Details

Category: Statistical Software for Quantitative Analysis

Published: Friday, 07 August 2026 11:12

Written by: Matt Pye - HWD

Excel Introduction for Analysts

Overview

This practical one-day course provides an introduction to Microsoft Excel for analysts, giving participants the confidence to create, edit and manage spreadsheets efficiently.

Designed for those with little or no previous Excel experience, as well as self-taught users who would benefit from a more structured understanding of the fundamentals, the course covers the essential skills needed to organise, calculate, explore and present data effectively.

Participants will learn how to create and manage tables, write formulas, use commonly required Excel functions and work efficiently with larger datasets. The course also introduces sorting and filtering, data formatting, worksheet management and useful navigation shortcuts.

A practical introduction to charts enables participants to turn data into clear visual outputs, while relative and absolute cell references provide an important foundation for building reliable calculations and analytical spreadsheets.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course, participants will be able to:

• Create, structure and manage Excel tables effectively

• Enter and edit data efficiently, including using AutoFill and other time-saving techniques

• Insert, delete, resize, hide and manage rows and columns

• Write formulas using Excel's mathematical operators

• Understand how brackets affect calculations involving multiple operators

• Identify and troubleshoot common formula errors

• Use common Excel functions including SUM, AVERAGE, MAX and MIN

• Understand the difference between relative and absolute cell references

• Use absolute references to control calculations when copying formulas

• Apply appropriate number and data formats

• Use tools such as the Format Painter to apply consistent formatting

• Create, copy, rename, move and manage worksheets

• Work more efficiently with larger datasets using navigation shortcuts and Freeze Panes

• Sort data using one or more columns

• Use filters to extract and examine relevant information from a dataset

• Create and modify charts to provide a clear visual representation of data

• Add and manage chart elements including titles and data labels

• Select and change appropriate chart types

• Prepare spreadsheets, tables and charts for effective printing

• Apply core Excel techniques confidently when organising and analysing data

The source course covers these foundational spreadsheet, formula, filtering, charting and worksheet-management skills across ten lessons.