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Excel Modeling 101: 10 Dos and Don'ts

Learn about 10 Dos and Don'ts in Excel Modeling

Created byLenny Wu
IntermediateUpdated Jan 20, 2025

What You'll Learn

  • check_circleEstablish instant connection to multiple data sources rather than copy/paste and stack-up
  • check_circleStructure a table with related data in 1 column for easy pivoting
  • check_circleBuild uniform formulas in Excel models to avoid errors
  • check_circleRecognize effective ways of keeping source data, entry data, and formulas all separate in models
  • check_circleUnderstand how Power Query can help prevent dragging processed data from table to table

About This Course

The course is presented in four parts.

First, brief introduction to what is Excel modeling and how to make an Excel model great: o Accuracy o Simplicity o Robustness

Second part brings a not-so-great Excel model as a business case, and introduces a financial report that is supposed to calculated the DSO (Days Sales Outstanding) measure. By examination, this course demonstrates to the audience 10 DONTS in Excel modeling, including: o Do NOT copy/paste data multiple files and stack them up o Do NOT leave comparable data in different columns o Do NOT process data “one at a time”

Third, we demonstrate how to correct the problems and bring up the list of the 10 DOS, including: o Connect or link to source data rather than copy and paste. o Keep comparable data in the same column o Keep related data processing in “one” table!

Last, the course culminates in summarizing the 10 Dos and Don’ts into 4 categories: o Data source o Data transformation o Formulas o Validation

Prerequisites and Advanced Preparation ● Basic Excel and Power Query knowledge ● Example: be able to open one Excel file and connect to external data files, etc. ● Recommended prerequisite: Power Query (Part 1): Ultimate Data Transformation

Course Content

2 activities • 1 videos • duration: 48m

remove
Section 11 videos • 1 quiz • 48 min
  • videocamExcel Modeling 101
    Duration 48:19
  • quizReview Questions
add
Section 21 quiz

Your Instructor

Lenny Wu

Financial Reporting Expert

menu_book38 courses
star2,468 reviews

Lenny is Senior Financial Analyst at Ausenco. Lenny has over 15 years combined experience in financial planning and analysis (FP&A), financial reporting and modeling, and compliance auditing. Lenny supervises Adaptive Insights system budgeting, and is a CPA, CGA, and a Certified Adaptive Insights Professional and Certified Xero Partner. Lenny is a proponent for "One-click Reporting" for analysts and "Self-service Reporting" for executives. He has strong belief that reporting and closing should be hours rather than days or even weeks. Lenny also acted as local CPA chapter board officer and volunteered for Canada Revenue Agency as a Community Volunteer Income Tax Program consultant. Education MBA, Finance : George Washington University - SBPM (School of Business and Public Management) - [1998 to 2000]

Credit Information

Is this course eligible for my CPD requirements as a Canadian CPA?

Provincial regulators of CPAs in Canada do not require that independent providers of CPD be approved to offer courses. Instead, individual CPAs are responsible for assessing whether a CPD activity meets their requirements, and may take activities from any source provided those requirements are met.

Every course offered on LearnFormula is delivered by a qualified subject matter expert or learning organization, and advances learning objectives that are relevant to the responsibilities or professional competencies of Canadian CPAs. All activities on LearnFormula are quantifiable in terms of hours, and are also verifiable, in that users receive documented evidence of their attendance via a certificate of completion after finishing a course (and this certificate is stored by LearnFormula indefinitely). Nearly 100,000 Canadian CPAs successfully satisfy their CPD requirements via LearnFormula on an annual basis.

What Students Are Saying

4.5 out of 5
Student's Choice
37 reviews
  • NK
    Nikolay K.
    starstarstarstarstar

    Great ideas for a data management in Excel!

  • GJ
    Gregory J.
    starstarstarstarstar

    good materials and clear explanations.

Frequently Asked Questions

We are a registered provider with 300+ associations and regulatory bodies worldwide. We operate across 27 global markets including Canada, the US, Australia, and the UK. Every course page clearly displays its specific accreditations. Upon completion, you receive a professional certificate that can be validated online. Our certificates include all necessary accreditation details, credit hours, and completion dates, and are formatted specifically to meet the submission requirements of most global regulatory bodies.

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