How ILT Academy cut treasury management time by 8X.
Industry
Professional Services
Company size
10
Brex products used
Business banking, Corporate cards, Bill pay, Expense management
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About ILT Academy
Delivering educational experiences to cultivate innovators and entrepreneurs
ILT Academy is an edtech startup that helps idea-stage founders launch companies through a 20-week curriculum. Operating across underrepresented areas in North Dakota, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, the 10-person team is funded by economic development organizations and financial institutions seeking quality deal flow.
Challenges
Traditional banking that was holding back growth
When Parker Schlank, Chief Operating Officer at ILT Academy, joined the company, he found them stuck with a local bank that lacked even the most basic business banking features. "You literally couldn't even send an ACH with that banking platform," Parker recalls. This forced the finance team to spend over four hours weekly on basic treasury tasks that should have been automated.
The limitations went beyond inconvenience. Parker had experienced firsthand how inadequate banking controls could devastate a business, recounting a previous company where fraud "ended up costing us hundreds of hours to try to resolve." Without proper security controls like ACH debit blocks or spending limits, they remained vulnerable to costly fraud attacks.
For a startup focused on helping founders succeed, these banking constraints were particularly frustrating. "With our previous bank, you’d have to go into the branch to send a wire. You couldn’t even send a wire through the interface," Parker explains, "It was just annoying."
Solution
Modern banking and treasury platform
Having used Brex at previous startups, Parker knew there was a better way. ILT Academy implemented Brex's business banking account, transforming their entire financial operations approach. Rather than treating banking as a necessary burden, they leveraged Brex as strategic infrastructure.
The company established more in-depth spending controls with Brex cards. "We issue a virtual card for almost every vendor, and then every employee has a card," Parker notes. This gives them more control over every transaction, with specific spending limits tied to the specific needs of vendors and employees.
ILT Academy also uses Brex's ACH capabilities, positive pay for check protection, and automated reconciliation features. Parker says "I really appreciate the security and controls aspect of Brex banking," Parker explains. "ACH debit block is probably one of the best things you can do to protect your business."
“I used to spend four hours a week on banking and treasury, but with Brex I spend about 30 minutes.”
— Parker Schlank, Chief Operating Officer
Impact
8x faster treasury management, and more yield earned on every dollar
The transformation began immediately with time savings that compounded across every aspect of financial operations. Treasury management, which previously consumed over four hours weekly, now takes just 30 minutes. "With almost every other bank that I've used over the years, there's been a dedicated treasury role specifically for that reason," Parker explains. "With Brex, I don't have to think about banking or treasury."
This efficiency extends throughout the month-end accounting process. ILT Academy now closes their books in 1-2 days, thanks to automated reconciliation and seamless QuickBooks integration. "Everything is just working as it should with Brex," Parker reports. "The bank statements come out on time, everything's always perfectly reconciled. I don't have to worry about anything when it comes to banking."
The treasury account delivers tangible financial benefits, generating enough to cover recurring expenses. "Our HubSpot enterprise subscription is pretty much covered by our Brex yield," Parker notes, turning what was once idle cash into something more impactful.
Beyond the quantifiable improvements, Brex delivered something invaluable for a growing startup: peace of mind. "I sleep easy at night because I know every single one of my vendors has a card, every single one of them has a spend limit, all with built-in controls," Parker says. "When our cards are bumping up against limits, something's wrong and I'm protected." This comprehensive fraud protection proved its worth, helping ILT Academy avoid the costly incidents that had plagued Parker’s previous companies.
The platform's sophistication allows ILT Academy to operate with a financial infrastructure typically reserved for much larger companies. "Brex has all of what I would call the middle market bells and whistles that most other banks don't have," Parker says, “I just love how easy it is.”