
Core Data Analytics: Excel and Power BI Skills for Accounting and Finance Professionals
Full certificate Course
What's Included
10 hours of Instruction
Level: Intermediate
and On-Demand
Video Lectures
Certificate
Instructors
2+ years of experience working with Excel
Install Power Pivot and Data Analysis ToolPak
On-Demand Modules Featured in this Course
- Understand the applicable Excel skills that will be required in making the transition to data analyst
- Understand the basic terminology, applications, and uses of data analytics
- Understand the relationships that exist between different sources of data
- Demonstrate the ability to perform basic Power Query functions
- Demonstrate the ability to import Excel workbooks into Power Query
- Demonstrate the ability to connect to external data sources using Power Query
- Understand the applicable Excel skills that will be required in making the transition to data analyst
- Apply Power Query to extract, transform, and load (ETL) data
- Understand and apply the basics of data cleaning
- Understand what is M Code and how it is used
- Apply ETL processes to a dataset
- Understand the applicable Excel skills that will be required in making the transition to data analyst
- Apply formulas to existing data and debug errors in formulas
- Understand and apply the basics of data cleaning
- Understand the importance of naming conventions in Excel tables
- Under the basic formula language and implementation guidance and be able to apply that guidance to common formulas used in data analytics
- Understand the applicable Excel skills that will be required in making the transition to data analyst
- Apply skills learned to create and structure tables
- Determine the appropriate descriptive statistics to present and present them in a structured format
- Create structured references and understand their relation to formula creation
- Create formulas and apply troubleshooting techniques to formulas created
- Understand the applicable Excel skills that will be required in making the transition to data analyst
- Understand the uses, benefits, and limitations of PivotTables in Excel
- Apply Excel skills to create, structure, and operate PivotTables using predefined data
- Be able to perform sorting, filtering, and calculations within PivotTables
- Understand Online Analytical Processing and when it used in Power Pivot
- Understand the applicable Excel skills that will be required in making the transition to data analyst
- Understand types of data relationships that exist within the data (e.g., linear, normal, etc.)
- Be able to apply VLOOKUP and index match formulas in Excel
- Be able to append and merge multiple data sets into one
- Create relationships in Power Pivot
- Understand the applicable Excel skills that will be required in making the transition to data analyst
- Understand evaluation context-row and filter context
- Understand the requirements to create calculated columns and apply that understanding to data
- Be able to create a dimension table in Power Query
- Be able to create hierarchies in Excel with calculated columns
- Apply calculated column skills to dataset related to journal entry testing.
- Understand the applicable Excel skills that will be required in making the transition to data analyst
- Understand the basic requirements to create array and DAX formulas using Power BI and Excel
- Understand how DAX formulas relate to calculated columns and how they can be created within calculated columns
- Apply understanding of DAX formulas to create calculated columns using Power Pivot
- Be able to create hierarchies in Excel with calculated columns
- Understand the applicable Excel skills that will be required in making the transition to data analyst
- Understand what is artificial intelligence and how it relates to data analytics.
- Understand the basics of performing linear regression and apply that understanding to data
- Be able to accurately model data and create a prediction model
- Be able to apply trend analysis and forecasting functions to data in Excel
- Understand the applicable Excel skills that will be required in making the transition to data analyst
- Understand what data visualization tools are available in Excel and Power BI and how they are superior to previous Excel tools.
- Apply skills learned to create a dashboard from journal entry testing data
- Apply skills to present the output of analytical modeling in an easy to interpret form and evaluate the output of the analytics
- Be able to use the camera tool in Power BI to create dashboards
All On-Demand Modules Listed

Virginia Collins is a former Manager in the Quality Control Department of Berdon LLP. With more than 35 years of experience in public accounting, she has advised clients across many industries. Leveraging broad experience in auditing, accounting, and internal controls, she has expertise in information technology including data analytics, Excel, and active data. Ms. Collins is a Certified Informational Technology Professional (CITP), which is a specialty designation awarded by the AICPA to CPAs with the unique ability to bridge business and technology. She was appointed a Committee Member of the AICPA Credential Committee where she has been actively involved in increasing the use of Computer Assisted Auditing Techniques (CAATs) by CPAs. Her experience extends to planning of engagements — applying CAATs techniques and training staff on their use, internal control I.T. review, quality control review of engagements, data analytics, continuous auditing and business intelligence, and advising on the requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
Find out more about our course
Surgent IQ
ENTER YOUR INFORMATION BELOW TO RECEIVE SAMPLESOnly Surgent has the 35+ year proven track record of educating professionals of all experience levels with an unmatched industry expertise and best-in-class learning technology to ensure you’re equipped with the skills you need for career success.
Surgent IQ’s professional certificate program explores topics in much greater detail than you’d typically find anywhere else, like in a classroom setting, and are meant to teach very specific, practical concepts that can be immediately applied in your day-to-day. And because our courses are designed to address the needs of specific job functions, you can be sure you’re choosing the exact course your career will benefit most from.
By earning a professional certification, you demonstrate to current employers and future hiring managers that you’ve got just the right skills to bring value to their organization.
Here’s how else you’ll benefit:
Future-proof your career
The accounting and finance industries may be going through a period of flux, but by acquiring the forward-looking skills that drive innovation for businesses, you can ensure you’re able to succeed in today’s and tomorrow’s climate.
Make the switch you’ve been thinking about
Adding a professional certification to your resume is a surefire way to demonstrate to hiring managers that you’ve got the skillset they’re looking for.
Take the next step in your profession
Build marketable expertise in the most in-demand areas of your industry, and take your career to the next level.