Basic Excel Skills for Accountants

Level: Basic

Available Durations:

• 50 minutes
• 60 minutes
• 75 minutes
• 90 minutes
• 100 minutes
• 120 minutes

Description:

Many accounting professionals are unaware of Excel’s many features and functions they can implement to improve the accuracy and efficiency of their spreadsheets. In this comprehensive webinar, Excel expert David Ringstrom, CPA, shares applicable Excel fundamentals that will enable accounting professionals to achieve those goals. Step-by-step, David demonstrates and explains: several alternatives to Excel’s SUM function, including conditional summing; a better alternative to manually hiding/unhiding rows and columns; automating repetitive tasks by way of Excel’s Table feature, including creating self-expanding charts; contrasting the Table feature with Data Tables and PivotTables; helpful keyboard shortcuts; and ways to repair damaged Excel workbooks.

David demonstrates every technique at least twice: first, on a PowerPoint slide with numbered steps, and second, in the Microsoft 365 (formerly known as Office 365) version of Excel. David draws your attention to any differences in the older versions of Excel (2019, 2016, 2013, and earlier) during the presentation as well as in his detailed handouts. David also provides an Excel workbook that includes most of the examples he uses during the webcast.

Microsoft 365 is a subscription-based product that provides new-feature updates as often as monthly. Conversely, the perpetual licensed versions of Excel have feature sets that don’t change. Perpetual licensed versions have year numbers, such as Excel 2019, Excel 2016, and so on.

Topics/Areas Typically Covered:

• Inserting totals into lists with a few mouse clicks by way of Excel’s SUBTOTAL function.
• Learning a simple design technique that greatly improves the integrity of Excel’s SUM function.
• Summing disparate sections of a spreadsheet quickly with the SUBTOTAL function.
• Comparing the AGGREGATE function in Excel 2010 and later to the SUBTOTAL function available in all versions of Excel.
• Employing the SUMIF function to sum values related to multiple instances of criteria you specify.
• Using the SUM function to drill through two or more worksheets.
• Using the SUMIFS function to sum values based on multiple criteria.
• Customizing table styles in Excel.
• Eliminating the need to manually resize charts when data is added—automate this with tables instead.
• Avoiding the need to write repetitive formulas using Excel’s Data Table feature.
• Managing cumbersome lists of data using the Table feature.
• Removing the Table feature from a worksheet if it’s no longer needed.
• Streamlining the filtering of lists in Excel 2013 and later by using the Slicer feature with tables.
• Learning how the Table feature empowers you to improve the integrity of Excel spreadsheets.
• Understanding the data integrity risks posed by pivot tables when users add additional data to the original source list.
• Improving the integrity of pivot tables by utilizing the Table feature in Excel.
• Leveraging Excel’s Quick Access Toolbar to create a shortcut that enables you to filter lists with a keystroke instead of multiple mouse actions.
• Restoring Full Screen View in Excel 2013 and later as well as enabling a keyboard shortcut for this feature.
• Simplifying repetitive tasks by creating your own keyboard shortcuts.
• Toggling the locked status of a worksheet cell on or off by way of a custom shortcut.
• Unearthing the key step in being able to format subtotaled cells without affecting hidden rows.
• Using the Group command to interactively hide/unhide columns (and/or rows) within Excel worksheets.
• Learning what steps to take if you can’t open a damaged workbook.

Learning Objectives/Why You Should Attend:

• Define the argument within Excel’s SUBTOTAL function that sums columns or rows.
• Identify which versions of Excel permit using slicers with both tables and pivot tables.
• Identify the command that you use to active Quick Access Toolbar shortcuts.

About the Instructor:

David H. Ringstrom, CPA is the owner of Accounting Advisors, Inc., an Atlanta-based spreadsheet consulting firm that he started in 1991. Throughout his career David has spoken at conferences on Microsoft Excel, and written dozens of freelance articles about spreadsheets. He offers Excel and Access training and consulting services nationwide.

Pricing and Format Options:

Click here to learn about the presentation format and view pricing information.

Click here to view other topics.