CPA Australia

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Channel • 4 Shows

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Updated Jul 1
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Jul 1

How to create accounting reports with DAX

From trial balances to profit and loss statements, reporting sits at the centre of modern finance. This episode explores how finance professionals can use DAX (Data Analysis Expressions) formulas and Power Pivot to build more powerful accounting reports in Excel. Learn how to create scalable, maintainable reporting models using Excel's data model, while applying techniques that can also be used in Power BI. Some of the key learnings: Understand the relationship between Power Pivot and DAX Build accounting reports using multiple related tables Overcome financial year limitations in pivot tables Correct debit and credit sign issues in trial balances Test and validate DAX measures using pivot tables Use AI to write, explain and review DAX formulas Listen now to improve your Excel skills. Host: Neale Blackwood CPA. He has more than 20 years of experience as a Microsoft Excel educator and is the author of more than 200 INTHEBLACK articles as well as a book, Advanced Excel Reporting for Management Accountants. For more, check out the accompanying YouTube video of this episode. Read more of Neale's Excel articles on INTHEBLACK, including this story that explains DAX in further detail. Loving this content? Don't forget to subscribe to EXCEL TIPS and share this episode with your colleagues and friends in the business community. Would you like to listen to more Excel Tips and other CPA Australia podcasts like INTHEBLACK and With Interest? Head to CPA Australia's YouTube channel. And don't forget to subscribe to the channel. You can find a CPA at our custom portal on the CPA Australia website. CPA Australia publishes four podcasts, providing commentary and thought leadership across business, finance and accounting: With Interest INTHEBLACK Excel Tips INTHEBLACK Out Loud Search for them in your podcast platform. You can email the podcast team at podcasts@cpaaustralia.com.au

Jul 1

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9 min
Jun 1

Why Excel macros still matter in 2026

Excel macros are far from obsolete. And here's why. This episode explores why VBAs (Visual Basic for Applications) still play an important role in workflow efficiency for accountants and finance professionals. Key learnings: Why macros still matter in modern Excel workflows How VBA compares with Power Query The limits of Power Query for in-situ data fixes How AI can help write and debug VBA code How to automate data cleansing tasks in Excel Why VBA is a useful entry point into programming How to store macros in the personal macro workbook Ways to run macros from the quick access toolbar Listen now to help level up your Excel skills with macros. Host: Neale Blackwood CPA. He has more than 20 years of experience as a Microsoft Excel educator and is the author of more than 200 INTHEBLACK articles as well as a book, Advanced Excel Reporting for Management Accountants. For more, check out the accompanying YouTube video of this episode. Read more of Neale's Excel articles on INTHEBLACK. Loving this content? Don't forget to subscribe to EXCEL TIPS and share this episode with your colleagues and friends in the business community. Would you like to listen to more Excel Tips and other CPA Australia podcasts like INTHEBLACK and With Interest? Head to CPA Australia's YouTube channel. And don't forget to subscribe to the channel. You can find a CPA at our custom portal on the CPA Australia website. CPA Australia publishes four podcasts, providing commentary and thought leadership across business, finance and accounting: With Interest INTHEBLACK Excel Tips INTHEBLACK Out Loud Search for them in your podcast platform. You can email the podcast team at podcasts@cpaaustralia.com.au

Jun 1

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10 min
May 1

Template tips to boost workflows

Most finance professionals have made this mistake at least once. You open last month's file, update the numbers, hit save, and only then realise you should have saved it as this month's version of the file. This is where templates can help. In this episode, explore how Excel templates solve that problem while also improving consistency across your reporting. Main learnings: How Excel templates prevent accidental file overwrites The difference between workbook, sheet and task-based templates Where to find and manage built-in and personal templates How to create blank templates with pre-set formats and settings Using templates to embed headers, footers and branding Managing template storage, including system and shared folders How to apply templates across teams for consistency and control Tune in now. Host: Neale Blackwood CPA. He has more than 20 years of experience as a Microsoft Excel educator and is the author of more than 200 INTHEBLACK articles as well as a book, Advanced Excel Reporting for Management Accountants. For more, check out the accompanying video - https://youtu.be/RJdT6FF-w58 Read more of Neale's Excel articles on INTHEBLACK. Loving this content? Don't forget to subscribe to EXCEL TIPS and share this episode with your colleagues and friends in the business community. Would you like to listen to more Excel Tips and other CPA Australia podcasts like INTHEBLACK and With Interest? Head to CPA Australia's YouTube channel. And don't forget to subscribe to the channel. You can find a CPA at our custom portal on the CPA Australia website. CPA Australia publishes four podcasts, providing commentary and thought leadership across business, finance and accounting: With Interest INTHEBLACK Excel Tips INTHEBLACK Out Loud Search for them in your podcast platform. You can email the podcast team at podcasts@cpaaustralia.com.au

