Basic Excel Skills for Accountants

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Many accounting professionals underutilize Excel’s robust features, often relying on manual processes that increase the risk of error and consume valuable time. In this comprehensive and engaging webinar, Excel expert David Ringstrom, CPA, demystifies the practical tools within Excel that can help accounting professionals streamline spreadsheet tasks, improve data accuracy, and work more efficiently. Using real-world examples, this session focuses on Excel fundamentals that support stronger and more reliable spreadsheet processes in everyday accounting work.

To reinforce learning, David demonstrates each technique twice. He first uses easy-to-follow PowerPoint slides with numbered steps and then shows the same process live in the Microsoft 365 version of Excel. He also highlights key differences in earlier versions, including Excel 2021, 2019, 2016, and prior releases, so attendees can apply what they learn regardless of their software version. Participants will also receive detailed handouts and a downloadable workbook featuring all examples from the presentation for convenient reference after the webinar.

Topics Typically Covered:
  • Avoiding the need to create spreadsheets from scratch by using prebuilt templates or creating your own
  • Eliminating repetitive formulas by using Excel’s Data Table feature
  • Comparing Excel’s AGGREGATE function with the SUBTOTAL function
  • Automating chart resizing by leveraging Excel tables
  • Using the SUMIF function to total values based on specified criteria
  • Enhancing the accuracy of pivot tables with Excel’s Table feature
  • Quickly inserting totals in lists with Excel’s Subtotal tool
  • Jump-starting new projects with free, built-in Excel templates
  • Applying design techniques to improve the reliability of the SUM function
  • Understanding how Excel Tables strengthen spreadsheet structure
  • Recovering from damaged workbooks and knowing what steps to take
  • Using the Quick Access Toolbar to filter data with a keystroke instead of multiple clicks
Your Benefits For Attending:
  • Define the argument within Excel’s SUBTOTAL function that sums columns or rows.
  • Identify which versions of Excel permit using slicers with both tables and pivot tables.
  • Identify the command used to activate Quick Access Toolbar shortcuts.

By attending, you will gain practical, immediately usable Excel knowledge that can help you work faster, reduce spreadsheet errors, and improve the integrity of your accounting data. This webinar is especially valuable for professionals looking to strengthen spreadsheet efficiency with techniques they can apply right away.

You will leave this session with actionable knowledge to increase the speed, accuracy, and integrity of your spreadsheet work. This will help you save time and reduce costly errors in your accounting tasks.

Level: Basic
Format: Live webcast
Instructional Method: Group: Internet-based
NASBA Field of Study: Computer Software & Applications (2 hours)
Program Prerequisites: None
Advance Preparation: None

  1. Introduction
  2. Topics at a Glance 00:01:54
  3. Presenting with Microsoft 365 for Windows 00:04:32
  4. Section 1: Smarter Summing and Subtotals 00:06:48
  5. Creating Smarter SUM Formulas 00:07:34
  6. Preventing Double-Counting with SUBTOTAL 00:16:41
  7. Using the SUBTOTAL Feature 00:22:36
  8. Using the SUMIF Function 00:29:24
  9. Using the SUMIFS Function 00:38:29
  10. Section 2: Table Fundamentals and Filtering 00:43:41
  11. Transforming Static Lists into Dynamic Tables 00:44:39
  12. Adding a Total Row to an Excel Table 00:53:58
  13. Section 3: Analysis and Projection 00:57:07
  14. Filtering Excel Tables with Slicers 00:57:43
  15. Filtering Data with the AutoFilter Shortcut 01:02:05
  16. Section 4: Summarizing Data with Pivot Tables 01:06:56
  17. Using PivotTables with the Table Feature 01:07:27
  18. Eliminating Data Integrity Risks with Tables 01:14:34
  19. Section 5: Formatting and Layout Efficiency 01:01:14:35
  20. Creating Self-Expanding Charts 01:14:54
  21. Creating and Applying Cell Styles 01:19:46
  22. Section 6: Worksheet Navigation and Review 01:26:20
  23. Navigating Worksheets with Keyboard Shortcuts 01:26:42
  24. Restoring Full Screen View 01:29:48
  25. Section 7: Protecting and Maintaining Workbooks 01:34:03
  26. Creating a Locked-Cell Formatting Toggle Shortcut 01:35:32
  27. Protecting a Worksheet 01:38:28
  28. Repairing Damaged Workbooks 01:39:14
  29. Top 5 Takeaways 01:41:32
  30. Speaker Closing 01:42:00
  31. Presentation Closing 01:42:13
  • David H. Ringstrom, CPA

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For more information regarding administrative policies such as complaint and refund, and cancellation please contact our offices at 407-542-4317 or [email protected].

