Advanced Excel Analysis and Business Modelling

Advanced Excel Analysis and Business Modelling is a practical one-day course for experienced Excel users who want to move beyond core advanced formulas, data management and reporting into more sophisticated analysis and decision-support techniques.

The course focuses on using Excel to investigate information, test assumptions, model different business outcomes and solve practical workplace problems.

Delegates work with What-If Analysis, Goal Seek, Scenario Manager, XLOOKUP, Advanced Filters, conditional formatting, introduction to macros, Sparklines and other Excel analysis and productivity features.

The emphasis is not simply on learning individual Excel commands. Delegates learn how to select and apply appropriate Excel tools to real business requirements.

Advanced Excel Analysis and Business Modelling can be attended as a standalone course by suitably experienced Excel users or as part of College Africa Group’s broader Advanced Excel learning pathway.

Download: Advanced Excel Analysis and Business Modelling – Table of Contents

Advanced Excel Analysis and Business Modelling for the Workplace

Many experienced Excel users can create formulas and reports but still spend considerable time manually investigating data, changing assumptions and trying to determine how different inputs affect business outcomes.

Advanced Excel Analysis and Business Modelling develops the skills required to use Excel more effectively for analysis, modelling and decision support.

Delegates learn how to work backwards from required outcomes, compare alternative scenarios, retrieve information efficiently and automate selected repetitive activities.

The course emphasises practical workplace application rather than simply demonstrating Excel features.

Download the complete course outline: Advanced Excel Analysis and Business Modelling – Table of Contents. 

Not Sure Which Excel Level Your Staff Should Start With?

Use College Africa Group’s Excel Skills Assessment to help determine whether an employee has the Excel foundations required for more advanced training.

View the Excel Skills Assessment

What You Will Learn

What-If Analysis

What-If Analysis allows users to investigate how changes in assumptions and inputs can affect spreadsheet results.

Delegates learn how Excel can be used to explore different possible outcomes rather than repeatedly changing figures manually.

These techniques are particularly useful in budgeting, forecasting, pricing, target setting and other business modelling situations.

Goal Seek

Goal Seek allows Excel users to work backwards from a required result.

Instead of repeatedly changing an input to achieve a target, delegates learn how Excel can calculate the value required to produce a specified outcome.

Practical applications can include sales targets, margins, budgets, pricing and financial projections.

Scenario Manager

Scenario Manager allows users to create and compare different sets of assumptions within the same spreadsheet model.

Delegates learn how to investigate alternative business scenarios without repeatedly changing or overwriting the original spreadsheet data.

XLOOKUP

XLOOKUP provides a more flexible modern approach to retrieving information from Excel datasets.

Delegates learn how XLOOKUP can be applied to practical business information and how lookup techniques can support analysis and business modelling.

Advanced Filters

Advanced Filters provide greater control over extracting information from larger Excel datasets.

Delegates learn how to use criteria to identify and extract the information required for analysis and reporting.

Advanced Conditional Formatting

Conditional Formatting can automatically highlight important information, exceptions and trends.

Delegates learn how to use more sophisticated Conditional Formatting techniques, including formula-based rules, to improve the interpretation of spreadsheet information.

Simple Excel Macros

The course introduces simple recorded Excel macros as a practical first step towards spreadsheet automation.

Delegates learn how to:

• Record a macro
• Stop recording a macro
• Run a recorded macro
• Delete a macro

The objective is not VBA programming. It is to demonstrate how selected repetitive Excel activities can begin to be automated using Excel’s built-in macro functionality.

Hyperlinks and Comments

Hyperlinks and comments can improve navigation and communication within larger business workbooks.

Delegates learn how these features can make spreadsheets easier to use and allow supporting information or explanations to be incorporated into the workbook.

Sparklines

Sparklines provide compact visual representations of trends directly inside worksheet cells.

Delegates learn how Sparklines can help users identify changes and trends without creating a full chart.

Download the complete course outline: Advanced Excel Analysis and Business Modelling – Table of Contents

Practical Business Applications

The techniques covered in Advanced Excel Analysis and Business Modelling can be applied across finance, administration, operations, sales, human resources, project environments and management reporting.

After completing the course, delegates should be better equipped to:

• Analyse different business assumptions and outcomes
• Work backwards from targets using Goal Seek
• Compare alternative business scenarios
• Retrieve information efficiently using XLOOKUP
• Extract specific information from larger datasets
• Automate simple repetitive Excel activities
• Highlight exceptions and important information automatically
• Present trends using Sparklines
• Select appropriate Excel techniques for workplace problems

Who Should Attend?

Advanced Excel Analysis and Business Modelling is designed for existing Excel users who are already comfortable working with formulas, spreadsheets and business data.

It is particularly suitable for employees working in:

• Finance and accounting
• Management reporting
• Administration
• Sales and marketing
• Human resources
• Operations
• Business analysis
• Project environments
• Management and executive support

Employees who still need to strengthen advanced formulas, data validation, lookup techniques, PivotTables and reporting skills should first consider Advanced Excel Formulas, Data and Reporting.

Where This Course Fits in the Advanced Excel Pathway

College Africa Group’s Advanced Excel pathway allows organisations to develop employees progressively rather than placing every experienced Excel user into the same course.