May 1

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8 min
03/31/2025

Elevate your Pareto analysis skills with Excel

The Pareto principle is a powerful concept for business. In this episode we'll explore this principle (also known as the 80/20 rule) and learn how to apply it effectively in Excel for smarter, data-driven decisions. Discover how to pinpoint vital data – such as the 20 per cent of clients generating 80 per cent of your revenue as an example – to create valuable insights. We'll also dive into Excel's powerful analytical tools, including Pareto charts, the UNIQUE function, SUMIFS, and the power of PivotTables to bring your Pareto analysis data to life. You'll understand how to combine these features with techniques such as conditional formatting and custom charting to segment your data, visualise the 80/20 distribution and prioritise your efforts for maximum effect. For fast reference, use the episode timestamps: 0:07 – Introduction to the Pareto principle and Excel 0:40 – Explanation of the 80/20 rule 1:10 – Background on Pareto and the principle 1:40 – Overview of Excel features related to Pareto analysis 2:25 – Explanation of the Pareto chart 3:25 – Limitations of the built-in Excel Pareto chart 4:00 – Creating a combo chart to mimic the Pareto chart 4:15 – Use of UNIQUE, SORT and SUMIFS functions in Pareto analysis 4:45 – Overview of pivot tables and their role in Pareto analysis 5:10 – Adding cumulative percentage to pivot tables 6:25 – Tracking client progression over time with Pareto analysis 6:55 – Using pivot table filters to identify top 80% clients 7:45 – Introduction to slicers in pivot tables for segmentation 8:22 – Segmentation with formulas and the FILTER function 8:43 – Overview of conditional formatting related to Pareto analysis 9:05 – Adding interaction to conditional formats 9:44 – Importance of investigating the universality of the 80/20 rule 10:00 – Conclusion and encouragement to focus on key factors in analysis Listen to this episode now to gain practical tips and techniques to apply the Pareto principle across various business scenarios, helping you work smarter, not harder. Listen now. Host: Neale Blackwood CPA. He has more than 20 years of experience as a Microsoft Excel educator and is the author of more than 200 INTHEBLACK articles as well as a book, Advanced Excel Reporting for Management Accountants. You can find a CPA at our custom portal on the CPA Australia website. Would you like to listen to more Excel Tips episodes? Head to CPA Australia's YouTube channel. CPA Australia publishes four podcasts, providing commentary and thought leadership across business, finance, and accounting: With Interest INTHEBLACK INTHEBLACK Out Loud Excel Tips Search for them in your podcast platform. Email the podcast team at podcasts@cpaaustralia.com.au

03/31/2025

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11 min
11/03/2025

How to simplify complex calculations with custom functions

Did you know that you can transform the way you can build models, reports and schedules with custom functions? This episode guides you on how they make complex calculations cleaner and easier to maintain. You'll also learn practical ways to document, test and reuse these functions for consistent results. In this episode, an Excel expert will: Explain how to create custom functions using the LAMBDA function Outline how the LET function works Demonstrate creating a loan schedule "mega formula" Cover useful functions like HSTACK and VSTACK Perfect for accountants, analysts and finance professionals ready to take Excel mastery to the next level. Tune in now. Host: Neale Blackwood CPA. He has more than 20 years of experience as a Microsoft Excel educator and is the author of more than 200 INTHEBLACK articles as well as a book, Advanced Excel Reporting for Management Accountants. There is a useful companion video to go with this episode of Excel Tips. And you can read more of Neale's Excel articles on INTHEBLACK. You can find a CPA at our custom portal on the CPA Australia website. Loving this content? Would you like to listen to more Excel Tips and other CPA Australia podcasts like INTHEBLACK and With Interest? Head to CPA Australia's YouTube channel. CPA Australia publishes four podcasts, providing commentary and thought leadership across business, finance, and accounting: With Interest INTHEBLACK Excel Tips INTHEBLACK Out Loud Search for them in your podcast platform. You can email the podcast team at podcasts@cpaaustralia.com.au

