qualifications and expertise to support the full BlackLine product portfolio in the global
geographies and target markets we serve.
7
Alliances and System Integrators
“BlackLine has formed strategic alliance partnerships with a number of expert consultants
and service providers to help our clients meet broader needs, such as finance transformation,
change management and advanced implementation services.
“Our strategic alliance partners are unique and diverse, ranging from the Big Four public
accounting firms to small consulting practices. From North America and EMEA to APAC
and South America, they have a global reach to match BlackLine’s and bring their own
expertise and impeccable service to every client.
“BlackLine shares tactical and strategic plans with our Alliance network, working together at
the planning, design, and operational levels to ensure our products and services leverage
each other, delivering the greatest value to our BlackLine customers.
BlackLine Affiliate and Referral Partners
“BlackLine Affiliate and Referral Partners introduce BlackLine to prospective customers
and in return receive a referral fee. Many Affiliate and Referral Partners also come to be
recognized as BlackLine experts and respected advisors. Our referral programme is
complementary to our BlackLine sales organisation, with BlackLine absorbing the cost of
selling, closing, implementing and servicing companies referred.”
3.9 Limitations
There are limitations in the product which while not adversely impacting upon this
evaluation may be of importance to certain organisations. It is important that any
organisation contemplating the purchase of software reviews the functionality described
and limitations therein against its detailed requirements.
Attention is drawn in particular to the following areas where the product, on its own may
not be suitable for organisations with certain specific requirements:
 The system does not create Gantt Charts in the reporting; this is scheduled to be in
the product in 2015
 Language and localisation such as date format is set up by users via their Browser
settings
 Older insecure browsers are not supported. This includes Internet Explorer version
7 and earlier
 Image based files such as jpeg, tiff, pdf files cannot be read by system for
transaction matching. However, these image files can be attached within the
system as supporting documents
 Workflow approvals are limited to five levels of certification.
4
Evaluation conclusion
There were no areas in the evaluation that gave concern. BlackLine is a well-designed
SaaS financial controls and automation platform that will be supported directly by
BlackLine or certified partners.
8
In terms of the functionality that is present in the current version and the target market for
this product, the product has been adequately specified. It is easy to use, administered
within the finance team, and provides real time finance data in an online dashboard format.
Disclaimer
Any organisation considering the purchase of BlackLine should consider their requirements in the
light of proposals from BlackLine and potential suppliers of other similarly specified products.
Whilst the contents of this document are presented in good faith, neither ICAEW nor John Oates
can accept liability for actions taken as a result of comments made herein.
9
Functional requirements questionnaire
BlackLine Enhanced Financial Controls and Automation Platform
Question
5.
Supplier Response
Evaluator’s Comment
System Security & Access Controls
5.1 Is data stored within this
application encrypted?
Yes. BlackLine encrypts all client Noted
data both in transit and at rest.
5.2 How is a client’s data kept
segregated from that of
other clients on the
platform?
Each client has their own unique Noted
URL and a dedicated database and
document repository.
5.3 Has the vendor achieved
any type of certification in
respect of the internal IT
controls that it operates,
e.g. ISA3402/SSAE16?
BlackLine is annually audited to
Noted
ISAE 3402, SSAE 16, AT Section
101 standards, and Systrust/
Webtrust principles. BlackLine is the
first provider in its space to receive
the highly regarded ISO/IEC 27001
certification, confirming that the
company meets or exceeds the latest
information security industry
standards.
5.4 Has the vendor achieved
any specific security
certifications, e.g.
ISO/IEC 27001?
Yes.
BlackLine
27001certified.
5.5 Describe the tools,
infrastructure, and
processes that are in place
to ensure enterprise-grade
reliability, security, and
performance.
BlackLine uses firewalls, Intrusion Noted
Detection System (IDS) and log
management tools to monitor and
maintain a secure environment.
System monitoring tools are used to
assess performance and early
identification of problems and errors.
All client data is encrypted at all
times. Hot disaster recovery (see
below) and full nightly backups
ensure business continuity. Actual
up-time over the past 2 years is
99.99%.
5.6 Are information security
policies reviewed and
updated periodically? If
yes, how often?
Yes.
All information security Noted
policies are reviewed annually
(typically in June/July) or as
warranted based upon emerging
threats and changes to information
10
is
ISO Noted
Functional requirements questionnaire
BlackLine Enhanced Financial Controls and Automation Platform
Question
Supplier Response
Evaluator’s Comment
security best practices.
5.7 Is there a documented
disaster recovery and
business continuity
programme that is
sponsored and approved
by senior management? If
so, has the DR plan been
formally tested and any
issues identified been
actioned and how often are
DR tests undertaken?”
Yes.
Noted
BlackLine will provide the client
with a Hot Disaster Recovery (HDR)
service. The HDR service includes a
fully mirrored disaster recovery data
centre which contains a mirror image
of the customer’s production.
BlackLine performs a nightly backup
as an added layer of data protection
in addition to BlackLine's continuous
server backup.
BlackLine conducts annual DR tests.
The last test was performed in late
2014 and was 100% successful.
5.8 What is the Recovery
Point Objective (RPO) and
Recovery Time Objective
(RTO)?
BlackLine has a defined a one-hour Noted
Recovery Point Objective (RPO) and
two-hour Recovery Time Objective
(RTO).
5.9 Is antivirus software and
spyware detection and
protection included?
Yes. Antivirus and antimalware Noted
tools are maintained internally by
Blackline to secure the environment.
5.10 Is client access to the
service via a secure
connection (e.g. SSL)?
Yes. BlackLine uses TLS/SSL and
HTTPS technologies.
5.11 Is an Intrusion Detection
System (IDS) used?
Yes. BlackLine uses IDS tools to Noted
monitor and maintain a secure
environment. System monitoring
tools are used to assess performance
and early identification of problems
and errors. IDS configuration
settings are monitored and reviewed
on a periodic basis. IDS rules are
updated automatically as soon as
updates are available. Alerts are
responded to 24x7.
Yes. BlackLine uses a battery of Noted
tools
for
real-time
health,
5.12 Is there a formal process
for identifying threats
11
Noted
Functional requirements questionnaire
BlackLine Enhanced Financial Controls and Automation Platform
Question
and vulnerabilities
(through early detection
alerts, vulnerability
scans, etc.) and tracking
remediation?
Supplier Response
Evaluator’s Comment
performance,
and
security
monitoring for hardware, servers,
and applications.
The tools are
managed by production operations,
Network Operations Centre (NOC),
and InfoSec teams, who respond to
alerts 24x7.
5.13 Are periodic penetration
tests performed against
your Internet-facing
network and systems by
a specialist third-party
provider?
Yes. Tests are performed annually Noted
or as needed.
5.14 How regularly are
critical patches applied to
systems and/or
infrastructure?
Yes.
BlackLine follows vendor Noted
patch cycles. Through our Premier
Support Services Agreement with
Microsoft, we receive most system
patches early with Microsoft's full
support in order to deploy them as
quickly as possible to our customers’
environment.
5.15 Is there a formal and
documented process for
employee and customer
account management that
includes provisioning,
password requirements,
and access controls?
Yes. Our systems and policies are Noted
designed to enforce principles of
least-privilege and "need to know";
BlackLine staff access privileges are
reviewed and promptly removed if
no longer appropriate.
On the client side, the customer’s
designated system administrator
manages all user provisioning,
password requirements, and access
controls, in accordance with
customer’s policies.
5.16 What form of user
authentication are
supported, e.g. user
name/password,
certificates, tokens, etc?
The BlackLine solution offers both Noted
web-forms authentication and Single
Sign-on (SSO) capabilities (via
Active Directory Federation Service
2.1 [ADFS] and SAML 2.0).
BlackLine supports multifactor
authentication through integration
12
Functional requirements questionnaire
BlackLine Enhanced Financial Controls and Automation Platform
Question
Supplier Response
with clients’
(SAML2.0.).
identity
Evaluator’s Comment
providers
5.17 Does the application
implement password
enforcement policies,
such as minimum length,
complexity, not allowing
the use of generic
usernames/passwords,
expiration and re-use
restrictions?
Yes.
The
client's
system Noted. Set up screens reviewed
administrator can configure the
password requirements including the
password
length,
upper-case
characters, lower-case characters,
numbers, special characters required,
the unsuccessful number of attempts
before lockout, forcing a history of
previous passwords, and more.
5.18 Does the system enforce
a maximum password
age?
Yes. The password change interval Noted
is a configurable setting within
BlackLine.
5.19 Does the application
have a password history
functionality enabled
such that passwords
cannot be reused within a
predefined period of
time?