You must answer all questions during the webinar, view the recording completely and pass the test at the end with 70% correct answers to receive CPE credit.

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  • #N/A Error 00:32:27
  • Artificial Intelligence (AI) 00:48:09
  • Autofilter 00:57:33, 01:02:06
  • Cell 00:08:29, 00:17:57, 00:44:46, 00:54:19, 01:03:01, 01:19:58, 01:27:50
  • Cell Reference 00:52:02
  • Charts 01:14:43
  • Column 00:17:06, 00:23:52, 00:32:52, 00:46:42, 00:52:24, 01:15:01, 01:27:25
  • Column Headings 0:23:48
  • Data Table 01:41:39
  • Dialog Box 00:16:15, 01:25:49
  • Filter 00:47:11, 00:57:22, 01:01:39
  • Format 00:02:27, 01:20:17, 01:35:45
  • Formula 00:08:34, 00:16:32, 00:22:14, 00:33:07, 00:44:12, 01:07:52, 01:34:36
  • INDEX Function 00:31:53
  • Keyboard Shortcut 01:02:27, 01:27:44, 01:30:51
  • MATCH Function 00:31:52
  • Microsoft 365 00:05:23
  • PivotTable 01:06:52
  • Quick Access Toolbar 1:02:11, 01:28:38, 01:36:19
  • Ribbon 01:02:49, 01:30:08
  • Row 00:07:59, 00:17:21, 00:45:11, 01:27:25
  • Scroll Bar 01:32:48
  • Slicer 00:47:23, 00:57:17
  • Spreadsheet 00:02:15, 00:23:07, 00:43:59, 00:47:42, 01:34:30
  • Subtotal Feature 00:02:00, 00:07:15, 00:17:34, 00:22:58
  • SUM 00:01:58, 00:05:55, 00:07:42, 00:16:55, 00:32:42
  • SUMIF 00:07:23, 00:29:18
  • SUMIFS 00:07:24, 00:31:39, 00:38:34, 01:07:40
  • Table 00:45:52, 00:54:00, 00:57:52
  • Table Feature 00:02:05, 00:43:44
  • Total Row 00:44:2, 00:54:09
  • VLOOKUP 00:31:50
  • Workbook 00:46:27, 01:20:04, 01:34:11, 01:39:25
  • Workbook 01:34:30, 01:40:45
  • Worksheets 00:22:39, 00:46:50, 00:58:19, 01:26:56
  • Wrap Text 00:45:26
  • XLOOKUP 00:31:50

#N/A Error: Excel displays this error when a lookup function, such as VLOOKUP or MATCH, cannot return the requested information.

Artificial Intelligence (AI): Artificial intelligence is intelligence demonstrated by machines, as opposed to the natural intelligence displayed by humans or animals.

Autofilter: The basic Excel filter (also known as the Excel Autofilter) allows you to view specific rows in an Excel spreadsheet while hiding the other rows. When the Excel autofilter is added to the header row of a spreadsheet, a drop-down menu appears in each cell of the header row.

Cell: In spreadsheet applications, a cell is a box in which you can enter a single piece of data. The data is usually text, a numeric value, or a formula. The entire spreadsheet is composed of rows and columns of cells.

Cell Reference: A cell reference refers to a cell or a range of cells on a worksheet and can be used in a formula so that Microsoft Office Excel can find the values or data that you want that formula to calculate. There are three types: Relative, Absolute, and Mixed

Chart: In Microsoft Excel, a chart is often called a graph. It is a visual representation of data from a worksheet that can bring more understanding to the data than just looking at the numbers. A chart is a powerful tool that allows you to visually display data in a variety of different chart formats such as Bar, Column, Pie, Line, Area, Doughnut, Scatter, Surface, or Radar charts.

Column: A column is a vertical series of cells in a chart, table, or spreadsheet in Excel.

Column Headings : The column heading or column header is the gray-colored row containing the letters (A, B, C, etc.) used to identify each column in the worksheet. The column header is located above row 1 in the worksheet.

Data Table: Data tables are defined as a range of cells that are used for testing and analyzing outcomes on a large scale. It is a way to see how altering the values in a formula affect the results. Data tables can store the results of multiple scenarios in your spreadsheet, and saves you time in calculating multiple formulas.

Dialog Box: A dialog box in Excel is a screen where you input information and make choices about different aspects of the current worksheet or its content, such as data, charts, and graphic images.

Filter: The Filter feature in Excel allows you to show or hide rows within a list of data by making selections from drop-down lists. The Filter feature is available on the Data tab of all versions of Excel as well under the Sort & Filter command on the Home menu.

Format: When we format cells in Excel, we change the appearance of a number without changing the number itself. We can apply a number format (0.8, $0.80, 80%, etc) or other formatting (alignment, font, border, etc). By default, Excel uses the General format (no specific number format) for numbers.

