Looking for ways to gain deeper insights from your sales and costs data in Excel?

This episode explores the power of heat maps, a data visualisation technique often used for climate data, but equally effective for business analysis.

For fast access, use these timestamps:

1. 0:15 – Using heat maps for sales and cost information.
2. 1:59 – Colour scales options and settings.
3. 5:15 – Conditional formatting and top and bottom rules.
4. 7:27 – Using the large and small function.

Listen now for insights into this multi-functional Excel tool.

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

There's a misconception that Excel macros are outdated or unnecessary. In this episode we set the record straight and explore their continued value.

Delve into three practical macros that can streamline various tasks in your Excel workflow.

More importantly, you’ll come away with the knowledge to decide when creating a macro makes sense for optimising your efficiency.

For fast access, use these timestamps:

• 0:20 - Why macros aren't dead.
• 1:39 - Macro warning!
• 2:18 - The problems macros solve.
• 3:07 - Macro 1 - editing column headings in pivot tables.
• 3:57 - Macro 2 - macro to format spill ranges.
• 5:07 - Macro 3 - building an index sheet in excel.
• 6:19 - Macro message boxes and examples overview.
• 7:35 - When to use macros.

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

Tune in to discover how mastering custom functions can help simplify two complex issues with Excel formulas.

Improve your problem-solving skills by harnessing the power of custom functions. For fast access, use these timestamps:

• 0:20 - Custom functions, episode overview.
• 1:39 - Summing spill ranges.
• 2:58 - Using prefixes in functions.
• 4:07 - Setting up a switch function.
• 5:31 - Financial year custom functions.
• 6:27 - Setting up a financial year function.
• 8:09 - Using custom functions across multiple files.
• 8:53 - Custom functions overview.

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.

You can catch up on a previous episode that explained custom functions. There is also an accompanying article to this podcast episode.

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