Yes. This is a configurable setting Noted
within BlackLine.
The client’s
system administrator can set the
number of previous passwords to
prevent users from using those prior
passwords.
5.20 Does the application
have the ability to
integrate with federated
single sign-on
solutions/protocols (e.g.
using SAML)?
Yes. Active Directory Federation Noted
Service 2.1 (ADFS) and SAML 2.0
provide a Single Sign-On Solution
(SSO) to the BlackLine application
5.21 Describe the options
available to allow (rolebased) user security
groups.
BlackLine's Team functionality
allows multiple users to have access
to a given account. This could be
required when people "share"
responsibility
for
getting
a
reconciliation done or when people
work together to accomplish the
completion of the reconciliations
process. Anyone on the Team can
access the reconciliations with any
role they are authorized for in the
BlackLine application.
13
Noted. The set up was reviewed
and discussed, including setting
up of users, their responsibilities
and access permission processes
for all in their teams
Functional requirements questionnaire
BlackLine Enhanced Financial Controls and Automation Platform
Question
Supplier Response
Evaluator’s Comment
5.22 Does the system enforce
account lock-out after a
specified number of
incorrect authentication
attempts? Please
describe.
Yes. The account lock-out is Noted
configurable. The client’s system
administrator
can
define
the
maximum failed login attempts, as
well as a failed-attempt expiration
period.
5.23 Does the system enforce
a session time-out after a
pre-defined amount of
user activity? Please
describe.
Yes. Users are logged out after 60 Noted
minutes of inactivity or the allotted
time desired by the client, as the
timeframe is configurable.
5.24 Does the application
provide protection
(encryption/hashing) for
stored passwords and
other sensitive data?
Yes. Passwords are stored using
irreversible salted hashes (SHA512).
5.25 What processes are in
place to revoke access
rights of users who have
left an organisation?
Yes. Client’s designated system Noted
administrator can disable the account
of a terminated user (i.e., mark the
account as “inactive”).
5.26 Are system log files
retained for a specified
period of time to assist in
access control
monitoring and security
investigations?
Yes. BlackLine’s tool offers
administrators
an
audit
trail
indicating
workflow
processes
including action taken, user who
completed, data imported, login/out,
password reset, user modification,
time/date stamp, and any attempts to
modify or delete data. Audit logs
within the application can be
retained indefinitely by the client.
5.27 Does the application
perform data validation
for inbound data to
identify common attacks
(e.g. SQL Injection,
XSS)?
Yes. In order to prevent code Noted
injection,
XSS
(Cross-Site
Scripting), and similar issues,
BlackLine
performs
weekly
application security scans and
conducts
developer
training.
BlackLine's policies and procedures
comply with Open Web Application
Security
Project
(OWASP)
recommendations.
In addition,
14
Noted
Noted. Set up and example log
files reviewed, together with
individual transactions, user ID,
date, etc
Functional requirements questionnaire
BlackLine Enhanced Financial Controls and Automation Platform
Question
Supplier Response
Evaluator’s Comment
BlackLine operates a number of
security and health monitoring tools,
including IDS, security logging and
event management. Our operations
team receives alerts from the tools
and responds to them 24x7. All
vulnerabilities, critical incidents, and
security breaches are remediated
immediately.
5.28 Does the product/service
require the use of any
technologies that may be
considered as a security
risk? e.g. ActiveX,
JavaScript, Cookies. If
so, describe how the user
can mitigate this risk.
No. BlackLine only uses cookies for Noted
session management. There is no
personally identifiable information in
BlackLine session cookies, and they
expire at the end of the session.
5.29 Does the application
employ encryption
technologies to protect
customer data during
transit?
Yes. All data in transit is encrypted Noted
using TLS (Transport Layer Security
Protocol) certificates and HTTPS
protocols.
5.30 Does the application
provide an audit trail for
administrators? If so,
describe the detail
available within the trail.
Yes. BlackLine provides multiple Noted and reviewed
audit trails.
Administrators can
access an audit trail indicating
workflow processes including action
taken, user who completed, data
imported, login/out, password reset,
user modification, time/date stamp,
and any attempts to modify or delete
data. Audit trails also track changes
to critical settings, and saved items
within the application track the user
along with the date and timestamps.
For the reconciliations audit trail, the
application tracks the user who
completed, the associated level
(prepared, approved, reviewed), the
reason, and the time/date stamp.
5.31 Is a system log
Yes.
Noted
15
Functional requirements questionnaire
BlackLine Enhanced Financial Controls and Automation Platform
Question
•
•
•
•
maintained by the service
provider that details
User access
User activity
Error messages
Security violations?
If so, is this log available
to the customer?
5.32 Are there processes
available to the customer
to carry out backups? If
so, please describe
together with the process
available to the customer
to test restore the data.
Supplier Response
Evaluator’s Comment
BlackLine logs access and activity
by our staff, as well as error
messages and security violations.
BlackLine InfoSec incident response
procedures require immediate client
notifications in case of security
incidents that involve clients’ data;
logs can be requested as needed
through support.
Yes.
Customers’ administrative Reviewed – example set up and
users can export data from the worked through
application
in
CSV
format.
BlackLine itself provides both a hot
disaster recovery service (continuous
mirroring) and nightly backups.
BlackLine itself provides both a hot
disaster recovery service (continuous
mirroring) and nightly backups.
Customers may also request
restoration of their data by opening a
support ticket.
5.33 Are there policies and
procedures in place for
the disposal of customer
information? Please
describe.
Yes. All data will be deleted in a Noted
secure, DoD (US Department of
Defense) compliant manner.
5.34 What are the
implications of the Data
Protection Act over
information held and
processed by the service
provider?
BlackLine Systems complies with Noted
the US–EU Safe Harbor Framework
and the US-Swiss Safe Harbor
Framework as set forth by the U.S.
Department of Commerce regarding
the collection, use and retention of
personal information from European
Union member countries and
Switzerland. BlackLine Systems has
certified that it adheres to the Safe
Harbor Privacy Principles of notice,
choice, onward transfer, security,
data
integrity,
access,
and
enforcement.
16
Functional requirements questionnaire
BlackLine Enhanced Financial Controls and Automation Platform
Question
Supplier Response
(https://safeharbor.export.gov/compa
nyinfo.aspx?id=26978)
Our registration is current, thus
providing appropriate protection for
the information of all European
subjects.
In light of recent EU legal decisions,
as an alternative to Safe Harbor,
BlackLine now offers customers a
data processing addendum to their
agreements that incorporates the
European Commission’s standard
contractual clauses, commonly
referred to as “model clauses”. Use
of these model clauses will allow for
the continued transfer of personal
data under EU data protection laws.
17
Evaluator’s Comment
Functional requirements questionnaire
BlackLine Enhanced Financial Controls and Automation Platform
Question
6.
Supplier Response
Evaluator’s Comment
Implementation
6.1 Please describe in no more
than 500 words a typical
implementation process.
If so, is there a “standard”
implementation process?
In which case, please
describe each stage.
Upon
initiation,
BlackLine’s Noted
implementation team will schedule a
project initiation call to discuss the
specific details regarding the project
plan
and
its
corresponding
timeframes. Our process includes
project planning, data collection /
extraction, system testing, data
validation, user training and go-live
phases. BlackLine standardizes their
implementation strategy and uses a
“train-the-trainer” approach to ensure
the client team is capable of
maintaining and accessing the
application even after completion.
To get users trained and ready for
their new system, BlackLine offers
access to a free e-learning portal
filled with dozens of online classes.
If the client ever needs additional
assistance, BlackLine offers 24/7 live
support at no additional cost.
6.2 How long does a typical
implementation take?
Please give an indicative
range.
BlackLine’s
implementation Noted
typically takes between 4-12 weeks
elapsed time. The fastest BlackLine
implementation of a major client was
accomplished in 7 days. As we only
offer a hosted solution, there is no
lengthy installation process. The
implementation
timeframe
is
primarily
dependent
on
the
availability of client data and
resources.
6.3 What variables can extend
or accelerate an
implementation?
The implementation process varies Noted
depending on the data and types of
resources provided by the client.
Other pertinent factors include the
size of the company, number of
users, locations, interfaces, and the
client's response time. BlackLine can
work closely with the client to
accelerate
the
implementation
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Functional requirements questionnaire
BlackLine Enhanced Financial Controls and Automation Platform
Question
Supplier Response
Evaluator’s Comment
process, provided we have all
necessary resources and contacts.
BlackLine
can
definitely
accommodate
more
aggressive
implementation schedules should the
client request a faster process.