Formula: A formula is an expression which calculates the value of a cell.

INDEX Function: The INDEX function can be used to return data from within a given range based on a row and/or column number that you specify.

Keyboard Shortcut: A keyboard shortcut is a series of one or several keys that invoke a software program to perform a preprogrammed action. This action may be part of the standard functionality of the operating system or application program, or it may have been written by the user in a scripting language.

MATCH Function: The MATCH function searches a prescribed range for specified criteria and returns a column or row number if a match is found. MATCH can be used with other functions that require a column or row number.

Microsoft 365: Microsoft 365, formerly Office 365, is a line of subscription services offered by Microsoft which adds to and includes the Microsoft Office product line.

Pivot Table: A report creation tool in Excel that enables you to quickly summarize lists of data into summary reports by clicking checkboxes and dragging fields onscreen.

Quick Access Toolbar: A customizable shortcut toolbar that appears above the ribbon in Office 2007 and later.

Ribbon: The "ribbon" is the strip of buttons and icons located above the work area that was first introduced in Excel 2007. The ribbon replaces the menus and toolbars found in earlier versions of Excel. Above the ribbon are a number of tabs, such as Home, Insert, and Page Layout.

Row: A row is the range of cells that go across (horizontal) the spreadsheet/worksheet. Rows are identified by numbers e.g. row 1, row 5. Examples of use. A row might contain the headings of a table e.g. product ID, product name, price, number sold.

SUBTOTAL: A worksheet function that allows you to sum, average, count, and other otherwise analyze data on just the visible cells within a given range.

SUM: Microsoft Excel defines SUM as a formula that “Adds all the numbers in a range of cells”. This definition clearly points that Sum function has a job to add numbers and the arguments can be supplied using combinations of both numbers and range of cells. =SUM The SUM function is a built-in function in Excel that is categorized as a Math/Trig Function. It can be used as a worksheet function (WS) in Excel. As a worksheet function, the SUM function can be entered as part of a formula in a cell of a worksheet.

SUMIF: A look-up function in Excel that allows you to add up numbers based upon a criterion that you specify. Unlike VLOOKUP, the SUMIF function can add up two or more values and returns zero (instead of #N/A) if no match is found.

SUMIFS: A look-up function in Excel that allows you to add up numbers based upon up to 127 criteria that you specify. Unlike VLOOKUP, the SUMIFS function can add up two or more values and returns zero (instead of #N/A) if no match is found.

Slicer: You can insert slicers in Excel to quickly and easily filter pivot tables. Slicers were introduced in Excel 2010, and they make it easy to change multiple pivot tables with a single click

Spreadsheet: Microsoft Excel is a spreadsheet developed by Microsoft for Windows, macOS, Android and iOS. It features calculation or computation capabilities, graphing tools, pivot tables, and a macro programming language called Visual Basic for Applications. Excel forms part of the Microsoft Office suite of software.

Subtotal Feature: Available on the Data tab or menu of all versions of Excel, the Subtotal feature can be used to automatically insert totals within a list of data in a Excel spreadsheet.

Table: A table is an arrangement of data in rows and columns, or possibly in a more complex structure. Tables are widely used in communication, research, and data analysis. Tables appear in print media, handwritten notes, computer software, architectural ornamentation, traffic signs, and many other places.

Table Feature : The Table feature in Excel 2007 and later is an improvement on the List feature in Excel 2003 and earlier. The Table feature provides enhancements that make it much easier to analyze lists of data.

Total Row: A Total row appears below the data where each column has access to several automatic formulas. The default selection for the Total Row is none, meaning no function is selected when you first turn on the Total Row on your Table.

VLOOKUP: An Excel worksheet function that allows you to look up data from a list by specifying criteria, cell coordinates for the list, column number from which to return data, and an indication as to whether you want an exact or approximate match.

Workbook: In Microsoft Excel a workbook is a collection of one or more spreadsheets, also called worksheets, in a single file.

Worksheets: A worksheet is a collection of cells where you keep and manipulate the data. Each Excel workbook can contain multiple worksheets.

Wrap Text: Wrap Text is a feature that wraps the text within a cell. Wrap Text can be turned off by highlighting the cell and clicking the Wrap Text button again.

XLOOKUP: The XLOOKUP function searches a range or an array, and returns an item corresponding to the first match it finds. If a match doesn't exist, then XLOOKUP can return the closest (approximate) match. Where a valid match is not found, return the [if_not_found] text you supply.


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This webinar received a total of 5 survey responses. Attendees have given an average rating of 4.4 stars out of a possible 5, reflecting the quality and value of the content presented.

