Case Study: Big Ass Fans achieves a three-day close and delivers error-free audits with BlackLine

Enabling a 3-Day Close & Error-Free Audits

Big Ass Fans, the maker of high‑volume, low‑speed (HVLS) industrial fans, was acquired in 2017 and soon discovered its finance and accounting processes were “completely substandard.” After a material weakness surfaced in its first post‑acquisition audit, CFO Eric Evans was charged with transforming the close, controls and overall finance function to meet new management expectations.

In 2018 the company implemented BlackLine’s Account Reconciliations and Task Management with a seamless, low‑IT rollout and BlackLine U training. The platform standardized reconciliations across the globe, enabled a three‑day close and error‑free audits, reduced headcount by 30%, increased visibility, freed staff for value‑added work, and supported remote operations.

Big Ass Fans

Eric Evans

Chief Financial Officer