K2'S Excel Best Practices

Learn to evolve as spreadsheets do

As spreadsheets continue to evolve, so too must your practices for creating, editing, and auditing them.

In this program devised by K2 and presented by Tommy Stephens, you will gain an in-depth understanding of the best ways to work with Excel by learning best practices associated with Excel spreadsheets in each of the following areas:

1. Creating and editing Excel workbooks

2.  Securing Excel workbooks

3. Collaborating with others in Excel

4. Reporting on data contained in Excel

Today’s best practices for Excel differ significantly from those used in the past and you will learn the best ways to work with Excel spreadsheets in this 'must have' CPE program, worth 8 hours of CPE study time. 

Course materials include relevant examples to enhance your learning experience. Participate in this program to help ensure that you utilize Excel to its fullest potential.

This course covers features found in Excel versions 2010 and newer.


LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Upon completing this course, you should be able to:

  • List critical spreadsheet design fundamentals

  • Identify techniques used to minimize data input errors

  • Utilize Excel’s Table feature as a foundational component of spreadsheets

  • Identify and implement three different techniques for consolidating data

  • Utilize various Excel features, such as Go To Special to solve specific spreadsheet issues

  • List and apply four techniques for sharing an Excel workbook and collaborating with others

  • Implement various techniques for auditing and error-checking Excel workbooks, including Trace Precedents, Trace Dependents, and Formula Auditing

  • Identify the advantages of working with Defined Names in Excel

  • List and apply six techniques for securing Excel data


COURSE INFORMATION

CPE credit: Recommended for 8 hours Computer Software and Applications

Prerequisites: Fundamental knowledge of Microsoft Office Excel 2010 or newer

Program level: Intermediate

Advance preparation: None

Who should participate: Excel users who want to learn best practices for working with spreadsheets. The program focuses on Excel for Windows, but many of the features can be found in Excel for Mac.

Thomas G Stephens Jr.
CPA, CGMA, CITP

Course Instructor


Tommy Stephens received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree (Major in Accounting) from Auburn University in 1985.

Upon graduation, Tommy began working for an Atlanta-based public accounting firm. After earning his designation as a Certified Public Accountant, he worked for BellSouth Corporation in Atlanta as an Internal Auditor.

After two years as an auditor, he was promoted to Staff Manager and then Operations Manager of the Internal Audit Group. In 1991, he transferred to the Comptrollers’ department of BellSouth and served as Manager of the Cost Accounting organization. While working full-time at BellSouth Corporation, Tommy also attended graduate school, earning a Masters of Science (Major in Finance) from Georgia State University in 1992.

Tommy left BellSouth in 1994 and opened his public accounting practice in the metropolitan Atlanta area. In his practice, he provides accounting, tax, and consulting services to individuals and a wide variety of small and emerging businesses.

Additionally, in 1995 he began authoring and presenting continuing professional education courses to accounting and finance professionals. In 2003, Tommy affiliated with K2 Enterprises and in 2007 he joined the firm as a partner.

To date, Tommy has lectured nationally on subjects such as internal controls for small businesses, technology strategies, computer hardware and software applications, tax strategies and compliance, and financial accounting standards and applications. Over the past twenty-four years, he has presented over 2,600 educational sessions to over 68,000 participants throughout the United States and Canada.

Presently, Tommy resides in Woodstock, Georgia where, in addition to his association with K2 Enterprises, he provides consulting services to small businesses and CPA firms. He maintains professional memberships with the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Georgia Society of Certified Public Accountants and is a past member of the Institute of Internal Auditors.

Education

B.S.B.A., Accounting – Auburn University
M.S., Finance – Georgia State University 

Professional Certifications and Affiliations

  • Certified Public Accountant

  • Certified Information Technology Professional

  • Chartered Global Management Accountant

  • Member American Institute of Certified Public Accountants

  • Member Georgia Society of Certified Public Accountants

Meet The K2 Team

Course Instructors and Trainers

The experienced instructors at K2 Enterprises are a dynamic mix of professionals with a wealth of expertise and credentials such as CPA, JD, CITP, CGMA and MBA.

