Advanced Excel Analysis & Forecasting

This unit advances students’ Excel skills through applied statistical analysis, regression and forecasting, and specialized financial functions. Students will also master PivotTable optimization and workbook tuning to produce efficient, accurate financial analyses that build on prior units and prepare for applied modeling or capstone work.

Learning Objectives

• Analyze data using Excel statistical tools by calculating and interpreting measures of dispersion (standard deviation, variance), shape (skewness, kurtosis), probability distributions, correlation, confidence intervals, ANOVA, and f-tests
• Apply regression and forecasting techniques by fitting exponential, logarithmic, power, and polynomial trend lines, creating forecast sheets, and assessing prediction intervals
• Demonstrate financial modeling functions by computing internal rate of return and applying straight-line, fixed-declining balance, and double-declining balance depreciation methods in Excel
• Evaluate and optimize PivotTable workflows by renaming, grouping, filtering, pivoting fields, using pivot values in formulas, removing custom calculations/grand totals, and reducing workbook size for efficient analysis