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6D AGO

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

6d ago

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8 min
OCT 1

Smarter, faster, easier: Here's what's new in Excel

In this episode of Excel Tips, we explore the latest Excel updates that can help to boost productivity and simplify workflows for finance and accounting professionals. Listeners will learn: How to use TRIMRANGE for flexible range selection What's new with pivot table formatting and an exciting update on auto-refresh How the TRANSLATE function works for multilingual data The simplified syntax for BYROW and BYCOL functions How three new Regex (regular expressions) functions can use patterns to identify data. Packed with practical insights, this episode helps you explore Excel's latest upgrades to save time, improve analysis and elevate decision-making. 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. The companion video and Excel file will go into more detail to demonstrate these techniques. Read more of Neale's Excel articles on INTHEBLACK. 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 Excel Tips INTHEBLACK Out Loud Search for them in your podcast platform. You can email the podcast team at podcasts@cpaaustralia.com.au

Oct 1

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14 min
12/01/2022

Financial data simplified

In this episode, tech evangelist Doug Boyd from Data reFactory delves into different aspects of financial data. He simplifies what it is and how financial data can be combined with other data to provide meaningful information and business insights. Specifically, he offers his insights into key areas that relate to CPA Australia members and, more broadly, the accounting profession, such as data triangulation, data governance and data sovereignty. Listen now. Host: Dr Jana Schmitz, Digital Economy Policy Lead, CPA Australia Guest: Doug Boyd, Director, Data reFactory

12/01/2022

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25 min
JAN 2

Improve your PDF data handling with Power Query

Ever struggled to extract crucial financial data from PDF files into Excel? As accountants and finance professionals, this can be a regular occurrence. To help you, this episode explores Microsoft Excel's Power Query feature. You'll uncover how to seamlessly import data from system-generated PDFs like invoices and statements. From tackling tricky formatting issues to cleaning up messy rows, learn through real-world examples using an Australian Tax Office (ATO) PDF as a case study. Additionally, you'll gain smart strategies for handling regularly updated PDFs to automate your workflows. For fast access, use these timestamps: 0:17 - Introduction to Importing Data from PDFs using Excel's Power Query feature. 0:37 - Types of PDFs and Their Reliability 1:05 - Use Cases for Importing PDF data 3:17 - Accessing Power Query and Importing a PDF 4:15 - Tables vs. Pages in PDFs 5:40 - The Complexity of Importing PDF Data 6:25 - Removing Repeated Headers 7:05 - Addressing Errors and Dealing with Extra Rows 9:20 - Creating a Filter Column 9:45 - Reversing Rows Again 10:05 - PDF File Names 11:20 - Reusing Power Queries 11:42 - Conclusion If you're ready to save time and streamline your data handling processes, this episode is a must-listen. 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: With Interest INTHEBLACK INTHEBLACK Out Loud Excel Tips Search for them in your podcast platform. You can email the podcast team at podcasts@cpaaustralia.com.au

Jan 2

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13 min
12/05/2022

With Interest: Unlock summer job market tips and trends

In this episode, we examine the summer employment market. We look at what jobseekers, recruiters and employers need to know, including those in the accounting and finance industries. We also explore job ads, wages growth, and WFH home trends. To discuss this is our guest expert Matt Cowgill, Senior Economist at Australian online employment marketplace, SEEK. Listen now. Host: Dr Jane Rennie, General Manager Media and Content Guest: Matt Cowgill, Senior Economist at SEEK For more career insights, CPA Australia's "Career, Elevated" December 2022 January 2023 Special Edition is out now. And for market insights, SEEK has produced an employment report across industries with national and state and territory insights. SEEK has also produced a report that examines the advertised salaries index (ASI) trends across a variety of industries up to October 2022. This is our last episode of With Interest for the year. But we will return in January 2023 with all-new episodes. From all of us here at CPA Australia, thanks for listening to With Interest in 2022.

12/05/2022

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21 min
11/29/2022

With Interest: How accountants can support your drought strategy

In this episode, we look at the risks and approaches to drought planning, preparedness and recovery and the role that accountants can play in this cycle. To help explore this topic is our guest expert Courtney Bryant, Assistant Secretary from the Commonwealth Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. Listen now. Host: Kimberley Ohayon, Manager of Advocacy and Engagement at CPA Australia Guest: Courtney Bryant, Assistant Secretary from the Commonwealth Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry CPA Australia has released two new My Firm, My Future e-learning modules to further support our regional and rural members. One on the Drought Support Shared Responsibility Framework which we have referenced in this podcast, and one on Succession Planning for farming clients. Additionally, you can find more useful information by searching "drought" on the official government department site.

