Self-Study
Drive Your Dashboard with Excel
Transform Excel data into dynamic dashboards. Learn to create charts, use conditional formatting, and master pivot tables for faster business decision-making.
Price range: $174.00 through $204.00
Webcasts are available for viewing Monday – Friday, 8am – 8pm ET,
and Saturday & Sunday, 10am – 6pm ET.
Without FlexCast, you must start with enough time to finish. (1 Hr/Credit)
 Secure Transaction CPE Credits
6 Credits: Computer Software & Applications
Course Level
Intermediate
Format
Self-Study
Course Description
A dashboard provides pertinent summary information to assist in management decision making. It is geared to emphasize areas of performance that managers are interested in. It essentially provides the analysis which allows the users to draw a quick conclusion based on the trends and comparisons shown.
This is NOT a PowerBI or Power Query course. The emphasis here is on using basic Excel functions that everyone has access. In this course we are focusing on using Excel to create an effective dashboard using Tables, Charts, Camera Tool, Conditional formatting, Data Validation, In-cell Charts and functions such as SUMIF and INDEX. There is a strong emphasis on charts due to the visual nature of a dashboard.
This course assumes a good underlying knowledge base of Excel and a basic knowledge of chart creation as much of the course focuses on charting features as well as basic functions.
Learning Objectives
Upon successful completion of this course, participants will be able to:
- Identify and define a dashboard and its different components
- Recognize the design component of the dashboard
- Recognize, create and edit appropriate charts for a dashboard
- Recognize, create and edit in-cell charts and tables
- Recognize and create Sparklines
- Apply different linking methods in a dashboard
- Apply different filtering techniques and data validation to data
- Recognize and understand how to use absolute cell references and range names
- Recognize the pros and cons of pivot charts and how to use them in a dashboard
- Recognize the different types of conditional formatting and how to apply them
- Recognize and apply different functions within a dashboard
- Recognize how to protect and distribute dashboards
Course Specifics
2174528
December 1, 2025
An intermediate knowledge of Excel is assumed.
• Basic understanding of file management- how to open and save files.
• Knowledge of how to create and format a simple chart and pivot table.
• How to use formulas and basic functions such as IF.
• Understanding of absolute cell references
184
Compliance Information
CFP Notice: Not all courses that qualify for CFP® credit are registered by Western CPE. If a course does not have a CFP registration number in the compliance section, the continuing education will need to be individually reported with the CFP Board. For more information on the reporting process, required documentation, processing fee, etc., contact the CFP Board. CFP Professionals must take each course in it’s entirety, the CFP Board DOES NOT accept partial credits for courses.
Meet The Experts
Patricia McCarthy, MBA, is a partner at CFO Resources LLC, a company focused on training and courseware for CPAs. Her focus is on Microsoft products, particularly Excel, and how to use these programs effectively in business. She’s also certified as an MOS expert in Excel. Patricia has been in software training for over 20 years, and her client list includes the Indiana CPA Society, which awarded her its Outstanding Discussion Leader award. She has been a contributor to the Journal of Accountancy and has published articles in several CPA society magazines, including societies in Indiana, Missouri, Texas, and Arizona. Patricia is a …
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