Understanding key data structure concepts is critical for any modeller who wants to efficiently perform data analysis in Power BI. Watch to hear from Microsoft Certified Data Analyst and Power BI specialist Sue Bayes.
Summarise the outputs of your financial model using standard Excel skills into a concise, dynamic and visually appealing one-page dashboard report which can effectively communicate the results of your model to be easily interpreted and understood by others at a glance. (more…)
Many aspiring modellers think that they need to be proficient in macro building in order to become serious financial modellers. Whilst it’s not a bad idea to have a working knowledge of macros—and the language they are built in, Visual Basic for Applications (VBA)—it’s certainly not critical for a financial modeller to become a super VBA programmer. As we know, the best sort of financial model uses the simplest tools and introducing macros to a financial model brings a whole new level of complexity.
Power Automate is part of the Power Platform on Microsoft 365 and is being promoted as the new low-code no-code tools for the business user. You can set up workflows between Excel and Teams, Sharepoint, LinkedIn, Dropbox, Trello and hundreds of other third-party apps using Power Apps.
As a consultant starting on a new project, I’d always prefer to start a new model from scratch – but that rarely happens! Normally we modellers have to take apart, check and validate a model that’s already been built by another modeller and when this happens, you can either start over and build your own model from the ground up or validate and verify the existing model to the extent that you’re comfortable to take responsibility for the calculations. Starting over to build your own model from scratch is inefficient and a waste of resources. Unless the model is in extremely poor shape, it’s usually far more efficient to use what you already have — but leave no cell untouched during the process of validation and verification.
In this special interview we talk about travel, work/life balance, the highs and lows of starting a business, the privilege of working for yourself and plans for the future.
During all this, we attempt to NOT talk about Excel or financial modelling! (more…)
If you’ve ever wondered what a financial modelling consultant does, watch this pilot video for the new series by “What’s that Job?” Designed to help school leavers find out more about different professions, we discuss what a typical day looks like, preconceived notions about financial modelling and other aspects of the modelling life. We discuss:
When people think about financial modelling or forecasting in Excel, what comes to mind is worksheets loaded with formulae, built in a report-focussed layout. Watch as Ken Puls showcases examples of using Excel’s Power Technologies to build Financial Models and Forecasts for clients. From data shaping with Power Query to DAX in Power Pivot, these tools play an essential role in modern financial modelling solutions.
Google Sheets is gaining popularity but how does it stack up against its rival Microsoft Excel? Many of the recent Excel enhancements were inspired by Google Sheets – or is it the other way around? Join us for another virtual debate to hear from two Microsoft MVPs Alan Murray and David Benaim as we compare the two and debate which tool provides the best modelling features.
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The Full Stack financial modelling community have been working collectively to “solve” the problem of creating flexible rolling monthly forecasts that can cater for new periods of actuals. This is an area of modelling that thousands of businesses and modellers can relate to, and that many find extremely time-consuming and frustrating. (more…)