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May 15, 2026
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The presenter was very fast and went through instructions extremely fast

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Since it was called "Basic", I wasn't sure I would gain much - but it was extremely beneficial! I would suggest removing the word "Basic" from the title in the future.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Accounting professionals who master a targeted set of Excel skills dramatically increase their speed, accuracy, and analytical capability. The most impactful foundational skills include: SUM and SUMIF/SUMIFS functions for flexible conditional aggregation; SUBTOTAL and AGGREGATE functions that calculate only on visible cells (essential for filtered data); Excel Tables, which auto-expand formulas, improve PivotTable reliability, and make formulas readable with structured references; PivotTables for instant summarization of large datasets without complex formulas; VLOOKUP and XLOOKUP for matching and retrieving data across sheets; and conditional formatting for heat maps and data validation highlighting. Beyond functions, understanding proper spreadsheet design—separating input cells from calculation cells, using named ranges, and protecting formula cells—dramatically reduces errors. David Ringstrom, CPA and author of Microsoft 365 Excel for Dummies, covers these and additional efficiency tools in Aurora Training Advantage's Basic Excel Skills for Accountants webinar, designed specifically for accounting applications.
Excel Tables (created via Insert > Table or Ctrl+T) are one of the most underutilized features in accounting spreadsheets, yet they deliver significant improvements in both accuracy and efficiency. When data is stored in a Table, formulas automatically expand to include new rows—eliminating the common error of adding data below a SUM range without extending the formula. Structured references (like =Table1[Amount]) replace cryptic cell references such as =C2:C500, making formulas far more readable and auditable. Tables power PivotTables more reliably because they dynamically capture new rows upon refresh without requiring manual range updates. The SUBTOTAL function works seamlessly with Tables to calculate only on visible (non-filtered) rows, which is critical for accounting analyses where filtering is frequent. Slicers—visual filter buttons—can be connected to Tables for fast, intuitive data exploration in presentation-quality formats. Converting existing data ranges to Tables is one of the quickest wins available to accountants looking to reduce errors in their most-used spreadsheets.
SUMIF is one of the workhorses of accounting spreadsheets, allowing users to sum values in a range based on a single condition. The syntax is straightforward: =SUMIF(criteria_range, criteria, sum_range). For example, =SUMIF(A:A,'Marketing',B:B) sums all values in column B where column A contains 'Marketing'—instantly calculating departmental totals without filtering or manual addition. SUMIFS extends this to multiple conditions simultaneously, making it possible to sum by department AND by month AND by account code in a single formula. For accountants, SUMIF and SUMIFS replace many manual multi-step processes: trial balance rollups, budget-versus-actual comparisons by category, and aged receivable bucketing can all be accomplished with these functions against a properly structured data table. Unlike PivotTables, SUMIF and SUMIFS formulas update automatically when source data changes, making them ideal for dynamic reporting models. David Ringstrom's Excel for accountants webinar covers practical applications including cross-worksheet SUMIF formulas that consolidate data from multiple tabs.
Excel's Data Tables (accessed via Data > What-If Analysis > Data Table) enable accountants to create sophisticated sensitivity analyses that would otherwise require building and maintaining dozens of separate formula sets. A one-variable Data Table calculates how a model output changes as a single input variable changes across a defined range—for example, how net income changes as the interest rate varies from 3% to 9% in 0.5% increments. A two-variable Data Table simultaneously varies two inputs, producing a matrix of outcomes—ideal for seeing how a project's NPV changes across combinations of revenue growth rates and discount rates. Unlike manually copying scenarios, Data Tables compute all results instantly and update automatically when model assumptions change. For accountants preparing financial projections, loan analysis models, or capital budgeting analyses, Data Tables transform static point estimates into dynamic sensitivity analyses that communicate risk and uncertainty to decision-makers far more effectively.
The Quick Access Toolbar (QAT) sits above the Excel ribbon and provides single-click or keyboard shortcut access to any Excel command—including commands buried deep in menus. For accountants performing repetitive tasks, customizing the QAT can save significant time each day. Any command assigned to the QAT automatically receives an Alt+number keyboard shortcut (Alt+1 for the first command, Alt+2 for the second, etc.), enabling hands-on-keyboard execution without mouse interaction. Highly useful commands for accountants to add include: AutoFilter toggle, Freeze Panes, Trace Precedents/Dependents (for auditing), Paste Special (Values Only), and the Camera Tool for creating dynamic screenshots within workbooks. Using the Filter keyboard shortcut via the QAT—activating filtering on a data set without navigating to the Data tab—is particularly efficient during data review sessions. David Ringstrom demonstrates QAT customization and the most productivity-boosting commands in Aurora Training Advantage's Excel skills for accountants webinar, with techniques applicable immediately to everyday accounting workflows.