Advanced Report Development and Spreadsheet Modelling with MS Excel 6th to 8th December 2017

Advanced Report Development and Spreadsheet Modelling with MS Excel

Excel has a number of useful built in functions, but there are also some caveats about its computations. For this reason and to facilitate more flexibility, in this course we shall demonstrate some handcrafted techniques to help the delegates manage large data sets and improve their reporting efficiency.

The course sessions shall focus on how to effectively and efficiently utilize Microsoft Excel for data management, modeling and projection with a positive bias to lookups. Users will not only use Excel to build models, but also to crunch a large data dump. Learn how to minimize as much manual labor as possible, thereby saving time and performing more detailed analysis and projections quickly.

 Apply commonly-used formulas in new and different ways; uncover often over-looked Excel features; streamline number crunching with pivot tables, functions, arrays, Data tools, Formatting, Macros and VBA programming. 

Course Description:

This course shows how spreadsheets can be used to enhance management reporting.

The course shows how to analyze and review data extracted from ERP systems and databases in order to prepare management reports, including using Excel’s graphing capabilities. The course studies Excel’s functions and how to use these effectively. The program also shows how to access the Visual Basic Editor and use macros and user defined functions in order to enhance Excel’s functionality. 

Half a day will also be spent showing attendees how to use Excel’s pivot table functionality. Pivot tables are often poorly understood and yet are the most powerful feature in Excel. A basic pivot table will allow you to summarize 50,000 rows of data in 30 seconds.

The course is highly practical: delegates will be exposed to examples (in Microsoft Excel) throughout the course. 

Methodology

The course is highly interactive, and formal lecture content is kept to a minimum. Spreadsheet techniques are explained and demonstrated by using extensive case studies, adhering closely to real life examples. Throughout the program emphasis is laid on the importance of reality-checking and the dangers of spreadsheet blindness, on a fundamental understanding of key issues and on the skills of communicating conclusions from spreadsheet techniques to colleagues and partners.

Delegates will be expected to be highly participative and motivated to learn, and to express their needs and priorities clearly.

Knowledge Pre-Requisites

Attendees will be expected to be using Excel in the context of a reporting related role and be comfortable with using Excel for data entry. A basic knowledge of Excel 2007 and later will therefore be assumed, but if delegates need a refresher on specific items then, time permitting, the course director will try and meet their needs. 

The course is also suitable for all senior professionals who may not have had specific spreadsheet training in reporting, analysis, modeling and forecasting, who have developed their skills over time and who would like to develop a broader knowledge of what Excel can offer, as well as reassurance about their existing spreadsheet techniques.

Candidates ideally should bring their own computers with MS Excel loaded in order to benefit from the course

Course Details:

1.      Analyzing Data

·         Using Automatic Outlining

·         Consolidating Information by Position or Category

·         Inserting Subtotals

·         Creating an Advanced Filter

·         Using Database Functions

2.      Data Management

·         Importing Data from a Text File

·         Exporting Data

·         Converting Text to Columns

·         Connecting to Data in an Access Database

·         Creating a Web Query

·         Importing Web Data using a Saved Query

·         Working with Hypertext Links

3.      Fundamentals of Excel Pivoting

·         Understanding PivotTables

·         Creating a PivotTable using Worksheet Data

·         Creating a PivotTable using an External Data Connections

·         Laying out a PivotTable on a Worksheet

·         Modifying PivotTable Fields

·         Using a Report Filter

·         Refreshing a PivotTable

·         Formatting a PivotTable

4.      Enhancing PivotTables

·         Working with Summary Functions

·         Sorting Items in a PivotTable

·         Creating a Slicer

·         Grouping Data

·         Applying Label and Value Filters

·         Creating a Calculated Field

·         Creating a Calculated Item

·         Creating Charts from PivotTables

5.      Excel Business Analysis

·         Creating Scenarios

·         Working with Scenarios

·         Using Goal Seek

·         Using One-Input Data Tables

·         Using Two-Input Data Tables

·         Understanding Solver

·         Defining a Problem

·         Solving a Problem

·         Generating a Report of Results and Alternate Solutions

6.      Forecasting, Charting and Dashboards

·         Inserting chart Trendline

·         Choosing the right Trendline for the right data

·         Linear forecasting

·         Relationship equations for projection

·         Using Excel for Budgeting

·         Budgeting best practices Building & Linking Budgets

7.      Advanced Formulas and Functions

·         Working with Functions

·         Using the IF Function

·         Nesting Functions

·         Using Multiple Conditions with the IF Function

·         Using Table Lookup Functions (HLookup and VLookup)

·         Using Text Functions

8.      Business Intelligence Fundamentals

·         Introduction to excel PowerBI tools• Importing Data

·         Transforming, cleansing and Filtering Data

·         Merging and Shaping Data

·         Grouping and Aggregating Data

·         Inserting Calculated Columns

9.      Excel automation

·         Recording a Macro

·         Saving a Macro-Enabled Workbook

·         Executing a Macro

·         Creating a Macro Button

·         Working with Macro Buttons

Venue: Westlands, Nairobi.  

Date: 6th - 8th December, 2017  

Duration: 3 Days 

Fees: 300$ (30,000 KES)  per delegate Inclusive of Meals, Certificates, 6 Month Post training support. (Group discounts available) 

 

RSVP: outreach@opencastlabs-africa.com