Accessing Your Company's Data in Power Query and Power BI
Date: Friday, October 16, 2026
Instructor: Stephen M. Yoss
| Begin Time: |
9:00am Pacific Time
10:00am Mountain Time
11:00am Central Time
12:00pm Eastern Time |
| CPE Credit: |
2 hours for CPAs |
|
For years, Excel users have relied on complex formulas, manual parsing, and “text-to-columns” to clean up data. Power Query is the natural successor to these legacy methods, providing a professional-grade environment for building updatable, repeatable reports. This course explores how to move beyond basic spreadsheet manipulation to a workflow that automates the “grunt work” of accounting. With over 70 different transformation tools at your fingertips, you will learn how to parse, split, combine, and concatenate data with precision, ensuring that once you build a report, you never have to build it again.
We will focus on the versatility of the Power Query engine, demonstrating how it handles the “bad data” practitioners face daily from clients and system exports. While the core of the course is about mastering the built-in UI transformations, we will also explore high-value advanced features like the Power Query Editor and the strategic use of parameters to make your reports even more flexible. We will also briefly look at how generative AI tools like Microsoft Copilot can act as an assistant to help you navigate these 70+ tools, ensuring your data pipeline remains robust and efficient as your reporting needs evolve.
Who Should Attend
CPAs and accounting professionals looking to automate manual Excel data cleanup tasks.
Topics Covered
- Power Query: The Modern Successor to Manual Excel Cleanup
- Mastering the 70+ Built-In Data Transformation Tools
- Building Flexible Workflows with Parameters and the Editor
- Leveraging AI Assistants for Advanced Data Formatting
Learning Objectives
- Apply Power Query’s transformation tools to replace manual parsing and data cleaning methods
- Utilize the Power Query interface to parse, split, and concatenate complex datasets effectively
- Analyze the 70+ transformation tools available to determine the best approach for reporting
- Recognize the value of advanced features including parameters and the Power Query Editor
- Design a repeatable data pipeline that automatically updates when new information is provided
Level
Basic
Instructional Method
Group: Internet-based
NASBA Field of Study
Computer Software & Applications (2 hours)
Program Prerequisites
None
Advance Preparation
None
