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  • Elevate your Pareto analysis skills with Excel

    Elevate your Pareto analysis skills with Excel
    2025/03/31
    The Pareto principle is a powerful concept for business. In this episode we’ll explore this principle (also known as the 80/20 rule) and learn how to apply it effectively in Excel for smarter, data-driven decisions. Discover how to pinpoint vital data – such as the 20 per cent of clients generating 80 per cent of your revenue as an example – to create valuable insights. We’ll also dive into Excel's powerful analytical tools, including Pareto charts, the UNIQUE function, SUMIFS, and the power of PivotTables to bring your Pareto analysis data to life. You’ll understand how to combine these features with techniques such as conditional formatting and custom charting to segment your data, visualise the 80/20 distribution and prioritise your efforts for maximum effect. For fast reference, use the episode timestamps: 0:07 – Introduction to the Pareto principle and Excel 0:40 – Explanation of the 80/20 rule 1:10 – Background on Pareto and the principle 1:40 – Overview of Excel features related to Pareto analysis 2:25 – Explanation of the Pareto chart 3:25 – Limitations of the built-in Excel Pareto chart 4:00 – Creating a combo chart to mimic the Pareto chart 4:15 – Use of UNIQUE, SORT and SUMIFS functions in Pareto analysis 4:45 – Overview of pivot tables and their role in Pareto analysis 5:10 – Adding cumulative percentage to pivot tables 6:25 – Tracking client progression over time with Pareto analysis 6:55 – Using pivot table filters to identify top 80% clients 7:45 – Introduction to slicers in pivot tables for segmentation 8:22 – Segmentation with formulas and the FILTER function 8:43 – Overview of conditional formatting related to Pareto analysis 9:05 – Adding interaction to conditional formats 9:44 – Importance of investigating the universality of the 80/20 rule 10:00 – Conclusion and encouragement to focus on key factors in analysis Listen to this episode now to gain practical tips and techniques to apply the Pareto principle across various business scenarios, helping you work smarter, not harder. Listen now. Host: Neale Blackwood CPA. He has more than 20 years of experience as a Microsoft Excel educator and is the author of more than 200 INTHEBLACK articles as well as a book, Advanced Excel Reporting for Management Accountants. You can find a CPA at our custom portal on the CPA Australia website. Would you like to listen to more Excel Tips episodes? Head to CPA Australia’s YouTube channel. CPA Australia publishes four podcasts, providing commentary and thought leadership across business, finance, and accounting: With InterestINTHEBLACK INTHEBLACK Out LoudExcel Tips Search for them in your podcast platform. Email the podcast team at podcasts@cpaaustralia.com.au
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    11 分
  • Unlock the power of Microsoft Forms in Excel

    Unlock the power of Microsoft Forms in Excel
    2025/03/03
    What if you could seamlessly collect and analyse data right inside Excel? In this episode, learn more about Microsoft Forms, a powerful tool in Microsoft 365 (which, by the time you read this may be renamed Microsoft 365 CoPilot). Discover how Forms integrates directly into Excel, making it easier than ever to gather feedback, conduct quizzes, and streamline processes like expense approvals and recruitment. For fast reference, use the episode timestamps: 0:00 – Introduction to Excel Tips podcast0:10 – Overview of Microsoft Forms0:30 – Microsoft 365 subscription and CoPilot overview1:35 – Update on Excel forms in the Insert ribbon2:00 – Importing from Word or PDF documents2:21 – Sharing forms and mobile compatibility2:55 – Types of questions in forms (introduction)3:10 – Straightforward choice: single and multiple selections3:45 – Required questions and image inclusion4:05 – Shuffle answers feature and branching based on responses5:16 – Free-form text answer option5:20 – Rating questions with symbols5:45 – Date picker functionality5:55 – Ranking type questions with drag-and-drop6:25 – Introduction of Likert questions6:55 – Using sections with Likert questions7:20 – File upload feature in forms7:35 – Net promoter score questions8:11 – Sharing forms: URL, QR code, and embedding8:30 – Limiting form access: public vs. organizational8:40 – Built-in reporting mechanism for responses9:15 – Closing remarks on Microsoft Forms capabilities xplore how to import questions from Word or PDFs, share Forms via email, QR codes, or websites, and ensure a smooth mobile experience. You’ll also learn about the diverse question types - choice, ratings, date pickers, file uploads, and even Net Promoter Score - and how Forms' reporting and branching features can enhance your workflows. If you're in accounting, business or finance, and want to optimise data collection and reporting, this episode is a must-listen. Level up your skills by tuning in now. Host: Neale Blackwood CPA has more than 20 years of experience as a Microsoft Excel educator. He is the author of more than 200 INTHEBLACK articles as well as a book, Advanced Excel Reporting for Management Accountants. Additional show notes, links, etc. CPA Australia publishes four podcasts, providing commentary and thought leadership across business, finance, and accounting: INTHEBLACK INTHEBLACK Out LoudWith InterestExcel Tips Search for them in your podcast platform. You can email the podcast team at podcasts@cpaaustralia.com.au
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    10 分
  • New tool explained: boost your efficiency with checkboxes

