Copilot in Excel: AI-Powered Financial Planning & Analysis

Course details

Explore the capabilities of Microsoft’s AI-powered Copilot in Excel in this course tailored for financial planning and analysis professionals. Discover how AI can streamline complex financial tasks, from predictive modeling and budgeting to dynamic dashboards and reporting. Instructor Carl Seidman guides you through the process of integrating technical Excel skills with cutting-edge AI applications to transform the way you perform your job. By the end of this course, you’ll be ready to take your skills as a finance professional to the next level and improve everyday outcomes for data analysis and decision-making.

Learning objectives
Adhere to best practices for maximizing efficiency in financial planning and analysis tasks using Copilot in Excel.
Utilize Copilot to enhance data analysis and interpretation.
Optimize scenario planning and what-if analysis using Copilot in Excel.
Use Copilot to automate complex data analysis and financial reporting tasks.

Concepts

0. Introduction

01 - Copilot in Excel for FP&A

1. Getting Started with Copilot in Excel for FP&A

02 - The evolution of AI in financial applications
03 - How Copilot in Excel helps FP&A
04 - How analyzing data with Excel s Copilot helps FP&A
05 - Introduction to Copilot in the FP&A business case

2. Setting Up Copilot in Excel

06 - Setting up and getting started with Copilot in Excel
07 - Setting up a dynamic data table within Excel
08 - Challenge - Setting up a data table and using Copilot
09 - Solution - Setting up a data table and using Copilot

3. Getting Started with Data Functions in Copilot

10 - Getting started with data functions and insights in Copilot
11 - Using Copilot in Excel to add and manage formula columns
12 - Using Copilot in Excel to highlight, filter, and sort data
13 - Challenge - Intelligence and interpretation of data
14 - Solution - Intelligence and interpretation of data

4. Establishing an FP&A Data Process with Power Query

15 - Using Power Query to import data for Copilot in Excel
16 - Utilizing Copilot in Excel to analyze and interpret data
17 - Challenge - Import and analyze new data from Power Query
18 - Solution - Import and analyze new data from Power Query

5. Answering Finance Questions with Data Analysis and Insights

19 - Reconciling data with Copilot in Excel for FP&A
20 - Analyzing financials, trends, and variances with Copilot
21 - FP&A and business modeling with Copilot
22 - Challenge - Analyzing variances between actual and plan
23 - Solution - Analyzing variances between actual and plan

6. Application of Copilot in Excel for FP&A

24 - Creating an FP&A project roadmap and process
25 - Developing the full FP&A project and process roadmap
26 - Using Copilot in Excel to analyze the business
27 - Challenge - Completing the FP&A business case
28 - Solution - Completing the FP&A business case

7. Copilot, AI, and the Future of Finance

29 - How much can you rely upon Copilot
30 - AI, data governance, and the future of Copilot in Excel

Conclusion

31 - What you've learned about Copilot in Excel for FP&A