6.4 What resources are
committed to the project
by the vendor?
BlackLine assigns clients an Noted
implementation consultant to guide
them through the implementation
process.
In many cases, our
implementation
consultants
are
former BlackLine users who
implemented the tool at their last
company. The client’s dedicated
implementation expert will have the
ability to draw on a wide variety of
internal BlackLine resources as
needed.
6.5 What resources (technical
or otherwise) are required
by the client/customer for
implementation?
In most cases, the client will need to Noted
have an IT resource or business user
to build and deliver the data files to
BlackLine. A project owner will be
needed to guide the project on the
client side which will include
identifying and gathering data
elements
for populating into
BlackLine as well as making key
decisions
on
settings
and
configuration.
6.6 Do a majority of
implementations require
third-party assistance (i.e.,
consulting, professional
services)?
No, a majority of our clients selfimplement.
Guidance
and
supporting
documentation
is
provided to the client. Configuration
is accomplished through clientcontrolled settings within the
application.
6.7 What is the average
amount of professional
services required to
Third party assistance is often
provided when the client has
insufficient resources, or where
the resource available are
already fully committed to the
“day job”. It is not unusual for
clients to treat this as an
opportunity to transform their
processes, so they may use an
external consultant
This can vary greatly depending Noted
upon the size of the client and the
scope of the implementation, but the
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Functional requirements questionnaire
BlackLine Enhanced Financial Controls and Automation Platform
Question
implement the solution?
Please provide indicative
time-ranges for specific
integration types, e.g. an
integration with SAP B1
may take between X and
Y?
Supplier Response
Evaluator’s Comment
average direct professional services
time will average between 25 and 40
hours.
Professional services are
priced based on customer needs.
6.8 Does the implementation
require custom coding?
No, configuration is done within There is no custom coding. This
BlackLine
via
client-controlled has the advantage of allowing all
settings.
updates
to
be
applied
immediately
6.9 Are custom reports
usually written or is the
default set are normally
taken and amended by the
customer?
BlackLine provides over 90 standard
reports; custom reports can be
created by the client, through our
Enhanced
Reporting
option.
Enhanced Reporting can be used to
make modified versions of the
standard reports, or reports can be
created completely from scratch.
6.10 How is implementation
billed, e.g. a flat fee or
hourly?
Implementation
time
can
be Noted
purchased in a package of hours or
hourly. The initial purchase will
typically include a package of
implementation hours and will be
billed upfront with the initial
purchase. If additional hours are
required, they are billed as they are
incurred.
20
Users can amend standard
reports, and can also create their
own using standard reports as a
base.
The system appears
intuitive with editing through
drag and drop of fields, grouping
and the use of filters and similar
Functional requirements questionnaire
BlackLine Enhanced Financial Controls and Automation Platform
Question
7.
Supplier Response
Evaluator’s Comment
Data Import Process
7.1 Describe how the data is
received from an ERP
system? Is it batch
(schedule/triggered), what
has to be done to initiate an
import and how the import
is validated.
The ERP system will interface with
BlackLine's application via secure
FTP site. Interfaces are scheduled
to run per the client's needs and can
be modified by the business or
system administrators.
Noted
Data validation is inherent to the
BlackLine application. If data is
imported, the fields are validated to
ensure that the expected value
types are received. Validations also
include prevention of duplicate
accounting strings in the same
account balance load and ensure
that the provided entities have been
set-up within the application.
Errors are also displayed within the
administrator's import screen.
Appropriate corrections will need
to be made and amended records
would then be re-imported.
7.2 How are new accounts
created/uploaded/added?
When new balances or details are
imported, the application
automatically recognises the new
data and creates a new account. If
the client has set up Rules-Based
Administration, which
automatically configures accounts
according to user-defined logic, the
account will be automatically
configured and assigned. If not, the
new account will appear on the
system administrator’s dashboard
in order to be properly assigned.
Any items coming in not
recognised are placed in an
“unassigned” area. The
administrator knows these need
to be assigned and will be
prompted to assign them
through the Home Admin
screen
7.3 What happens if data
imports to a closed
reconciliation (due, perhaps,
to a late journal entry)?
If there is a change in an already
certified reconciliation, the system
will decertify it, update the
reconciliation balance so that it is
back in sync with the underlying
GL system, and alert the preparer
of the changes via email.
Noted
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Supplier Response
Evaluator’s Comment
7.4 How does the customer
know if all data was
successfully imported? If
the import fails, describe the
process that follows.
The system will automatically
notify the client via email if an
error occurs with an import. In
addition, administrators can view
the results of all imports and
compare to expected results.
Any failed imports are notified
to the administrator, who can
also pick this up from reviewing
the input status screen
7.5 Is an audit trail / log
available that shows the
process completed. If so,
describe the details available
to the customer.
Yes. Client’s administrators have
access to an import status screen
which includes import file name,
date and time stamp, job status,
lines loaded, and import errors (if
any).
As above
7.6 What ERP systems connect
with the product
BlackLine can be configured to
seamlessly interface with any
mainstream ERP or GL system as
well as many sub-ledgers in order
to automatically retrieve data.
BlackLine uses standard import
templates for most data imports.
These formats are set-up intuitively
and provide consistency between
different data imports. Files are
sent to an SFTP site in a tabdelimited text file format. Import
interfaces are scheduled to run
automatically at the client's desired
frequency, with data pulled into
BlackLine accordingly.
Noted
For a partial list of successful
integrations by ERP, please visit
https://www.blackline.com/financecontrols-andautomation/solutions/by-erp.
7.7 For those that connect, is the BlackLine is a certified Gold
vendor a certified partner?
member of the Oracle Partner
Network. We are also a member of
the SAP Partner Edge program as
an SAP Software Solutions Partner
and have a certified SAP Ecohub
partnership. The BlackLine
22
Noted
Functional requirements questionnaire
BlackLine Enhanced Financial Controls and Automation Platform
Question
Supplier Response
Evaluator’s Comment
Finance Controls and Automation
Suite for SAP® Solutions is an
SAP-endorsed business solution.
If so:
7.7.1
Does the vendor
provide a Connector for
each?
7.7.2
What transactions
will these Connectors
execute?
BlackLine offers an SAP
Connector for its SAP clients. We
also offer a NetSuite-certified
NetSuite connector. In cases where
BlackLine does not have a pre-built
connector, we configure the data
interface during implementation.
The SAP connector allows clients
to extract account balances, AR/AP
sub-ledger balances, GL
transactions, Open Item
Management transactions, and
currency rates from SAP/; format
them appropriately; and
automatically load these items into
the BlackLine application.
BlackLine journals can be posted
back into SAP.
The NetSuite connector can import
account balances, GL transactions,
bank transactions, currency rates,
entities, and saved searches.
7.7.3
Does these
connectors operate on a
scheduled basis? Please
explain what these
schedules are.
7.8 Is the application endorsed
by these partners?
The connectors run on a schedule
per the client’s request. Journals
can be posted in real-time.
Yes, the BlackLine Finance
Controls and Automation Suite for
SAP® Solutions is an SAPendorsed business solution. SAP is
the only partner that currently
provides endorsements.
23
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Functional requirements questionnaire
BlackLine Enhanced Financial Controls and Automation Platform
Question
8.
Supplier Response
Evaluator’s Comment
Services & Support
8.1 Describe your support model, BlackLine’s application does not Noted
e.g. direct from software
require ongoing support from the
house, via VAR, other?
client’s technical or IT team. The
subscription fee includes all
aspects of operating BlackLine’s
application including:
• 24/7/365
BlackLine
Customer Service;
• Full provision, maintenance
and support of the online
platform from Blackline’s
technical Team; and
• Client dedicated instance of
the application, supported by
BlackLine.
VAR: Channel partners provide
level 1 support. Level 2 and 3 are
provided by software house.
8.2 If VARs are involved, what
accreditation process does
the VAR have to take?
BlackLine partners must attend
required training and pass the
certification exam to provide
support to end customers.
The VAR channel has been
running for a year, so it is “early
days” re assessing the Partner
Channel. There is currently only
one VAR in Europe.
8.3 Is there cost associated with
support? If so, is it
compulsory?
No. Our BlackLine U learning Noted
management system, our online
help functionality, the BL User
Community, and our 24/7 support
is all included. However, if onsite
training is required there will be
an additional consulting fee.
8.4 How does the customer
contact support?
BlackLine support is accessible Noted
24/7/365 via email, phone, or
through our online support portal.
8.5 What organisations will
assist in providing support?
In other words, is any part of
the support process
outsourced?
8.6 Describe your training
When VAR/channel partners are Noted
involved, they provide level 1
support.
