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Excel Tips

Excel Tips

By: CPA Australia
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About this listen

 Excel Tips is a podcast for accounting, business and finance professionals who are looking to sharpen their spreadsheet skills and learn new hacks and tricks from Neale Blackwood CPA, a Microsoft Excel expert. Excel Tips helps spreadsheet users discover Excel’s hidden features and shortcuts and understand how best to apply the newest features and functionality. The podcast is a companion to regular articles in INTHEBLACK, CPA Australia’s award-winning business magazine. Every podcast episode includes links to the accompanying Excel Tips digital magazine article. 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. Subscribe today to stay up-to-date with the latest episodes. Excel Tips is presented by CPA Australia, one of the world’s largest accounting bodies, with core services that include education, training, technical support and advocacy. CPA Australia publishes four podcasts: With Interest, INTHEBLACK, INTHEBLACK Out Loud and Excel Tips. To find out more about our podcasts, visit https://www.cpaaustralia.com.au/tools-and-resources/podcasts - or search for the shows in your podcast service. To contact the podcast team email us at podcasts@cpaaustralia.com.au.© CPA Australia Economics
Episodes
  • Unleash the power of Python in Excel

    Unleash the power of Python in Excel
    Sep 1 2025
    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
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    9 mins
  • Python in Excel: Practical applications

    Python in Excel: Practical applications
    Aug 1 2025
    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
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    11 mins
  • Getting started with Python in Excel

    Getting started with Python in Excel
    Jul 1 2025
    Unlock the potential of Python in Excel with this essential first episode in a three-part series. Designed for accountants, finance professionals and Excel power users, this episode introduces the basics of integrating Python code directly into Excel cells. Learn how Python enhances Excel’s capabilities for data handling and visualisation without replacing core Excel functions. You’ll discover how Python in Excel works and how code is processed using Microsoft’s Azure platform. Understand the key steps to get started, including how to enter code using the =PY function and the role of the new Python editor in the Formulas tab. Also explained is how Python variables behave across sheets, the concept of data frames and how Python’s popular Pandas library comes into play when working with datasets. You’ll also learn how to manage calculation options and understand the new dependency logic within Python-enabled workbooks. Whether you're completely new to Python or already familiar with this programming language, this episode gives you the foundational knowledge needed to begin using Python confidently inside Excel. And don’t miss the fun trivia at the end to learn the surprising origin of Python’s name. 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 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 INTHEBLACK Out Loud Excel Tips Search for them in your podcast platform. Email the podcast team at podcasts@cpaaustralia.com.au
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    9 mins
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