The pathway includes:

• Advanced Excel Formulas, Data and Reporting – advanced formulas, data preparation, validation, lookup techniques, PivotTables and reporting.
• Advanced Excel Analysis and Business Modelling – What-If Analysis, Goal Seek, scenarios, XLOOKUP, analysis, modelling and productivity.
• Advanced Modern Excel – modern Excel functionality including Dynamic Arrays and newer Microsoft 365 Excel techniques.

Experienced users can attend the most appropriate course based on their existing capability and workplace requirements.

Not Sure Which Excel Course an Employee Needs?

Employees often describe themselves as Beginner, Intermediate or Advanced Excel users, but practical ability can vary considerably.

College Africa Group’s Excel Skills Assessment provides a practical indication of existing Excel capability and can help determine whether an employee has the foundations required for more advanced Excel development.

Complete the Excel Skills Assessment

Advanced Excel Analysis and Business Modelling and AI

AI tools such as Microsoft Copilot and ChatGPT can increasingly assist employees with Excel formulas, analysis and spreadsheet problem-solving.

However, AI does not remove the need for Excel knowledge.

Employees still need to understand the spreadsheet, recognise incorrect results, check formulas and determine whether an AI-generated solution makes sense in the context of the business requirement.

Advanced Excel Analysis and Business Modelling develops the underlying Excel capability required to analyse and validate spreadsheet information effectively.

Course Duration and Delivery

Advanced Excel Analysis and Business Modelling is a one-day instructor-led course, normally running from 09h00 to approximately 15h30.

Corporate training can be delivered onsite at the client’s premises or virtually using Microsoft Teams.

For organisations requiring development across different Excel skill levels, College Africa Group provides Excel Training South Africa, including Basic, Intermediate and Advanced Excel programmes.

Course Content

The one-day course includes:

• What-If Analysis
• Goal Seek
• Scenario Manager
• Scenario examples and exercises
• XLOOKUP
• Advanced Filters
• Simple recorded macros
• Recording, running and deleting macros
• Conditional Formatting
• Formula-based Conditional Formatting
• Hyperlinks
• Comments
• Additional formula techniques
• Sparklines
• Excel shortcut keys
• Practical business exercises

Download the Advanced Excel Analysis and Business Modelling Table of Contents

Continue to Advanced Modern Excel

Experienced users who want to develop their knowledge of newer Excel functionality can continue to Advanced Modern Excel.

Advanced Modern Excel focuses on newer Excel functionality, including Dynamic Arrays and modern formula techniques available in current versions of Microsoft Excel and Microsoft 365.

This progression helps experienced users move from traditional advanced Excel techniques into the newer tools changing how modern Excel workbooks are designed and analysed.

Microsoft Excel Resources

Delegates can also use Microsoft’s official Excel resources for additional information and reference material:

• Microsoft Excel Help and Learning
• Microsoft – Use Goal Seek
• Microsoft – Using Scenarios in Excel
• Microsoft – Create a Macro in Excel

Why Choose College Africa Group?

College Africa Group provides practical corporate Excel training focused on applying spreadsheet skills in the workplace.

Advanced Excel Analysis and Business Modelling combines instructor demonstrations with practical exercises so delegates can apply the Excel techniques covered during the course.

Training is available for corporate groups onsite and virtually. Delegates receive course material and an electronic attendance certificate on completion.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Advanced Excel Analysis and Business Modelling?

Advanced Excel Analysis and Business Modelling is a one-day course for experienced Excel users who want to use Excel more effectively for analysis, What-If modelling, business scenarios and workplace problem-solving.

How long is Advanced Excel Analysis and Business Modelling?

The course is one day and normally runs from 09h00 to approximately 15h30.

What does the course cover?

The course covers What-If Analysis, Goal Seek, Scenario Manager, XLOOKUP, Advanced Filters, simple macros, advanced Conditional Formatting, Sparklines and practical business exercises.

Do I need to complete another Advanced Excel course first?

Not necessarily. Experienced Excel users with the required existing skills can attend directly. Employees who need stronger foundations in advanced formulas, data validation, lookups and PivotTables should consider Advanced Excel Formulas, Data and Reporting first.

Does the course include XLOOKUP?

Yes. XLOOKUP is included as part of the course’s focus on retrieving and analysing business information more effectively.

Does the course include macros?

Yes. Delegates are introduced to simple recorded Excel macros, including recording, running and deleting macros. The course introduces practical automation rather than VBA programming.

Is the course available virtually?

Yes. Instructor-led virtual training is available using Microsoft Teams. Onsite corporate training is also available.

What course follows Advanced Excel Analysis and Business Modelling?

Experienced users can progress to Advanced Modern Excel, which focuses on newer Excel functionality, Dynamic Arrays and modern formula techniques.

Advanced Excel Analysis and Business Modelling Enquiries

Advanced Excel Analysis and Business Modelling is available for corporate groups across South Africa through onsite and instructor-led virtual training.

Contact College Africa Group for course dates, group pricing and delivery options.

Telephone: 083 778 4903
Email: sales@collegeafricagroup.com

Enquire About Advanced Excel Analysis and Business Modelling