Level 2 and 3 are
provided by software house.
BlackLine offers online role- Noted
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Functional requirements questionnaire
BlackLine Enhanced Financial Controls and Automation Platform
Question
programme and by whom it
is provided.
Supplier Response
Evaluator’s Comment
based
training,
customized
training, train – the - trainer
programme, end user training, and
BlackLine U which provides all
the necessary tools needed to
learn the entire application. This
is in addition to live webinars
where users can attend and ask
questions of a BlackLine expert.
All training is online and is
provided free of charge. In
addition, many of the training
courses offer free CPE credits.
BlackLine has created role-based
training materials to ensure that
users learn the appropriate skills.
The training is available online at
all times and can be accessed
directly through BlackLine’s
solutions. Once implementation is
complete, the client will be
assigned
an
Account
Manager/Owner
for
any
assistance.
Some support may be provided by
BlackLine’s channel partners, as
described in item 8.1 above.
8.7 Is there an additional charge
associated with training?
No.
Noted
8.8 How is training for new
features handled?
BlackLine delivers new feature There are live webinars, and
workshops with every new release then followed by live on-line
to ensure that users and training and on-line help
organisations utilise the latest
features. The new feature
workshops are posted within
BlackLine U based on our
software release schedule. They
typically occur every quarter.
These recorded videos are
essential for learning about the
latest
features
and
taking
advantage of all that BlackLine’s
solutions offer.
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BlackLine Enhanced Financial Controls and Automation Platform
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Supplier Response
Evaluator’s Comment
8.9 Is there a charge for
continuing training on new
features or functionality?
No.
All online training is Noted
provided free of charge. Onsite
training is available on a
consulting basis.
8.10 What other support services
are provided? Is there an
additional cost for these?
BlackLine provides all backups, Noted
disaster recovery, maintenance,
support of the platform, and all
other additional services to
maintain the instance at no
additional charge.
8.11 What is the frequency of
upgrades? What costs are
applicable?
BlackLine releases new features Noted
and enhancements quarterly and
performs monthly patches to
address maintenance issues. In all
cases, upgrades are scheduled
well in advance, never occur
during the close, and are
performed out of hours with little
impact on the business user. There
is no charge for upgrades or
maintenance and no client
resources are required, including
IT support on the client-side.
Clients are notified well in
advance and are offered related
training classes several weeks
prior to an upgrade or release. If a
client has concerns or questions
related to any upcoming changes
as a result of patches or version
upgrades, these can be relayed to
Blackline support.
8.12 What guarantees does the
supplier give in relation to
service availability / uptime
/ maintenance?
BlackLine’s uptime target is Noted
100% (excluding emergency and
scheduled maintenance). This is
included within our SLAs, and
customers can receive credits for
any downtime under the 100%
uptime service level. ‘Appendix
B –Service Level Agreement,’ in
our standard master subscription
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BlackLine Enhanced Financial Controls and Automation Platform
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Supplier Response
Evaluator’s Comment
agreement
provides
details:
http://www.blackline.com/assets/d
ocs/uploads/BlackLine-SystemsMSA-REV-H-4-2.pdf.
8.13 What arrangements are
available in respect of
ESCROW, where
appropriate?
Cloud vendors would not put code Noted
in Escrow as clients are merely
buying a service and do not own
any software.
Customer data is of course a
separate issue; the customer data
belongs to the customer.
Our Master Subscription
Agreement includes a 180-day
“sunset clause.” In addition, as
noted in item 5.32, "Customers’
administrative users can export
data from the application in CSV
format." Supporting documents
can also be exported, in their
original formats.
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9.
Supplier Response
Evaluator’s Comment
Enhanced Financial Controls and Automation Platform
9.1
What is the scope of the
software solution? Does it
offer a unified platform,
with wide-ranging
functionality to address
business needs?
BlackLine is built to address all
the financial close processes that
exist within the “last mile of
finance.” This includes the
validation of information and
necessary adjustments before a
client’s financials are published.
BlackLine covers account
reconciliations, analysis of
variance fluctuations, highvolume reconciliations,
transaction matching,
consolidation reconciliations,
multi-statutory reconciliations,
risk analysis, auditor evaluations,
tracking of control testing, month
end close validations, audit
compliance and completion,
booking of journal entries,
intercompany transactions and
supporting documentation for
management review and control
on financials.
Noted
9.2
Are all the elements of the
platform built on a uniform
or disparate code base (i.e.,
multiple databases, multiple
programming languages,
etc.)?
BlackLine was built organically
from the ground up on a uniform
code base. This provides deep
integration within our platform.
Noted
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Functional requirements questionnaire
BlackLine Enhanced Financial Controls and Automation Platform
Question
10.
Supplier Response
Evaluator’s Comment
Software Functionality
10.1 Detail in no more than 500
words how customers are
typically using your
company’s services.
Most clients use BlackLine for all Noted
of their “last mile of finance”
processes which includes
 account reconciliations
 multi-statutory
reconciliations
 consolidation
reconciliations
 high-volume
reconciliations
 month end close tracking
 recurring journal entry
tracking
 audit and compliance
testing and tracking
 variance fluctuations
 booking of journal entries,
etc.
BlackLine’s platform covers the
expansive segment which Gartner
defines as Enhanced Finance
Controls
and
Automation.
BlackLine currently has over
1,000 clients using its platform.
10.2 How does the product allow
the finance and accounting
function to be self-sufficient
when managing,
configuring and adjusting
the application?
Within BlackLine, the client Noted
controls
the
settings
and
configuration.
It is built
intuitively which allows the
system to be managed by business
users and does not require the
client to have its own IT team to
manage
the
application.
BlackLine provides support and
training with our online help,
documented
implementation
guides, 24/7 support team, and our
learning management system,
BlackLine U.
10.3 Is the product intuitive and
Yes.
BlackLine’s platform was Demonstrated.
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Functional requirements questionnaire
BlackLine Enhanced Financial Controls and Automation Platform
Question
easy-to-use?
10.4 Does the tool include
standardised templates for
different types of account
Supplier Response
developed by accountants, for
accountants.
BlackLine
was
developed internally, rather than
through acquisition or outsourced
development. The entire product
exists on the same code base and
is both easy to implement and
possesses a standard UI. Most
importantly, we actively solicit
and incorporate client suggestions
into our product, with the goal of
providing
a
solution
that
incorporates best practices from
many different clients. We want
the BlackLine application to be
robust, but easy and intuitive to
use.
Our "go to" search feature allows
users to immediately go to a
desired page, which limits the
number of page downloads to
navigate within the application.
User-saved filters and settings
allow users to go to the proper
page and role within the
application to easily access the
desired information. BlackLine
also provides keyboard shortcuts
and tab accessibility and simple,
translatable
language
except
where necessary to convey
technical language. Additionally,
our searchable online help feature
allows users to search an online
directory for assistance. The help
feature combines step-by-step
instructions in understandable
language along with applicable
screenshots for performing most
tasks within the application. This
allows users to easily find what
they are looking for and to move
at their own pace.
BlackLine comes with nine
standard templates, each of which
is designed with a particular type
30
Evaluator’s Comment
Users are given their own
dashboard for each module they
use. From this it is easy to see
the status of the tasks still
outstanding.
All items in this can be clicked
on, drilled into, amended, etc.
The style is very consistent from
module to module, with lots of
drag and drop, checklists, etc.
and no program coding to be
seen
Noted
Functional requirements questionnaire
BlackLine Enhanced Financial Controls and Automation Platform
Question
reconciliations (e.g.,
suspense accounts, accrued
expenses, or pre-paids)? Is
there a cost associated with
custom templates? How
does the product handle
varying customer
requirements?
10.5 How many languages and
currencies are supported?
Evaluator’s Comment
Supplier Response
of reconciliation in mind. Clients
also gain access to a template
builder at no additional charge,
which allows them to configure
their reconciliation templates as
they see fit. There is no
customized
work
required,
meaning a client is not reliant on
BlackLine when it wants to make
changes. Finally, each template
offers the option to display
policies and procedures for the
preparer’s convenience and for
audit purposes. See also 11.1.
15 languages are supported,
including Chinese (Simplified, zhCHS), Chinese (Traditional, zhT), Czech, Dutch (Netherlands),
English,
French,
German,
Hungarian, Italian, Japanese,
Polish,
Portuguese
(Brazil),
Korean, Russian and Spanish.
(Note: 11 are single-byte while 4
are double-byte).
All ISO currency codes
supported.
Currency conversion rates are
uploaded
by
the
client.
