Excel is more than spreadsheets. It can be used for data analysis and to transform numbers to graphics that can be used in presentations. That makes it a valuable tool for anyone in their finance career. Here are 9 handy demonstrations of how to use Excel better.

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2. EXCEL CONTINUES TO TRANSFORM, A REASON WHY IT IS
ONE OF THE WORLD’S MOST POPULAR DATA PROGRAMS. NEW
FEATURES ARE ADDED CONTINUALLY AND THERE IS A
WEALTH OF INFORMATION ONLINE TO HELP THOSE LOOKING TO
SOLVE A PROBLEM OR USE EXCEL FOR A PARTICULAR TASK.
THE LARGE COMMUNITY OF EXCEL USERS IS ALSO ON HAND TO
OFFER EXPERTISE AND ADVICE.
THE LATEST INTELLIGENCE
FROM MICROSOFT EXCEL

3. EXCEL IS MORE THAN SPREADSHEETS.
IT CAN BE USED FOR DATA ANALYSIS AND TO
TRANSFORM NUMBERS TO GRAPHICS THAT CAN
BE USED IN PRESENTATIONS. THAT MAKES IT
A VALUABLE TOOL FOR ANYONE IN THEIR
FINANCE CAREER.
HERE ARE NINE HANDY DEMONSTRATIONS
OF HOW TO USE EXCEL BETTER.
CLICK THROUGH ON EACH SLIDE TO LEARN MORE.

4. LEARN MORE
Expand your Excel
horizons by performing
calculations within
your PivotTable.
PivotTables are one of
Excel’s most powerful
features. They allow you to
summarise huge data sets
into a table-based report
with just a few mouse clicks.

5. How to create a .
variance chart in Excel.
A variance chart plots both monthly.
and year-to-date variances for two.
.metrics over time. You might use it.
to compare actuals versus budget..
LEARN MORE

6. Help your eyes with
Excel highlighting
Scanning across information
in an Excel spreadsheet is
much easier when you can
highlight a row quickly. It
also helps when you and a
colleague are looking at a
screen together. Save your
eyes with this tip..
LEARN MORE

7. The power in.
Excel mapping.
.Excel mapping has.
transformed Excel from.
a data entry tool to one.
offering self-serve business.
intelligence. You can.
drag and drop from a .
data spreadsheet onto.
3D Maps, previously.
called Power Maps..
LEARN MORE

8. .How to harness
power query in Excel.
.Power Query is an
underutilised Excel tool. It
allows you to extract data
from multiple sources and
perform data cleansing
operations on that data..
LEARN MORE

9. How to capture logic
in a single row.
We have all seen those formulas.
that have multiple IF functions.
nested together. They can make.
your head spin as you try to. follow
and understand the logic.
behind the formula. There is an.
alternative. Capturing logic in.a.
row, then referring to it in a.
formula, can halve the length of.
your formulas..
LEARN MORE

10. Understanding Excel’s
misunderstood ‘Format
as Table’ icon
The Format as Table icon on the Home
ribbon tab was added in Excel 2007.
Unfortunately, most people think it
is a formatting feature. Rather, it is a
database option. By using the Format as
Table icon, you instruct Excel to treat a
table like a basic database.
LEARN MORE

11. New Excel.
text functions.
Excel is known for its.
ability to handle numbers,.
but it also has many.
functions dedicated to.
manipulating text. You can.
create sentences, codes.
and more in Excel 2016.
using two text functions,.
CONCAT and TEXTJOIN..
LEARN MORE

12. Incredibly useful
Excel shortcuts
Excel has become a powerful
data manipulation and reporting
package, and as its functionality
has grown, so have the number
of shortcuts that enable users
to save time. Neale Blackwood
CPA runs A4 Accounting,
providing Excel training, webinars
and consulting services to
organisations around Australia.
These are his top Excel shortcuts:
LEARN MORE

13. Easy steps to make
data Relationships
work in Excel.
This video will enable.
you to get a handle on.
Relationships with Excel.
2013’s Data Model feature.
and create PivotTable.
reports with ease..
LEARN MORE

14. Modelling with
tornado charts in Excel
Excel MVP Liam Bastick outlines
how he uses Excel and a two-
stage technique he has developed
using “tornado” charts and
sensitivity analysis. Bastick says
organisations can use tornado
charts to identify the key drivers
of their business.
LEARN MORE

15. More resources
from CPA Australia:
• Recorded webinars
• Workshops
• Online courses
FIND OUT MORE

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