K2's team instructors have all worked in professional environments enabling them to bring 'real-world' examples and experience into the learning delivered through the on-demand courses available in Addviser.

Collectively they have delivered 10,000 programs to more than 100,000 accountants and are recognised leaders in their field staying ahead of developments in technology and how these changes will impact accounting and financial professionals.
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K2 Enterprises

The Training

    1. K2 Excel Best Practices - course overview

    2. K2 Excel Best Practices - Video 1

    3. K2 Excel Best Practices - Video 2

    1. F1 Through F5 Documenting your Workbook

    2. F6 Through F11 Using Excel's Inquire Tool

    3. F6 Through F11 Using Excel's Inquire Tool - Workbook Analysis

    4. F8 Property Acquisition Source

    5. F8 Project Management Source

    6. F8 Pre Design Source

    7. F8 Occupancy Source

    8. F8 Design Fees Source

    9. F8 Construction Costs Source

    10. F8 Art Source

    11. F12 through F13 Compare Files Version 1

    12. F12 through F13 Compare Files Version 2

    13. F14 Clean Excess Cell Formatting

    14. F15 Managing Spreadsheet Assumptions

    15. F16 Through F19 Easing Workbook Navigation

    16. F20 Through F21 Testing for Errors with IF Statements

    17. F22 Through F23 Trapping Errors With IFERROR

    18. F24 Through F26 Planning for Data Expansion

    19. F27 No demo file necessary

    1. F28 Through F30 - No demo file necessary

    2. F31 Through F33 Iterative Calculations

    3. F35 Through F39 Data Tables

    4. F40 Minimizing the Use of Volatile Functions

    5. F41 Through F43 Calculation Timer Macros

    6. F41 Through F43 Calculation Timer Macros - 64 Bit

    7. F44 Removing Duplicated and Unnecessary Calculations

    8. F45 Running Total Samples

    9. F41 through F43 Calculation Timer Macros

    1. F48 Through F50 Histogram Data

    2. F51 Through F55 Flash Fill

    3. F56 Through F58 Text to Columns

    4. F59 Through F61 Selecting Cells with Formulas

    5. F62 Viewing Formulas and Results

    6. F63 Through F66 Tracing Precedents and Dependents

    7. F67 Through F73 Error Checking and Watch Window

    8. F74 Through F79 Creating Defined Names

    9. F80 Through F81 Retrofitting a Worksheet with Defined Names

    10. F82 Through F83 Storing Values as Defined Names

    11. F84 Two Way Lookups With Defined Names

    12. F85 Complex Formulas As Defined Names

    13. F86 Through F87 Conditional Formatting to Identify Formulas

    14. F88 Through F96 Data Validation Rule

    15. F97 Conditional Formats and Blank Cells

    16. F98 Through F101 Tables

    17. F102 Through F103 SUBTOTAL and SUM

    18. F104 SUBTOTAL vs SUM on Filtered Data

    1. F105 Through F106 - No demo files necessary

    2. F107 Encrypting With A Password

    3. F108 Protecting A Worksheet

    4. F109 Through F111 Limiting Access to Specific Ranges

    5. F112 Protecting a Workbook for Structure

    6. F113 Through F118 Adding a Digital Signature

    7. F119 Through F121 Removing Metadata and Mark as Final

    1. F122 No demo file necessary

    2. F123 Co-Authoring

    3. F124 Through F132 Shared Workbooks (NOT SHARED, NO HISTORY)

    4. F124 Through F132 Shared Workbooks (SHARED WITH HISTORY)

    5. F133 Co-authoring in Teams, SharePoint Online, and OneDrive

About this course

  • $229.00
  • 68 lessons
  • 7 hours of video content

Discover up to date best practices for Excel

Gain an in-depth understanding of the best ways to work with Excel.

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