A Comprehensive Excel Masterclass from Coursera

The Comprehensive Excel Masterclass is an advanced course designed to empower students with the skills and knowledge needed to maximize the potential of Microsoft Excel in a business environment. This course goes beyond the basics and explores advanced functions, and features that will enable students to perform complex calculations, retrieve and manipulate data from multiple sources, and gain valuable insights from data. The course combines theoretical concepts with practical exercises and examples to reinforce learning.

A crucial aspect of business decision-making involves understanding the time value of money. In this course, students will be exposed to time value of money principles and learn how to utilize Excel's financial functions to analyze loans, create amortization schedules, and evaluate project valuations. By leveraging functions such as PV, FV, NPV, PMT, IRR and more, students will be able to make informed financial decisions.

A significant portion of the course is dedicated to creating Excel dashboards, which are effective tools for visually presenting performance data (such as KPIs). Participants will learn how to leverage Pivot Tables to create dynamic and interactive dashboards utilizing slicers, timelines, and calculated fields to enhance data exploration and create compelling dashboards.

Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to:

- Utilize complex Excel functions and techniques to extract and manipulate data.

- Evaluate the financial viability of loans using Excel's financial functions.

- Apply the principles of Capital Budgeting for project selection and investment decisions.

- Create advanced Pivot Tables and Pivot Charts for data analysis and visualization.

- Develop interactive dashboards with Form Controls to enhance user experience.

- Design custom charts for effective data visualization.

- Apply Excel's latest features and updates in Office 365/Google Sheets for increased productivity.

- Showcase key performance indicators (KPIs) to support data-driven decision-making in business intelligence.

What's inside

Syllabus

Module 1: Financial Analysis in Excel

Welcome to Mastering Excel Essentials to Enhance Business Value! In this module, you'll delve into the core concept of Time Value of Money (TVM) and its pivotal role in financial decision-making. Using Excel, you'll learn to visualize cash flows, calculate present and future values, differentiate between interest types, evaluate projects, and perform loan-related calculations. We'll explore Capital Budgeting, Equivalent Annual Worth, IRR, and incremental analysis techniques for project comparison, equipping you with essential skills to make informed financial decisions. Whether you're an investor, loan manager, or planning for your retirement, this module will empower you to excel in financial analysis and decision-making using Excel's powerful tools.

Module 2: Transforming Raw Data into Meaningful Insights

Welcome to Module 2! This module covers a wide array of topics from basic to advanced. You will learn not just how to set up and customize pivot tables in both Excel and Google Sheets, but also delve deep into understanding field settings, aggregation methods, layout options, and more to bring your data analysis to the next level. We'll also explore Office 365/Google Sheets' latest functions, like FILTER, SORT, UNIQUE, and dynamic arrays, equipping you with the skills to handle complex data sets efficiently. By the end of this module, you'll be able to create dynamic reports and dashboards that offer profound insights into your data, thus enhancing your decision-making capabilities.

Module 3: Driving Business Intelligence with Excel Dashboards

Welcome to Module 3! In today's data-driven world, the ability to create dashboards that are both interactive and informative is absolutely crucial for effective data analysis and decision-making. In this module, we'll dive deep into the art of dashboard design, focusing on the practical application of our lessons. You'll learn how to leverage Excel's Form Controls to build dynamic and user-friendly dashboards without the need for VBA programming. But this module is about much more than Excel functions. It's about mastering the design principles that make dashboards meaningful and effective. You'll discover how to craft displays of quantitative data that facilitate managerial decision-making. We'll explore essential theories, concepts, and methodologies to visualize and analyze real-world data. From mastering data retrieval techniques with INDEX to exploring ways to create dynamic charts, this module is designed to transform you into an adept dashboard designer, capable of synthesizing and visualizing complex data in an easily digestible format.

Summative Course Assessment

This module contains the summative course assessment that has been designed to evaluate your understanding of the course material and assess your ability to apply the knowledge you have acquired throughout the course. Be sure to review the course material thoroughly before taking the assessment.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Provides a comprehensive approach to data analysis and visualization with Excel

Enhances financial decision-making skills by utilizing Excel's financial functions

Develops advanced skills in data manipulation, retrieval, and transformation

Emphasizes the practical application of Excel skills through interactive exercises and examples

Requires no prior coding knowledge, making it accessible to a wider audience

Covers the latest features and updates in Microsoft Office 365 and Google Sheets

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in A Comprehensive Excel Masterclass with these activities:

Become Familiar with Excel's User Interface

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Familiarize yourself with the layout and functionalities of Excel's user interface to navigate the software efficiently.