BlackLine stores these and uses
them every time an item is
brought in. Reconciliations are
normally based on month-end
rates determined by the client
are
BlackLine supports full multicurrency. Currency types
displayed and translated include
transactional, functional, account,
and reporting. These different
currency GL balances are
imported directly from the client’s
ERP. BlackLine can also
automatically perform currency
conversions when exchange rates
are imported into the application.
10.6 Can supporting
documentation and
comments be attached to all
functional areas of the
platform?
Yes. All supporting
documentations and comments
can be added throughout the
platform and can be carried
forward to subsequent months
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Functional requirements questionnaire
BlackLine Enhanced Financial Controls and Automation Platform
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Supplier Response
Evaluator’s Comment
automatically. BlackLine can
accept supporting documents in
any file format.
10.7 Is there integration between
modules (i.e., can you use
matching and directly push
items from matching to
reconciliation, with no
exporting or importing)?
Discuss the integration
between the different
aspects (offerings) within
your product?
BlackLine was built on a single,
Noted
integrated code base from the
ground up. This provides an easyto-use product and provides deep
integration between modules
without the cumbersome extracts
and reloads that exist with
competitor products. Integration
between Account Reconciliations
and Transaction Matching allow
for drilling into details and
pushing of unmatched items
directly to the reconciliation.
Consolidation reconciliations are
linked to underlying account
reconciliations. Transaction
Matching functionality can be
used for daily reconciliations and
automated creation of journal
entries. Explanations of variance
fluctuations can link back to the
completed reconciliation.
10.8 How long can client data be
stored in the application?
Client can store data indefinitely
for as long as the client desires.
We have clients with over 10
years of data on their production
instance.
Noted
10.9 Does the tool automatically
date and time stamp key
stages in all aspects of the
financial close processes
within the platform?
Yes. BlackLine’s platform offers
audit trails which track the date
and timestamp for workflow,
adding of items/ documents/
comments, user logins, and
adjustments to key settings. For
the individual certifications, the
audit trail tracks the user who
completed, the associated level
(prepared, approved, reviewed),
the reason, and the time/date
stamp.
Noted
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11.
Supplier Response
Evaluator’s Comment
Account Reconciliations
11.1 Does the platform provide a
built-in library of standard
reconciliation templates /
tasks?
Yes. BlackLine currently has
nine “out of the box” account
reconciliation templates:
Amortizable Prepaid, Bank
Account, Calculated Balance,
General List, Sub-ledger Match,
Accruable Item, Suspense,
Schedule List, and Associated
Accounts. See also 9.4.
11.2 Can these reconciliation
Yes. Clients also gain access to
tasks be edited and/or added our template builder, where
to by the user?
reconciliation templates can be
edited to address specific needs.
Example templates reviewed.
Many templates can be amended
Demonstrated
11.3 What file formats can the
application extract to?
All grids within BlackLine can be Noted
exported to an Excel or CSV file
and all standard reports can be
extracted to Word, Rich Text,
XML, RPT, Excel, CSV, and PDF
formats.
11.4 Are there standard reports
and/or dashboards within
the platform that enable
reconciliations to be
reported on?
BlackLine’s reporting tool is built Reviewed
into the system and has over 90
preconfigured reports with
filtering and sorting capabilities.
This includes the Enhanced (adhoc) Reporting which allows
clients to configure reports
according to desired fields and
schedule automatic reports. No
additional training is required to
generate reports, and filters are
built-in to allow for further
configuration. These reports cover
all account attributes.
Some of the key reports we
recommend include the following:
• Required Adjustments – This
report displays all the items that
have been identified by the
Preparers as a problem or error.
The client has the visibility to see
the aging and the amount of the
If so please provide details
of what is available.
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Functional requirements questionnaire
BlackLine Enhanced Financial Controls and Automation Platform
Question
Supplier Response
Evaluator’s Comment
items. In addition, the client can
also run this report for historical
purposes and view the period it
took for items to be resolved and
corrected.
• Control Analysis – Everything
in BlackLine is in a real-time
database. If something was
completed just moments ago it
appears immediately, everywhere,
as “completed”. This report shows
when reconciliations were
completed in relation to their due
dates. This is an excellent report
to use in enforcing the company’s
policy regarding the timely
completion of reconciliations.
• Unassigned Accounts – While
the administrator is responsible to
assign the accounts to users, it is
still the responsibility of the
accounting managers to make sure
reconciliations get assigned – and
get completed. This report is a
quick check to ensure all accounts
are assigned.
• Past Due by People – This
provides a quick report that shows
user’s name, phone number, email
address, and what users have not
yet completed. In just a few
mouse clicks, you now have the
ability to reach out and truly
manage the process with greater
control.
• Account Policies and Procedures
– This report indicates the policy,
purpose, and procedure of the
reconciliations. You can quickly
review this report to see if your
users are updating critical areas on
a timely basis. If not, you can take
corrective action before it causes a
risk.
11.5 What user roles are
BlackLine has 15 predefined
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BlackLine Enhanced Financial Controls and Automation Platform
Question
provided within the
application?
Supplier Response
Evaluator’s Comment
roles, each with a distinct,
configurable set of permissions
and responsibilities. Broadly,
these roles can be classified into
four categories: accountant,
manager, administrator, and
auditor.
showing these
11.6 How are the user roles
administered?
The client's system administrator
assigns all user roles and levels of
access.
Reviewed
11.7 Does the tool have built in
workflow capabilities? If
so, what is the workflow
approval process?
Yes. Accounts can be certified
and reviewed by up to five
separate roles. This workflow is
also automated, meaning that
users do not have to notify an
approver once they have finished
a reconciliation. Instead,
BlackLine can use automated
email alerts to notify the next
person in line. Roles also restrict
data access permissions for
security purposes.
Only “Admin” can change the
workflow. Each item has a
“preparer” and an “approver”,
and indeed may have more than
one “approver”. Users learn the
set up process from the initial
training. Processes can be set up
one at a time or “en masse”
11.8 How does the system
enforce segregation of
duties?
BlackLine employs a strict
segregation of duties matrix to
ensure a user does not certify the
same reconciliation over multiple
roles.
Reviewed
11.9 Do any of the accounts have
system-wide privileges for
the entire system, and if so
for what operations?
Yes. The business/system
BlackLine state the audit trail
administrator role has access to all cannot be altered or deleted
data stored in the system. They
may perform the same tasks as the
local administrator across all
entities and may also modify
system-wide organizational
settings. The distinguishing
attribute between the business and
system administrator is that the
system administrator can modify
user profiles and security settings
while the business administrator
cannot. However, even an
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Evaluator’s Comment
administrator cannot certify a
reconciliation, as this would
conflict with the segregation of
duties principle.
11.10 Does the system include
auditor roles that allow for
paperless audits by
providing on-line access,
including on-line notes
and evaluations?
Yes. BlackLine offers
Noted
external/internal auditor roles with
read-only access.
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Question
12.
Supplier Response
Evaluator’s Comment
Transaction Matching
12.1 Can data be manipulated?
Are there lookups? In
particular:
Yes. The client can search for
Reviewed
desired data with BlackLine's
advanced filtering via working
grids located in all modules. Static
item fields can be populated by
the client to make drop-down
menu items.
12.1.1 Can additional
matches be
defined by the
user?
Yes. Users can create their own
ad-hoc matching and add
additional rules (if so entitled).
Noted
12.1.2 Can data from
multiple external
systems be
matched?
Yes. BlackLine matching imports Noted
can come from multiple systems,
in multiple file formats. Matching
across multiple data sources is not
a problem.
12.2 How frequently can data be
imported and matched?
The client determines the data
import and match frequency.
Many clients run the engine
multiple times each hour during
the close.
12.3 How are unique matching
requirements addressed
(out-of-the-box
functionality, or is coding
required)? Describe the
creation of matching logic.
Who is the primary owner
(IT, vendor, business
users)?
In BlackLine's Matching module, Noted
the client has the ability to set up
match sets (pre-defined
relationships between one, two or
three data sources), then run
BlackLine's matching engine.
BlackLine's transaction matching
engine is capable of processing
one million transactions per
minute. Rules can be either
automatic or suggested (i.e.,
requiring approval). Rules can be
run within an account or across
accounts. Clients can match debits
to credits or based on absolute
values. Due to the easy to use
nature for transaction matching,
the business users are the primary
owners.
37
Noted
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BlackLine Enhanced Financial Controls and Automation Platform
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Evaluator’s Comment
12.4 Can the following types of
transactions be matched:
 One to one?
 One to many?
 Many to one?
Yes. BlackLine’s rules allow oneto-one, many-to-one, and manyto-many matching.