    New tool explained: boost your efficiency with checkboxes
    2025/02/02
    Ready to unlock a hidden gem in your Microsoft Excel subscription? In this episode you’ll discover the power of checkboxes with practical examples to explore how this new function can streamline your workflow. This includes how to use TRUE/FALSE values in formulas and conditional formatting to dynamically control calculations and visuals. Learn from examples such as inflation adjustments in a budget model and applying a strikethrough format to a to-do list. Additionally, gain insight into how checkboxes are used in the logical test of the IF function and learn essential keyboard shortcuts for an efficiency boost. For fast reference, use the episode timestamps: 00:21 Introducing the new checkbox feature  01:03 How checkboxes work in Excel  02:35 Using checkboxes in budget models  03:23 Keyboard shortcuts for checkboxes  04:19 Protecting checkbox cells 04:50 Checkboxes with the IF function 05:32 Using checkboxes for task management 07:55 Checkboxes in formatted tables 09:20 Conclusion and further resources You’ll find the new checkboxes function in the insert ribbon between illustrations and charts in the subscription version. Level up your Excel game by tuning in now. Host: Neale Blackwood CPA has more than 20 years of experience as a Microsoft Excel educator. He is the author of more than 200 INTHEBLACK articles as well as a book, Advanced Excel Reporting for Management Accountants. CPA Australia publishes four podcasts, providing commentary and thought leadership across business, finance, and accounting: INTHEBLACK INTHEBLACK Out Loud With Interest Excel Tips Search for them in your podcast platform. You can email the podcast team at podcasts@cpaaustralia.com.au
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    10 分
  • Improve your PDF data handling with Power Query

    Improve your PDF data handling with Power Query
    2025/01/02
    Ever struggled to extract crucial financial data from PDF files into Excel? As accountants and finance professionals, this can be a regular occurrence. To help you, this episode explores Microsoft Excel’s Power Query feature. You’ll uncover how to seamlessly import data from system-generated PDFs like invoices and statements. From tackling tricky formatting issues to cleaning up messy rows, learn through real-world examples using an Australian Tax Office (ATO) PDF as a case study. Additionally, you’ll gain smart strategies for handling regularly updated PDFs to automate your workflows. For fast access, use these timestamps: 0:17 - Introduction to Importing Data from PDFs using Excel's Power Query feature. 0:37 - Types of PDFs and Their Reliability 1:05 - Use Cases for Importing PDF data 3:17 - Accessing Power Query and Importing a PDF 4:15 - Tables vs. Pages in PDFs 5:40 - The Complexity of Importing PDF Data 6:25 - Removing Repeated Headers 7:05 - Addressing Errors and Dealing with Extra Rows 9:20 - Creating a Filter Column 9:45 - Reversing Rows Again 10:05 - PDF File Names 11:20 - Reusing Power Queries11:42 - Conclusion If you’re ready to save time and streamline your data handling processes, this episode is a must-listen. Host: Neale Blackwood CPA has more than 20 years of experience as a Microsoft Excel educator. He is the author of more than 200 INTHEBLACK articles as well as a book, Advanced Excel Reporting for Management Accountants. CPA Australia publishes four podcasts, providing commentary and thought leadership across business, finance, and accounting: With InterestINTHEBLACK INTHEBLACK Out LoudExcel Tips Search for them in your podcast platform. You can email the podcast team at podcasts@cpaaustralia.com.au
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    13 分
  • Handy hack to create timeline charts

    Handy hack to create timeline charts
    2024/12/01

    Excel doesn’t have a built-in timeline chart but we’ll show you how to create one. In this episode you’ll learn how using a scatter chart can help you build a timeline chart.

    For easy reference, here are the episode timestamps:

    • 0:17 - About timeline charts in Excel
    • 1:33 - Hacking the scatter chart to make a timeline chart
    • 2:43 - Formatting dates using the range
    • 3:32 - Universal formatting shortcut
    • 4:27 - Working with the data series and points
    • 5:40 - The structure of the data to build the chart
    • 7:21 - Linking the title to the cell
    • 8:07 - The date format used by Excel and keyboard shortcuts
    • 9:29 - Timeline charts overview and recap

    Whether you’re tracking historical events or planning future milestones, a timeline chart is a useful tool to create in Excel.