Browse courses on Excel

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Watch tutorial videos or read documentation on Excel's user interface.
Explore the different tabs, menus, and toolbars in Excel.
Practice using basic navigation shortcuts and commands.

Practice Percentage, Order of Operations, and Equations

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Review these basic mathematical operations to strengthen your mathematical foundation for more advanced concepts in this course.

Browse courses on Order of Operations

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Review the definitions and formulas for percentage, order of operations, and equations.
Solve practice problems involving percentages, order of operations, and equations.
Complete online quizzes or worksheets to assess your understanding.

Read 'Excel Power Pivot and Power BI' by Alberto Ferrari and Marco Russo

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Gain insights into advanced data analysis techniques and tools by reading this comprehensive book.

View DAX Patterns: Second Edition on Amazon

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Read the chapters relevant to the topics covered in the course.
Take notes and highlight key concepts.
Complete the practice exercises provided in the book.

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Join a Study Group for Excel

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Collaborate with peers, discuss course material, and reinforce your understanding of Excel concepts.

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Find a study group or create one with classmates.
Meet regularly to discuss course material.
Work together on practice problems and projects.

Practice Creating and Editing Complex Formulas

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Enhance your understanding of Excel's formula syntax and functions by practicing the creation and editing of complex formulas.

Browse courses on Formulas

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Review the different types of formulas and functions available in Excel.
Create formulas using a combination of functions, references, and operators.
Edit and troubleshoot existing formulas to ensure accuracy and efficiency.

Attend an Excel User Group Meeting

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Connect with other Excel users, share knowledge, and learn about new techniques by attending a user group meeting.

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Find a local Excel user group meeting.
Attend the meeting and introduce yourself.
Participate in discussions and ask questions.

Develop a Visual Dashboard to Track Business Performance

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Apply your knowledge of data visualization to create an interactive dashboard that effectively tracks and communicates key business performance indicators.

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Identify the key performance indicators that need to be tracked.
Design the layout and structure of the dashboard.
Use charts, graphs, and other visualization techniques to present the data.
Implement interactive features to allow users to explore the data further.

Volunteer as a Data Analyst

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Apply your Excel skills to real-world projects and make a meaningful contribution to your community.

Browse courses on Data Analysis

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Find a volunteer opportunity that involves data analysis.
Use your Excel skills to analyze data and solve problems.
Communicate your findings and recommendations to stakeholders.

Career center

Learners who complete A Comprehensive Excel Masterclass will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Financial Analyst

Financial Analysts apply their deep understanding of financial markets, investment principles, and business valuation to contribute to important business decisions. The Comprehensive Excel Masterclass can equip you with the advanced Excel skills needed to analyze trends, forecast financial performance, and make data-driven recommendations. By mastering functions such as PV, FV, NPV, PMT, and IRR, you can enhance your ability to evaluate the financial viability of projects and make informed investment decisions.

See salaries and explore the career path for Financial Analyst

Investment Banker

Investment Bankers provide advisory services to corporations and governments, assisting them with mergers and acquisitions, capital raising, and other strategic financial transactions. The Comprehensive Excel Masterclass can empower you with the skills to build complex financial models, perform due diligence, and prepare pitch books. By leveraging Excel's advanced functions and features, you can demonstrate your proficiency in financial analysis and valuation, making you a valuable asset to investment banking teams.

See salaries and explore the career path for Investment Banker

Management Consultant

Management Consultants help organizations improve their performance by identifying areas for improvement and developing and implementing solutions. The Comprehensive Excel Masterclass can provide you with the analytical and problem-solving skills needed to succeed in this role. By mastering advanced Excel functions and techniques, you can effectively analyze data, identify trends, and develop data-driven recommendations that drive business outcomes.

