Financial Problem Solving Using Microsoft Excel

Whether you’re modeling a business budget or a manufacturing process, maintaining a list of employees, or managing your company’s inventory, you’re using (or need to be using) Excel formulas. This program covers nearly every aspect of Excel formulas, from the very simple to the extremely complex.

For Lab environments, participants are encouraged to bring laptops with Microsoft Excel 2003 to class for hands-on practice.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Upon successful completion of this course, participants will be able to:

• Cite and describe the five things that can be included in any Excel formula.
• Employ absolute versus relative (or default)  referencing in formulas.
• Use and interpret three-dimensional cell references, even across multiple workbooks.

• Identify and use Excel tools that will create formulas for you, including the Subtotal and PivotTable tools.

• Discover and demonstrate resources like shortcut menus, screen tips and shortcut keys that increase formula creation speed and productivity.
• Define range names and apply range names to formulas and workbook navigation.

• Apply functions and practice using at least one function in each function category available in Excel.

• Translate formulas and functions on multiple rows (or columns) into a single, complex formula called a “mega-formulas”.

• Formulate calculated fields and calculated values inside PivotTables.

• Produce a “What-if” analysis using one and two-dimension data tables.

• Produce and manage multiple business model situations using Scenario Manager, including the automatic and instant creation of a columnar summary report showing all situations side-by-side.

• Solve a simple problem like setting the value in a calculated field to a specific number  while Excel determines the value of one input using the Goal Seek tool (this is one-dimensional what-if “backwards”).

• Solve a complex problems like hitting a specific ROI or Gross Income in an Excel model where multiple inputs change simultaneously with conditions and constraints using Solver.