Noted
12.5 Can it match with variance
for both amounts and dates?
Yes. Match rules can operate on
any fields in the source data file.
Date, money, and number fields
can be matched within a range of
values. Ranges are set in relation
to a value and can be uni- or
omni-directional (+ 2% or +/2%). Ranges can be expressed as
either values or percentages.
Noted
12.6 How are transactions
tracked?
Items are automatically tracked
via workflow and viewable on
real-time reports.
Noted
12.7 How are transactions aged?
Items are aged based on the
criteria set by the business user.
The aging buckets can be
configured by the client's system
administrator to meet the client's
needs.
Noted
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BlackLine Enhanced Financial Controls and Automation Platform
Question
13.
Supplier Response
Evaluator’s Comment
Task Management
13.1 Describe the Task tool.
Many companies have found that
checklists and disparate policies
can delay and complicate the
close process. With BlackLine,
they can automate the process of
checking off different steps while
improving efficiency and
visibility for each task.
Noted
13.2 Provide an outline of how
this would be used.
BlackLine clients utilise the Task
Management product for their
close calendar, list of manual
journals, departmental close lists,
compliance controls, and even
their PBC (Prepared by Client)
lists. It allows the setting of
frequencies (i.e. weekly, monthly
or quarterly), due dates expressed
numerically, and dates/times
relative to the accounting period
end. This allows tasks to be
scheduled at precise intervals.
The calendar shows progress
throughout the close and provides
unprecedented visibility into the
close at both a macro and a drilldown level. Task dependencies
validate processes and execute in
order and on time. The
hierarchical tree of dependencies,
defined by an administrator,
prevents tasks from being
certified before dependencies are
completed. The Task
Management product is designed
to help control month-end close
checklists.
Noted
13.3 Can auditors use the tool?
Yes. BlackLine offers
Noted
internal/external auditor roles with
read-only privileges. Task
Management is ideal for tracking
of items for audit as well as
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performing and documenting
testing on internal controls.
13.4 Can documents be attached
/ associated with tasks?
Yes. Drag and drop functionality
is provided to facilitate attaching
supporting documentation.
BlackLine can accept supporting
documents in any file format (e.g.,
Word, Excel, etc.).
Documents can be dragged and
dropped to a transaction, task,
journal entry and indeed just
about anything
13.5 Does the platform provide a
built-in library of standard
accounting and finance
tasks?
Yes, Our Controls Assurance
solution comes with over 100
sample finance and accounting
sample control activities. This
also includes the COSO (Internal
Controls Framework) compliance
framework along with other addon libraries which are being
developed.
Noted
13.6 Can these tasks be edited
Yes, subject to role-based
Noted
and/or added to by the user? limitations. All users may send a
request to the application
Administrator to add a task.
Preparers themselves can add onetime tasks, and can edit any tasks
to which they are assigned. The
non-preparer roles can only add
comments and/or supporting
documents (and request new tasks
from the Administrator).
13.7 Can users / roles be
assigned to tasks?
Yes. The application
Administrator assigns users to
tasks.
Noted
13.8 Can tasks be prioritised?
Yes. Our Task Management
product includes a task
dependency feature, which creates
a hierarchical tree of
dependencies. Defined by a
client’s administrator, these task
dependencies prevent any task
from being certified before
dependent tasks are completed
Noted
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Evaluator’s Comment
and validate that processes
execute in order and on time.
13.9 Can tasks be associated so
that workflows are created?
Yes. Configurable workflows are Noted
built in to the BlackLine
application. The BlackLine Task
Management product incorporates
a flexible template structure that
can be adapted to any type of task
workflow. Task dependencies,
frequencies, due dates, and
required levels of approval
establish workflow to ensure the
accurate completion and review of
tasks.
13.10 Can authorisations tasks be Yes. Tasks can be configured for
built into the workflow?
the desired level of approval.
13.11 Can tasks be scheduled at
specific times and/or
particular dates?
Yes. The client will define the
offset between the task due date
and the period end, and BlackLine
will recreate the task based on the
frequency specified (e.g., monthly
/ quarterly / annually / custom
frequency) with the appropriate
due dates. Tasks can be
scheduled in either business days
or calendar days, and holidays can
be included as well. Clients can
also create one-off tasks.
13.12 Can tasks be linked to
specific operations within
the platform, e.g.
undertaking a specific
match and reporting the
results to a user?
Yes. The BlackLine Task
Management product can be
configured to address almost any
type of task list (e.g., close
calendars, departmental close
lists, compliance controls, PBC
lists, etc.). Through BlackLine’s
intermodule dependency feature,
tasks can auto-certified by
completion of the associated
action item – for example,
completion of a reconciliation or
journal could auto-certify the
41
Authorisations are built in as
steps in a workflow
Noted
Functional requirements questionnaire
BlackLine Enhanced Financial Controls and Automation Platform
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linked task.
13.13 Can automated tasks be set
to send specific
communications, e.g.
emails or standard letters?
Our Task Management product
provides email notifications to
ensure that each task is on track
and deadlines are established,
communicated, and met, but our
tasks cannot be configured to
programmatically trigger events
such as sending of emails or
standard letters.
Noted
However, Task Management does
manage workflow, though, by
defining a structured sequence of
steps to be followed by all parties
involved (e.g., “prepare
document; review/approve
document; send document”). In
addition, BlackLine can use
automated email alerts to notify
the next person in line, and the
inherent task workflow ensures
that tasks move through the
process and are executed in order.
13.14 Can the system notify
users (alerts, e-mails, etc.)
of future tasks and actions
required of them?
Yes. Alert emails are sent as a
daily summary of tasks. Tasks
also appear on the user dashboard
and to-do list.
Noted
13.15 Can the status and progress Yes. BlackLine’s task calendar
of tasks be tracked?
shows progress throughout the
close. Real-time dashboards and
robust reporting capabilities also
give management immediate
visibility into completed and
outstanding items.
Noted
13.16 Are there standard reports
within the platform that
enable tasks and workflow
progress to be reported
on?
Noted
Yes. Multiple standard reports
are included for task status, and
custom and ad-hoc reports can be
created within BlackLine’s
Enhanced Reporting.
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13.17 Is there an audit trail of
changes to tasks?
Supplier Response
Yes. The Task Management
product does include a
certification workflow audit trail.
43
Evaluator’s Comment
Only administrators can carry
out this task, and this audit trail
is only available to them
Functional requirements questionnaire
BlackLine Enhanced Financial Controls and Automation Platform
Question
14.
Supplier Response
Evaluator’s Comment
Journal Entries
14.1 Describe the journal entry
tool.
BlackLine’s Journal Entry product Noted
provides a controlled, template
approach to centralising manual
journals. Companies can create,
review, and approve journals, then
electronically certify and store
them with all supporting
documentation. Journals can be
posted to the general (or sub)
ledger systems, in real time, or
one-by-one, or in batch on a
schedule. Moreover, pre-posting
validation eliminates re-work by
preventing Journal Entry rejection
from the general ledger due to
errors.
As an integrated component of
BlackLine’s Financial Control and
Automation platform, the Journal
Entry product ensures seamless
integration of journals with
reconciling items, transaction
matching groups and exception
handling.
14.2 Is there bulk journal entry
creation functionality?
Yes. BlackLine’s Bulk Journals
tool provides for automatic
allocations of transactions, and
adjustments, which are often large
volume, that require booking.
The bulk journal creation is a
logic-based approach based on
data sources loaded into the
matching library. With logic
applied, clients would only need
to write journal definitions one
time. When new data loads, the
required journal amounts will
automatically calculate. Journal
uploads to the general ledger may
be real time or scheduled, either
one-by-one or in a batch.
Automatic, scheduled uploads can
44
Noted
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Evaluator’s Comment
be run every fifteen minutes (or
even more frequently in some
cases). Actual journal status and
numbers are synchronized with
the GL so that BlackLine becomes
the trusted system-of-record.
14.3 Does the system provide
real-time monitoring and
reporting of journal entry
status?
Yes. Users can view details of
statuses via real-time dashboards
and reports.
Noted
14.4 Does the system allow for
configuration of journal
entry templates with header
and lines required for
multiple systems?
Yes. BlackLine’s Journal Entry
product is heavily configurable,
meaning that virtually any journal
template can be mimicked and/or
populated for multiple systems.
Yes, as previously noted
14.5 Does the system allow for
configuration of user
defined validation rules to
prevent posting errors?
Yes. BlackLine offers the ability Noted
to load validation, dependent
validation and static description
tables to prevent posting errors.