See salaries and explore the career path for Management Consultant

Data Analyst

Data Analysts use their technical skills to extract insights from data, helping businesses make informed decisions. The Comprehensive Excel Masterclass can enhance your ability to clean, manipulate, and analyze large datasets using Excel's advanced features. By mastering Pivot Tables and Pivot Charts, you can create interactive data visualizations that communicate insights effectively, making you a valuable asset to data analytics teams.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Analyst

Business Analyst

Business Analysts bridge the gap between business and IT, translating business requirements into technical specifications. The Comprehensive Excel Masterclass can provide you with the skills to analyze business processes, identify inefficiencies, and develop solutions using Excel's advanced functions. By mastering data manipulation and visualization techniques, you can effectively communicate your findings to stakeholders, making you a key player in driving business improvements.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Analyst

Financial Planner

Financial Planners help individuals and families manage their finances, plan for retirement, and achieve their financial goals. The Comprehensive Excel Masterclass can equip you with the skills to create personalized financial plans, analyze investment portfolios, and make informed financial decisions. By mastering Excel's financial functions and features, you can demonstrate your proficiency in financial planning and help clients navigate complex financial landscapes.

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Auditor

Auditors examine financial records to ensure accuracy and compliance with regulations. The Comprehensive Excel Masterclass can enhance your ability to analyze financial data, identify discrepancies, and prepare audit reports using Excel's advanced functions. By mastering data manipulation and visualization techniques, you can effectively communicate your findings to stakeholders, contributing to the integrity of financial reporting.

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Operations Manager

Operations Managers oversee the day-to-day operations of an organization, ensuring efficiency and productivity. The Comprehensive Excel Masterclass can provide you with the skills to analyze operational data, identify bottlenecks, and develop improvement plans using Excel's advanced functions. By mastering data manipulation and visualization techniques, you can effectively communicate your findings to stakeholders, enabling them to make informed decisions that drive operational excellence.

See salaries and explore the career path for Operations Manager

Marketing Analyst

Marketing Analysts use data to understand customer behavior, evaluate marketing campaigns, and make data-driven decisions. The Comprehensive Excel Masterclass can enhance your ability to analyze marketing data, identify trends, and develop insights using Excel's advanced functions. By mastering data manipulation and visualization techniques, you can effectively communicate your findings to stakeholders, enabling them to optimize marketing strategies and improve campaign performance.

See salaries and explore the career path for Marketing Analyst

Project Manager

Project Managers plan, execute, and close projects, ensuring timely delivery and successful outcomes. The Comprehensive Excel Masterclass can provide you with the skills to create project timelines, track progress, and manage resources using Excel's advanced functions. By mastering data manipulation and visualization techniques, you can effectively communicate your findings to stakeholders, enabling them to make informed decisions that drive project success.

See salaries and explore the career path for Project Manager

Business Development Manager

Business Development Managers identify and pursue new business opportunities for an organization. The Comprehensive Excel Masterclass can enhance your ability to analyze market data, identify potential customers, and develop sales strategies using Excel's advanced functions. By mastering data manipulation and visualization techniques, you can effectively communicate your findings to stakeholders, enabling them to make informed decisions that drive business growth.

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Data Scientist

Data Scientists use statistical and machine learning techniques to extract insights from data, enabling organizations to make informed decisions. The Comprehensive Excel Masterclass may be useful for Data Scientists who wish to enhance their data manipulation and visualization skills using Excel's advanced functions. By mastering data manipulation and visualization techniques, you can effectively communicate your findings to stakeholders, enabling them to understand complex data and make informed decisions.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Scientist

Software Engineer

Software Engineers design, develop, and maintain software applications. The Comprehensive Excel Masterclass may be useful for Software Engineers who wish to enhance their data manipulation and visualization skills using Excel's advanced functions. By mastering data manipulation and visualization techniques, you can effectively communicate your findings to stakeholders, enabling them to understand complex data and make informed decisions.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Engineer

Information Technology Manager

Information Technology Managers plan, implement, and maintain information technology systems for an organization. The Comprehensive Excel Masterclass may be useful for Information Technology Managers who wish to enhance their data manipulation and visualization skills using Excel's advanced functions. By mastering data manipulation and visualization techniques, you can effectively communicate your findings to stakeholders, enabling them to understand complex data and make informed decisions.

See salaries and explore the career path for Information Technology Manager

Human Resources Manager

Human Resources Managers plan, implement, and maintain human resources policies and programs for an organization. The Comprehensive Excel Masterclass may be useful for Human Resources Managers who wish to enhance their data manipulation and visualization skills using Excel's advanced functions. By mastering data manipulation and visualization techniques, you can effectively communicate your findings to stakeholders, enabling them to understand complex data and make informed decisions.

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A Comprehensive Excel Masterclass

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