Automating Excel-Based Financial Statements (Currently Unavailable)

Author: David H. Ringstrom

CPE Credit:  2 hours for CPAs

There's no need to duplicate and modify reporting spreadsheets each month. With the step-by-step instructions in this course, you'll learn how to use common Excel functions, such as VLOOKUP, OFFSET, and SUM, to generate dynamic reports that toggle to the correct period with ease. Class topics also include exporting data, using Check Figures and Alarms and safeguarding data integrity.

Publication Date: August 2018

Designed For
Practitioners who would benefit by creating and working with monthly financial statements in a more efficient and effective manner.

Topics Covered

  • Improve the integrity of spreadsheets with Excel's VLOOKUP function
  • See how to use the Trusted Document feature in Excel 2010 and later to suppress the Data Connection security prompt
  • Discover how to incorporate Check Figures and Alarms into your work
  • Use Conditional Formatting to draw attention to reports that don't balance to the source data
  • Learn why, in many cases, you should export reports intended for spreadsheet analysis to a .CSV file instead of an Excel workbook
  • Create an in-cell list by way of Excel's Data Validation feature
  • Learn a simple design technique that greatly improves the integrity of Excel's SUM function
  • Use Excel's OFFSET function to dynamically reference data from one or more accounting periods

Learning Objectives

  • Define how to create accounting reports for any month of the year on a single worksheet
  • Identify and apply Conditional Formatting to draw attention to reports that don't balance to the source data
  • Recognize how to export data from an accounting package to create a "set-and-forget" link to accounting data in Excel
  • Identify issues that cause the gravest data integrity issue within a 12 month financial statement exported from an accounting software to Excel
  • Describe and utilize Microsoft Query
  • Recognize uses of Data Validation
  • Describe what the Data Connection security prompt signifies
  • Identify which command to access on Excel's File menu to determine if you're using Office 365
  • Recognize file formats QuickBooks allows you to export reports to
  • Identify where to locate the Properties command for modifying ODBC connections within an Excel workbook
  • Differentiate CONCAT and CONCATENATE worksheet functions
  • Identify which menu in Excel the Name Manager command appears on
  • Describe the MONTH function
  • Identify and apply the OFFSET function
  • Recognize which ribbon tab the Conditional Formatting feature appears on

Level
Intermediate

Instructional Method
Self-Study

NASBA Field of Study
Computer Software & Applications (2 hours)

Program Prerequisites
Experience Working with Excel Spreadsheets.

Advance Preparation
None

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