11/03/2025

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8 min
12/01/2024

Handy hack to create timeline charts

Excel doesn't have a built-in timeline chart but we'll show you how to create one. In this episode you'll learn how using a scatter chart can help you build a timeline chart. For easy reference, here are the episode timestamps: 0:17 - About timeline charts in Excel 1:33 - Hacking the scatter chart to make a timeline chart 2:43 - Formatting dates using the range 3:32 - Universal formatting shortcut 4:27 - Working with the data series and points 5:40 - The structure of the data to build the chart 7:21 - Linking the title to the cell 8:07 - The date format used by Excel and keyboard shortcuts 9:29 - Timeline charts overview and recap Whether you're tracking historical events or planning future milestones, a timeline chart is a useful tool to create in Excel. Tune in now to learn this simple technique and start creating your own timeline charts. 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.

12/01/2024

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10 min
09/30/2024

How to add a user interaction into Power Query

Reports are crucial to your work, aren't they? Power Query is a valuable tool for importing many types of data into Excel to help you create these reports. However, it does have limitations. In this episode, you'll learn how to address one of Power Query's key shortcomings: user interactions. By using staging queries, reference techniques and range names, users can dynamically filter data within Power Query based on user-selected criteria. For fast access, use these timestamps: 0:17 – About the variable Power Query function 3:37 – Implementing the query function 5:46 – Using a range name for a table 7:07 – Using a query to read the variable input 9:43 – Refreshing the power query 10:11 – Recap and use cases Listen now to learn how to add a user interaction into Power Query. 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

09/30/2024

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12 min
06/01/2023

22 Excel shortcuts to supercharge your efficiency

Unlock your Excel efficiency with these 22 time-saving shortcuts for everyday work tasks. Tune in now to supercharge your productivity. Timestamps: Files and folders: 1:05 Quick access toolbar: 4:17 Keyboard types: 7:20 Keyboard shortcuts: 9:06 Save as: 12:54 Control key: 13:45 More control key shortcuts: 14:46 Copying: 15:55 Date shortcut: 17:36 Control key combinations: 18:12 The ALT key: 19:46 Grouping: 21:39 Accessing the ribbon with ALT: 22:55 Remove filters: 24:45 Pasting values: 25:01 Queries and connections: 25:07 Digital validation dialog: 25:28 Mouse shortcuts: 25:54 The format painter: 26:42 Border navigation: 27:39 Double clicking the fill: 28:28 Right clicking: 29:14 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. There is also an accompanying online article and video of this podcast, which includes a tutorial and sample formulas. CPA Australia publishes three podcasts, providing commentary and thought leadership across business, finance, and accounting: With Interest INTHEBLACK Excel Tips Search for them in your podcast app. You can email the podcast team at podcasts@cpaaustralia.com.au