11/29/2022

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19 min
AUG 1

Python in Excel: Practical applications

In this second episode of a three-part series, you will build on the basics from part one to gain a clear understanding of how to use Python directly within Excel cells. This includes using the Pandas library, for example, to merge datasets and create data-rich outputs with minimal code. You'll gain the skills to: Learn key differences between Excel formulas and Python syntax Discover practical coding shortcuts and structure for writing Python in Excel Deploy a step-by-step process to create a merged table with sales and GST calculations Use the Pandas library to work with Excel tables (called 'data frames' in Pandas) Understand how Excel loads other common libraries like NumPy and Matplotlib Whether you're an accountant, analyst or finance leader, this episode will help you unlock more value from your Excel spreadsheets by integrating efficient Python-powered workflows. 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. You can listen to part one of this three-part series on Python in Excel as well as read the accompanying article for part one. The article for this episode is also available online at INTHEBLACK. And you can read more of Neale's Excel articles for INTHEBLACK. 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 Excel Tips INTHEBLACK Out Loud Search for them in your podcast platform. You can email the podcast team at podcasts@cpaaustralia.com.au

Aug 1

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11 min
SEP 1

Unleash the power of Python in Excel

In this third and final episode of a three-part series, we explore how the integration of Python unlocks advanced tools for analysis, automation and visualisation. Listeners will learn: How Python connects with Power Query to extract and transform data Ways to preview and filter information using Pandas functions Techniques for reshaping horizontal data into usable formats with melt() Python in Excel can really help your data workflows. It allows you to work with connection-only Power Queries, cleanse and reshape messy datasets and generate dynamic charts in just a few lines of code. And with built-in libraries like Pandas and Matplotlib, you or your finance team can preview, filter and transform data in ways that are faster and more flexible than traditional Excel functions. Who doesn't love that? Packed with practical insights, this episode helps you harness Python in Excel to save time, improve analysis and elevate decision-making. 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. LINKS Listen to part one of this three-part series which covers the basics. Episode two discusses practical applications of Python in Excel. 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. 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 Excel Tips INTHEBLACK Out Loud Search for them in your podcast platform. You can email the podcast team at podcasts@cpaaustralia.com.au

Sep 1

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9 min
05/04/2023

Excel and ChatGPT

Can ChatGPT give accurate and reliable answers to Excel questions? Neale Blackwood CPA puts this popular AI tool to the test. 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. Read the accompanying online article of this podcast, which includes a video 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 on your podcast platform. You can email the podcast team at podcasts@cpaaustralia.com.au

05/04/2023

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14 min
OCT 21

Beat burnout: Expert strategies to help you today

How's your mental energy? It's an important question to ask yourself. Here's why. As the working year draws to a close, your mental energy may be a little low. This can have implications not only for you, but your work productivity. In this episode, we explore how finance professionals can protect their mental bandwidth, sustain their energy and lead with purpose without burning out. You'll learn practical ways to recharge your "mental battery" and create balance in high-pressure workplaces. You'll gain insights such as: How to measure and manage your mental energy like any other performance metric Daily habits to reset focus and reduce stress in busy work environments The link between wellbeing and productivity in finance roles Why emotionally intelligent leadership creates stronger, more resilient teams Listen now for smart advice. Host: Adrienne Biscontin, External Affairs Adviser, Policy and Advocacy, CPA Australia Guest: Tim Jack Adams, author and founder and CEO of GreenX7 For more on today's special guest Tim Jack Adams, head to his website. And learn more about GreenX7 and its 'battery check' mental health feature at the website. Loving this podcast? You can listen to more INTHEBLACK episodes and other CPA Australia podcasts on YouTube. 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

Oct 21

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22 min

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

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CPA Australia

Top Shows

How to simplify complex calculations with custom functions

Smarter, faster, easier: Here's what's new in Excel

Financial data simplified

Improve your PDF data handling with Power Query

With Interest: Unlock summer job market tips and trends

With Interest: How accountants can support your drought strategy

Python in Excel: Practical applications

Unleash the power of Python in Excel

Excel and ChatGPT

Beat burnout: Expert strategies to help you today

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