Best Excel Course for Finance: Top Recommendations and Tips

Excel is an indispensable tool for finance professionals, providing powerful features to analyze and manage data efficiently. Whether you’re a beginner or seeking to enhance your skills, choosing the right Excel course can make a significant difference. Here, we review the best Excel courses tailored for finance users, exploring their features and benefits.

1. Miss Excel – The Excelerator Course

Best Overall Excel Course for Finance and Accounting

• Level: Beginner to Intermediate
• Content: Over 100 concise video tutorials covering essential Excel functions and features.
• Practical Application: Emphasizes real-world Excel applications, enhancing productivity in professional settings.
• Instructor Expertise: Taught by Kat Norton, a Microsoft MVP.
• Course Structure and Clarity: Well-organized with clear, bite-sized lessons.
• Engagement: Dynamic teaching approach enhances retention.
• Relevance: Focuses on functions and tools widely used in finance.
• Accessibility: Lifetime access to course materials.
• Support: Access to a private “Excelerator” Facebook group.

Perfect for those wanting to learn Excel in a fun and engaging way, this course covers vital topics such as lookup functions, pivot tables, and data visualization.

2. Corporate Finance Institute (CFI) Courses

Comprehensive Excel Courses for Finance Professionals

• Financial Analysis Fundamentals: Learn how to conduct and present financial evaluations in Excel.
• Advanced Excel Formulas and Functions: Techniques for advanced financial analysis.
• Fundamentals of Data Analysis in Excel: Skills for using pivot tables and data visualization.
• Excel for Corporate Finance Professionals: Focused on corporate finance tasks.

CFI’s range of courses is designed to boost your financial data manipulation, analysis, and reporting skills, making them highly recommended for finance professionals.

3. Udemy – Microsoft Excel From Beginner To Advanced

Comprehensive Coverage from Basics to Advanced Topics

• Instructor Expertise: Microsoft Certified Trainer.
• Content Quality: Coverage from basics to advanced topics including essential functions and data analysis tools.
• Accessibility: Available online with lifetime access.

This course is ideal for mastering Excel from the ground up, applying skills directly to your finance tasks.

4. Surgent’s Critical Skills Certificate

Advanced Excel Skills for Accounting and Finance Professionals

• Course Structure: Four two-hour online courses on advanced techniques.
• Relevance: Tailored for enhancing skills relevant to the accounting and finance fields.

This certification is particularly valuable for CPAs and finance professionals focusing on data management and analysis.

5. Udemy – Introduction to Financial Modeling for Beginners

Ideal for Building Financial Modeling Skills

• Level: Beginner
• Content: A step-by-step approach to building financial models in Excel.
• Price: Affordable options available.

Perfect for those looking to start their journey in financial modeling, providing a solid foundation for more advanced studies.

6. Corporate Finance Institute (CFI) – Certified Financial Modeling and Valuation Analyst (FMVA)

Comprehensive Knowledge for Elite Excel Users

• Content: Extensive curriculum covering financial analysis, modeling, and Excel techniques.
• Instructor Expertise: Offers comprehensive video training with extensive resources.

This course provides a robust path to mastering Excel for financial modeling and valuation, ideal for those serious about their finance careers.

Conclusion

Improving your Excel skills for finance entails:

1. Starting with the Basics: Consider beginner-friendly courses like Miss Excel – The Excelerator Course or CFI’s courses.
2. Practicing with Sample Datasets: Enhance skills in financial data manipulation.
3. Taking Advanced Courses: Once comfortable, move to advanced courses to master complex functions.
4. Focusing on Financial Applications: Select courses emphasizing finance-focused Excel applications.

Selecting the right course and following these steps can drastically enhance your Excel proficiency, making you more valuable in the finance sector.

For more detailed guides on learning Excel, check out our articles on Excel courses for all levels and mastering Excel basics.

Support Our Mission

Help us empower more learners by donating or purchasing our ebook.

Next Steps

1. Choose Your Course: Review the courses mentioned in this article and select the one that best fits your current skill level and goals in finance. Consider starting with Miss Excel – The Excelerator Course for a fun introduction or CFI’s Excel Fundamentals if you’re looking for a more structured approach.
2. Practice Regularly: Download practical datasets from reputable sites and practice the skills you learn in your chosen course. This will solidify your understanding and improve your efficiency in real-world finance scenarios.
3. Explore Advanced Topics: Once you gain confidence, consider exploring advanced courses like CFI’s Advanced Excel course to deepen your analytical skills.
4. Stay Informed: Keep your knowledge up to date by checking out additional resources on Excel and finance, such as our blog post on top free online courses or Excel certifications for finance professionals.
5. Connect with Others: Join online communities or forums related to Excel in finance. Engage with other learners, share experiences, and seek advice to enhance your learning journey.