    Tune in now to learn this simple technique and start creating your own timeline charts.

    Host: Neale Blackwood CPA has more than 20 years of experience as a Microsoft Excel educator. He is the author of more than 200 INTHEBLACK articles as well as a book, Advanced Excel Reporting for Management Accountants.

    CPA Australia publishes four podcasts, providing commentary and thought leadership across business, finance, and accounting:

    • INTHEBLACK
    • INTHEBLACK Out Loud
    • With Interest
    • Excel Tips

    Search for them in your podcast platform.
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    10 分
  • Master calendar creation in Excel

    Master calendar creation in Excel
    2024/10/31

    Calendars are your go-to tool for planning. In this Excel Tips episode, you'll learn the steps to create a single-month calendar from scratch.

    Discover how to combine advanced functions to build a two-dimensional calendar structure, and how to format your dates and highlight weekends and holidays.

    You'll also gain knowledge of how to customise the calendar to fit your specific needs.

    For quick reference, here are the timestamps:

    • 0:17 – Introduction to building a calendar
    • 2:12 – Functions used in this tutorial
    • 4:29 – How the different functions work
    • 8:11 – Using formulas to create headings
    • 10:30 – Changing the calendar to start the week on Monday
    • 11:53 – Building a custom function with LAMBDA
    • 13:28 – Applying conditional formatting for weekends
    • 14:59 – Shortcuts covered in the tutorial
    • 15:58 – Recap and summary of what we've learned

    Tune in now to easily create personalised calendars that suit your planning needs.

    Host: Neale Blackwood CPA has more than 20 years of experience as a Microsoft Excel educator. He is the author of more than 200 INTHEBLACK articles as well as a book, Advanced Excel Reporting for Management Accountants.

    CPA Australia publishes four podcasts, providing commentary and thought leadership across business, finance, and accounting:

    • INTHEBLACK
    • INTHEBLACK Out Loud
    • With Interest
    • Excel Tips

    Search for them in your podcast platform.

    You can email the podcast team at podcasts@cpaaustralia.com.au
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    17 分
  • How to add a user interaction into Power Query

    How to add a user interaction into Power Query
    2024/09/30

    Reports are crucial to your work, aren't they? Power Query is a valuable tool for importing many types of data into Excel to help you create these reports.

    However, it does have limitations.

    In this episode, you’ll learn how to address one of Power Query’s key shortcomings: user interactions.

    By using staging queries, reference techniques and range names, users can dynamically filter data within Power Query based on user-selected criteria.

    For fast access, use these timestamps:

    1. 0:17 – About the variable Power Query function
    2. 3:37 – Implementing the query function
    3. 5:46 – Using a range name for a table
    4. 7:07 – Using a query to read the variable input
    5. 9:43 – Refreshing the power query
    6. 10:11 – Recap and use cases

    Listen now to learn how to add a user interaction into Power Query.

    Host: Neale Blackwood CPA has more than 20 years of experience as a Microsoft Excel educator. He is the author of more than 200 INTHEBLACK articles as well as a book, Advanced Excel Reporting for Management Accountants.

    CPA Australia publishes four podcasts, providing commentary and thought leadership across business, finance, and accounting:

    • INTHEBLACK
    • INTHEBLACK Out Loud
    • With Interest
    • Excel Tips

    Search for them in your podcast platform.

    You can email the podcast team at podcasts@cpaaustralia.com.au
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    12 分
  • Learn a smart way to hide blank or zero rows

    Learn a smart way to hide blank or zero rows
    2024/08/31

    Looking to improve your report-building skills? If so, this is the episode for you.

    Uncover tips on how to leverage multiple Excel features to create a system that effortlessly hides blank and zero rows in your reports.

    Also in this episode, you’ll discover the subtotal function’s superpower and learn how you can use it to help identify if a filter needs reapplying.

    You can use these handy skills to boost your report-writing efficiency.

    For fast access, use these timestamps:

    1. 0:20 – Using formatted tables instead of macros for hiding rows
    2. 2:38 – About the example and tutorial file
    3. 5:10 – Applying the filter and slicer
    4. 6:35 – The subtotal function superpower

    Listen now.

    Host: Neale Blackwood CPA has more than 20 years of experience as a Microsoft Excel educator. He is the author of more than 200 INTHEBLACK articles as well as a book, Advanced Excel Reporting for Management Accountants.

    CPA Australia publishes four podcasts, providing commentary and thought leadership across business, finance, and accounting:

    • INTHEBLACK
    • INTHEBLACK Out Loud
    • With Interest
    • Excel Tips

    Search for them in your podcast platform.

    You can email the podcast team at podcasts@cpaaustralia.com.au
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    10 分