06/01/2023

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32 min
Jun 9

Crime By Numbers: AML reforms and the gatekeepers preventing money laundering

This publication provides general information only and is not legal or professional advice. CPA Australia gives no warranties as to its accuracy, completeness or suitability and disclaims all liability for reliance on it. Listeners should seek their own independent advice for their circumstances. What does Australia's biggest AML (anti-money laundering) reform in years mean for accountants, lawyers, advisers and business owners? This episode breaks down the tranche 2 anti-money laundering reforms, the growing role of AUSTRAC, and why professional service firms are becoming critical gatekeepers in the fight against financial crime. The discussion explores how money laundering really works, why criminals target trusted advisers, and the practical steps businesses need to take to prepare for new compliance obligations. Main learnings: Why Australia is expanding AML reporting obligations How accountants and lawyers help identify suspicious activity What suspicious matter reporting involves in practice Why knowing your customer is central to AML compliance The role of AUSTRAC as regulator and intelligence agency Common red flags linked to financial crime and tax evasion How smaller businesses can approach AML compliance practically This episode offers practical guidance for accounting, finance and advisory professionals navigating Australia's evolving AML landscape. Listen now. Host: Jacqueline Blondell, editor, CPA Australia Experts: Brendan Thomas, AUSTRAC CEO Geoff Peck, a former fraud squad detective with Victoria Police's major Fraud Group, and managing director Forensic & Integrity Solutions Amanda Wood, managing director, Kroll's Investigations, Diligence and Compliance Practice For more, head to the Australian Institute of Criminology website. Need help with your AML/CTF obligations? AUSTRAC and CPA Australia have a host of resources. AUSTRAC's guidance for small business is another useful resource. And head to the Crime By Numbers homepage to catch up on earlier eps in this second series as well as series 1. Loving this episode? Listen to more INTHEBLACK episodes and other CPA Australia podcasts on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/@CPAaustralia/podcasts And don't forget to click subscribe to the channel for a wide range of content that will help your career. CPA Australia publishes four podcasts, providing commentary and thought leadership across business, finance and accounting: With Interest https://www.cpaaustralia.com.au/tools-and-resources/podcasts/with-interest INTHEBLACK https://www.cpaaustralia.com.au/tools-and-resources/podcasts/intheblack INTHEBLACK Out Loud https://www.cpaaustralia.com.au/tools-and-resources/podcasts/intheblack-outloud Excel Tips https://www.cpaaustralia.com.au/tools-and-resources/podcasts/excel-tips Search for them in your podcast platform. Email the podcast team at podcasts@cpaaustralia.com.au Chapters: 00:00 Disclaimer 00:21 The social purpose of anti-money laundering 00:45 Introduction to Crime By Numbers Episode 3 01:28 AUSTRAC's role in Australia's AML/CTF regime 02:44 History of money laundering laws and Tranche 2 reforms 03:22 Why Australia is catching up with global AML standards 04:20 Why accountants and lawyers see risks banks can't 05:23 Core obligations for new AML gatekeepers: KYC and reporting 07:05 Comparing Tranche 1 and Tranche 2 compliance challenges 08:15 Embedding AML compliance into professional practices 09:37 Knowing your customer and hidden criminal risk 11:03 Business benefits of stronger AML processes 11:37 Common misconceptions about money laundering and cash 12:39 AUSTRAC guidance, starter kits, and industry support 14:29 Enforcement approach, penalties, and expectations 15:13 The real victims behind money laundering crimes 16:32 Resources for new gatekeepers and closing remarks

Jun 9

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17 min
Apr 1

Increment dates easily in Excel

What if you could simplify Excel date calculations with one powerful custom function? Well, this episode explains how. You'll learn: How to handle different date increments including days, weeks and months in one function Using the SWITCH function to create a lookup table How the LAMBDA function can be deployed Best practice tips for this custom function Listen now to improve your Excel skills. Host: Neale Blackwood CPA. He has more than 20 years of experience as a Microsoft Excel educator and is the author of more than 200 INTHEBLACK articles as well as a book, Advanced Excel Reporting for Management Accountants. For more, check out the accompanying video for this episode. Read more of Neale's Excel articles on INTHEBLACK. Loving this content? Don't forget to subscribe to EXCEL TIPS and share this episode with your colleagues and friends in the business community. Would you like to listen to more Excel Tips and other CPA Australia podcasts like INTHEBLACK and With Interest? Head to CPA Australia's YouTube channel. And don't forget to subscribe to the channel. You can find a CPA at our custom portal on the CPA Australia website. CPA Australia publishes four podcasts, providing commentary and thought leadership across business, finance and accounting: With Interest INTHEBLACK Excel Tips INTHEBLACK Out Loud Search for them in your podcast platform. You can email the podcast team at podcasts@cpaaustralia.com.au

Apr 1

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7 min

CPA Australia podcasts provide commentary and thought leadership across business, finance and accounting.

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