During implementation, validation
rules are set up to align with the
client’s ERP solution and/or the
company’s policies. There are
two types of validations –
independent validation (just
referred to as “validation”) and
dependent validation. Validation
simply validates a single field
against a list of valid values.
Dependent validation allows
clients to restrict posting based on
relationships. For example,
currency codes are restricted by
company codes or legal entities.
Clients can also load static
description tables. If clients want
to add the label of an account
number, they can put that into the
static description table and
BlackLine will populate that
description when an account
number is entered. These
relationships and tables are built
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during the implementation
process, owned and maintained by
the client. The client’s
administrator can import updated
tables and rules into their
BlackLine instance as needed.
14.6 Is dynamic workflow for
journal approval based on
thresholds available?
Yes.
Demonstrated – can be based on
any rules the client wants, e.g.
under £10k just prepared, under
£500k prepared and approved,
over £500k prepared, approved
and reviewed
14.7 Does the system allow for
automation of journal entry
posting across multiple
systems?
Yes. BlackLine’s Journal Entry
product is highly configurable,
meaning that virtually any journal
template can be mimicked and/or
populated for posting across
multiple ERPs and/or systems.
Noted
14.8 Can the customer easily
import journal line detail
from Excel into the
application?
Yes. Clients can quickly import
completed or partially completed
journals from Excel. This is
useful when report writers or
third-party systems write
thousands or tens of thousands of
lines to a spreadsheet. Our Bulk
Journals tool can further automate
processes by providing a logicbased approach to calculate
required journal amounts,
eliminating the need to create and
use formulas in error prone
spreadsheets.
Reviewed and demonstrated
14.9 Does the system allow for
the creation of large volume
journal entries based on
predefined logic?
BlackLine’s Bulk Journals
solution provides for automatic
allocations of transactions and
adjustments requiring booking.
Bulk Journals uses a logic-based
approach that works off our
matching and journals modules.
Allocation and look-up tables can
be configured and referenced as a
Noted
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data source in the journal entry
logic. This prompts the automatic
creation of the journal based on
the pre-defined requirements. For
reporting, configurable filters
called “My Views” can be created
to review, summarize and group
data based on types, matching
rules, or any other criteria
included in the data source.
14.10 Can standard recurring
journal entries be set up
within the application?
Yes. BlackLine journal entry
functionality includes one-click
cloning for recurring entries. We
also offer the ability to create a
master journal record which can
pre-populate data and create
entries in periods going forward.
Noted
14.11 Does the platform provide
a built-in library of
standard journal types?
Yes, BlackLine journals are
individually configured to a
client’s specific needs, during
implementation; those configured
journals become a client's
personalized library of standard
journal types (e.g., correcting
journals; reversing journals; etc.).
Noted
14.12 Can these standard
journals be edited and/or
added to by the user?
Yes, BlackLine’s journal master is Noted
configurable.
14.13 Can journal approval
workflows be created?
Yes. Clients can configure the
desired levels of approval.
Dynamic workflow automatically
routes journals to the appropriate
individuals for approval.
BlackLine offers a flexible
workflow approval process which
can be based on amount
thresholds.
Noted
14.14 Can journals be posted
interactively and/or in a
batch?
Yes. BlackLine offers both realtime journal posting and batch
posting.
Noted
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14.15 If batch posting is
available can this be
scheduled?
Yes. Automatic, scheduled
uploads can be run every fifteen
minutes (or even more frequently
in some cases).
14.16 Does the platform allow
for journals to be
validated in order to check
that the posting logic is
correct?
Yes. Validation rules,
Noted
relationships and tables are built
during the implementation
process, owned and maintained by
the client.
14.17 Can external documents be
attached/linked to journal
transactions?
Yes. Supporting documents can
Demonstrated
be attached or referenced via URL
links.
48
Noted
Functional requirements questionnaire
BlackLine Enhanced Financial Controls and Automation Platform
Question
15.
Supplier Response
Evaluator’s Comment
Variance Analysis
15.1 Describe the Variance
Analysis module.
BlackLine’s Variance Analysis
Noted
product replaces the spreadsheet
fluctuation analysis that is
manually completed by many
companies as part of their risk
identification and mitigation
process. Using Variance Analysis
is straightforward. The business
owner first identifies which
accounts need monitoring with
user-defined parameters, such as
account ranges and types, entity
filters, balance and percentage
thresholds, and comparison
periods. Whenever new balances
are imported into BlackLine, the
rules engine is executed, creating
variance analysis templates for the
accounts that deviate from defined
parameters.
15.2 Does the system track and
analyse account variation
and budgets/forecasts
against actuals for both
P&L and balance sheet
accounts by replacing
manual, spreadsheetdependent processes with
business logic?
Yes. The Variance Analysis
Noted
product supports automated,
rules-driven monitoring. The
client defined rules can be applied
to both balance sheet and P&L
accounts for budgeted vs. actual,
forecasted vs. actual, YTD,
month-over-month, quarter-overquarter, and year-over-year
comparisons- eliminating the need
for manual and error prone
spreadsheet analysis. Clientdefined rules precisely identify
unexpected fluctuations across
target entities and account groups,
types, or ranges.
15.3 Does the system fully
support fluctuation analysis
for multi-currencies and
multi-entities?
Yes. BlackLine's Variance
Analysis product allows for the
establishment of configurable
rules (by % and/or amount
thresholds) which triggers the
need for an explanation of the
49
Noted. Examples were set up
and worked through, e.g. rules to
compare the current month’s
balance to any prior periods.
These can be by accounts or
group of accounts. Variances
Functional requirements questionnaire
BlackLine Enhanced Financial Controls and Automation Platform
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Evaluator’s Comment
balance fluctuation. These
can be documented and reported
metrics can be filtered and
on
exported to Word, Rich Text,
XML, RPT, Excel, CSV, and PDF
formats.
15.4 Does the system allow for
client-defined rules to
identify unexpected
fluctuations across target
entities and account groups,
types, or ranges?
If so:
 Can the rules
calculate and
monitor for
fluctuations in
value, percent
change, or a
combination of the
two?
Yes. Automated workflow
Noted
ensures that variance analyses are
assigned to the people most
familiar with the accounts, so an
explanation can be given for each
material variance. Once variance
analyses have been completed and
certified with supporting
documentation attached, users can
roll up and report on this
information.
Yes; all three scenarios are
supported.
Noted
Can alerts (tasks) be
automatically
triggered if
fluctuations are
outside of userdefined
tolerances/limits?
Alerts are not created; instead, the
variance analysis work item is
created and automatically
assigned to the appropriate user.
Noted
15.5 Once a fluctuation is
identified, does the system
automatically allocate tasks
to users for explaining the
variance, route those
explanations to
management, and roll the
results up into real-time
dashboards and reports?
Yes. The variance explanation is
automatically triggered and
assigned to the preparer. This is
displayed on the user’s dashboard
and follows the established
workflow and approvals for the
variance explanation.
Noted

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15.6 Can the customer upload
and store documents and
attachments in support of
the fluctuation analyses?
Yes. Supporting documents of
any file type can be uploaded.
Noted
15.7 Can the customer create
standard variance codes for
use in reports to help to
monitor and gauge the
impact of trends across the
entire organisation?
Yes. Users can create variance
items, which represent a certain
identified fluctuation. Each
variance item also has a
configurable item type (i.e., code)
used to create standard coding,
allowing management to gauge
the impact of an event or trend on
its books.
Noted
15.8 Can the customer target
groups of accounts and
monitor their fluctuation in
combination or in relation
to each other?
Yes. Flexible variance account
grouping allows clients to target
and roll-up accounts for analysis.
Noted
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16.
Supplier Response
Evaluator’s Comment
Consolidation
16.1 Describe the consolidation
process.
BlackLine Consolidation Integrity
Manager (CIM) should not be
considered a consolidation tool.
Our CIM product is used in the
close processes as follows:
BlackLine’s Consolidation
Integrity Manager (CIM) product
gives companies the ability to
automate system-to-system
reconciliations. This is invaluable
if a company has a consolidation
system and multiple source
general ledgers feeding into it.
Before BlackLine, the
reconciliation process typically
included an extract and manual
comparison of balances from both
systems, a procedure often
complicated by the roll-up
process. The Consolidation
Integrity Manager automates these
processes and automatically
verifies that data used by and
conveyed between the different
systems is properly transferred
and reconciled.
