Using Excel for Business Analysis: A Guide to Financial Modelling Fundamentals, + Website

Contents

Preface

Chapter 1: What is Financial Modelling?

What’s the Difference between a Spreadsheet and a Financial Model?

Types and Purposes of Financial Models

Tool Selection

What Skills Do you Need to Be a Good Financial Modeller?

The Ideal Financial Modeller

Summary

Chapter 2: Building a Model

Model Design

The Golden Rules for Model Design

Design Issues

The Workbook Anatomy of a Model

Project Planning Your Model

Model Layout Flow Charting

Steps to Building a Model

Information Requests

Version-Control Documentation

Summary

Chapter 3: Best Practice Principles of Modelling

Document Your Assumptions

Linking, Not Hard Coding

Only Enter Data Once

Avoid Bad Habits

Use Consistent Formulas

Format and Label Clearly

Methods and Tools of Assumptions Documentation

Linked Dynamic Text Assumptions Documentation

What Makes a Good Model?

Summary

Chapter 4: Financial Modelling Techniques

The Problem with Excel

Error Avoidance Strategies

How Long Should a Formula Be?

Linking to External Files

Building Error Checks

Avoid Error Displays in Formulas

Circular References

Summary

Chapter 5: Using Excel in Financial Modelling

Formulas and Functions in Excel

Excel Versions

Handy Excel Shortcuts

Basic Excel Functions

Logical Functions

Nesting: Combining Simple Functions to Create Complex Formulas

Cell Referencing Best Practices

Named Ranges

Summary

Chapter 6: Functions for Financial Modelling

Aggregation Functions

LOOKUP Formulas

Other Useful Functions

Working with Dates

Financial Project Evaluation ...