With the CIM product,
relationships are defined between
the different systems so that, for
example, all cash accounts in a
general ledger might roll up to a
single cash account in a
consolidation system. If the totals
match or are within a certain
tolerance of each other, the
system can automatically certify
that particular account
reconciliation. This allows the
accountant or financial analyst to
focus on the exceptions where
late-posting journal entries and/or
top side adjustments have
52
BlackLine is not a consolidation
system, rather it compares
consolidation entries. It
highlights where there are
variances and these are used to
identify issues so they can be
sorted. It auto-certifies those
items that match.
Functional requirements questionnaire
BlackLine Enhanced Financial Controls and Automation Platform
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Evaluator’s Comment
changed the balances on one side
or the other.
16.2 Does the platform automate
the system-to-system
reconciliation process to
compare single and multiple
ledgers within a central
consolidation system?
Yes. Data from virtually any
Noted
third- party system, including all
major consolidation tools such as
Hyperion, SAC BPC, can be
imported into BlackLine on a
scheduled basis. BlackLine
allows clients to automate uploads
from GL and consolidation
systems; create many-to-one
relationships between general
ledger and consolidation accounts;
auto-certify reconciliations that tie
out; create links to journals that
result from the tie out process. In
addition, BlackLine will
automatically decertify and send
notifications if balances change
on certified reconciliations.
16.3 Can the user group accounts Yes.
together to easily map
general ledger accounts into
the consolidation module
and reconcile at any level?
Noted
16.4 Can the user easily define
relationships between
accounts within different
systems and reconcile at
any level by grouping
accounts together?
Yes.
Noted
16.5 Does the platform
automatically subtotal all
grouped accounts and
associated items?
Yes.
Noted
16.6 Does the platform autoreconcile where accounts
are in balance?
Yes. BlackLine can auto-certify
when the general ledgers and
consolidation systems balances
tie-out (equals the sums of the
underlying GL balances) or are
Noted
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Evaluator’s Comment
within an established threshold.
16.7 If an account balance
reconciled within the
consolidation module
subsequently changes will
an alert (task) be
automatically generated by
the platform to warn the
user that their consolidation
may no longer balance?
Yes. BlackLine provides for
Noted
automatic decertification and
notifications if balances change
on certified reconciliations. When
a decertification on a balance
occurs, an automated email will
be sent to the responsible user.
16.8 Can the platform easily
identify late journal entries
and provide reports of
adjustments by date?
Yes. With real-time dashboards,
Noted
reports and embedded controls,
BlackLine allows users to monitor
every topside journal entry to
ensure late adjustments are not
missed.
16.9 Will journal entries and/or
other items supporting
differences in balances be
tracked and aged
automatically, offering
management full visibility
into the consolidation
reconciliation process?
Yes. Item classification and aging Noted
is inherent to the BlackLine
application. All items are aged.
BlackLine provides dashboard
reporting which displays the aging
and size of key line items and also
filterable fields showing absolute
values of GL balances. BlackLine
also offers several reports that
return key items violating aging
and/or amount thresholds.
16.10 Can the platform provide
a report that shows all the
underlying accounts
contained/mapped to a
consolidation
reconciliation?
The face of the consolidation
reconciliation itself shows the
underlying accounts.
54
Noted
Functional requirements questionnaire
BlackLine Enhanced Financial Controls and Automation Platform
Question
17.
Supplier Response
Evaluator’s Comment
Intercompany
17.1 How does the platform
address intercompany
reconciliations and link
with “account
reconciliation” noted in
section 11?
BlackLine handles intercompany
Noted
transactions as requests which
will be validated, supported and
properly routed for the proper
approvals. Once both sides of the
transaction are in agreement,
BlackLine will process the journal
If automated processes are
entries via configurable rules
used please describe these,
which will send journal entries to
the related controls and note a single or multiple ERP systems
the efficiencies arising.
for posting.
17.2 How does the platform
address the posting of
intercompany transactions?
BlackLine’s Intercompany Hub
ensures this through sender and
receiver approvals, journal
validations, and automated
booking of journal entries to
source ERP system(s).
Noted
17.3 Does the system provide an
approval process to ensure
that manual intercompany
transactions undertaken
within the platform are
correctly requested in such
a way that they are
reviewed, documented and
booked on both sides of the
transaction?
Yes, through BlackLine’s
Intercompany Hub. Instead of
addressing discrepancies afterthe-fact, BlackLine handles IC
transactions as requests which
will be validated, supported and
properly routed for the proper
approvals.
Noted
17.4 Can intercompany
transactions be addressed at
initiation to eliminate
reactive manual effort
needed to identify
discrepancies and one-sided
bookings?
Yes. Because the agreement
occurs on the front-end and the
entries are booked automatically,
clients can avoid all the manual
labour involved with tracking
down discrepancies and one-sided
bookings (which is typically done
in the month following the
original booking).
Noted
17.5 Can intercompany entries
be configured to meet local
business needs, including
Yes, our Intercompany Hub is
built to customise processes
through client-controlled
Noted
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Functional requirements questionnaire
BlackLine Enhanced Financial Controls and Automation Platform
Question
feeds to multiple ERPs?
Supplier Response
Evaluator’s Comment
configuration instead of vendor
controlled custom coding. Within
the Hub, entries can be
established for each type of
service and transaction type,
allowing for configurable
validation rules and GL string
elements that match your unique
requirements.
17.6 Can there be one-sided
postings?
No. As a control, one-sided
postings are prevented with the
use of BlackLine’s Intercompany
Hub.
Noted
17.7 Describe any audit trail
available.
All history is retained for
intercompany activities (both
sides), including supporting
documentation.
Noted
As with other BlackLine modules,
the Intercompany Hub allows for
supporting documentation. That
documentation becomes part of
the history retained for
intercompany activities.
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BlackLine Enhanced Financial Controls and Automation Platform
Question
18.
Supplier Response
Evaluator’s Comment
User Documentation
This section applies to any of: online, hardcopy or other (e.g. WWW) documentation – specify which are
applicable.
The BlackLine user documentation is online, embedded within the application.
18.1 Is the manual clearly laid
out and understandable?
Yes. BlackLine’s online help
feature is structured and indexed.
Agreed. The on-line help is very
comprehensive. The search
process seemed to work well, it
was easy to get around with a
useful table of contents and very
intuitive together with plenty of
screen shots
18.2 Is the manual
comprehensive and
accurate?
Yes. BlackLine documentation
addresses the needs of both end
users and application
administrators and is updated on
an ongoing basis.
Agreed
18.3 Is there an index to the
manual?
Yes.
Agreed
18.4 Is it easy to locate specific
topics in the manual when
required?
Yes. The BlackLine help function Agreed
which is both indexed and
searchable.
18.5 Is it easy to follow through
all procedures in the
manual?
Yes.
Agreed
18.6.1 A tutorial section?
Yes. The help function includes
numerous tutorial samples (e.g.,
Sample Account Reconciliation:
Checking; Example Account
Reconciliation: Prepaid Rent).
Agreed
18.6.2 A guide to basic
functions?
Yes. The help index and search
function make it easy to find
reference materials on basic
functions.
Agreed
18.6.3 Pictures of screens?
Yes.
Agreed
18.6 Does the manual include:
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Functional requirements questionnaire
BlackLine Enhanced Financial Controls and Automation Platform
Question
Supplier Response
Evaluator’s Comment
18.6.4 Completed
examples?
Yes.
Agreed
18.6.5 “Error correction”
procedures?
Yes. The documentation includes Agreed
procedures for common errors and
problems such as forgotten
passwords and lockout.
18.7 Does the documentation
clearly specify the actions
to be taken by users at each
important stage of
processing?
Yes.
Agreed
18.8 Are help screens available
relating to the task in hand?
(context sensitive help).
BlackLine provides “bubble help”
explanations that appear to
explain key screen fields and
controls, when a user hovers the
mouse over the item (aka “hover
text”).
Noted
18.9 Do they provide on-line
instructions on how to use
particular features of the
software?
Yes. The help tool includes
Agreed
sections on application features,
and on-line recorded training
sessions are accessible as well, via
URL links from the application.
18.10 Can they be edited or
prepared by the user? If
so, can the user add-in
their own notes /
terminology?
No. However, customers can
embed their policies and
procedures in the accounts, and
BlackLine can develop a clientspecific customised help file, on a
consulting basis.
Noted
18.11 How often is the
documentation updated?
Documentation is updated on an
ongoing basis.
Noted
18.12 Will the Software House
No.
make the detailed program
documentation (e.g. file
definitions for third party
links) available to the
user, either directly or by
deposit with a third party
No. as this is an on-line system
and there are no third party links
58
Functional requirements questionnaire
BlackLine Enhanced Financial Controls and Automation Platform
Question
Supplier Response
59
Evaluator’s Comment