The Corporate Finance Institute Excel

List of Excel Shortcuts

To learn more, please PC shortcuts & Mac shortcuts

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Editing shortcuts

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Formatting shortcuts

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Navigation shortcuts

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File Shortcuts

Ribbon Shortcuts

Paste Special Shortcuts

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Clear Shortcuts

Selection Shortcuts

Data Editing Shortcuts

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Data Editing (inside cell) Shortcuts

Other Shortcuts

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Reasons to use Excel Shortcuts

To be more productive, faster, and more efficient when building financial

models or performing financial analysis it’s important to know the main
keyboard shortcuts in Excel. These are critical for careers in investment
banking, equity research, FP&A, finance, accounting, and more.

The first thing you’ll do if you’re hired as an investment banking analyst is take
a series of intense Excel training courses. Your mouse will be taken away and
you’ll be expected to learn financial modeling with only keyboard shortcuts. If
you follow our tips and tricks below you’ll be able to master these shortcuts on
Windows or Mac operating systems.

You may also want to check out our section on Excel formulas or the Excel
formulas cheat sheet. Excel is quite robust, meaning there is a lot of different
tools that can be utilized within it, and therefore there are many skills one can
practice and hone.

Free Excel Course

If you want to learn these keyboard shortcuts with your own personal online
instructor, check our CFI’s Free Excel Crash Course! You’ll receive step by step
instructions and demonstrations on how to avoid the mouse and only use your
keyboard.

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PART 02
Basic Excel Formulas

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Basic Excel Formulas Guide

To learn more, please Mastering the basic Excel formulas is critical for beginners to become highly
proficient in financial analysis. Microsoft Excel is considered the industry
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standard piece of software in data analysis. Microsoft’s spreadsheet program
courses
also happens to be one of the most preferred software by investment bankers
and financial analyst in data processing, financial modeling, and presentation.
This guide will provide an overview and list of basic Excel functions. Once
you’ve mastered this list, move on to CFI’s advanced Excel formulas guide!

Basic Terms in Excel

1. Formulas

In Excel, a formula is an expression that operates on values in a range of cells

or a cell. For example, =A1+A2+A3, which finds the sum of the range of values
from cell A1 to Cell A3.

2. Functions

Functions are predefined formulas in Excel. They eliminate laborious manual

entry of formulas while giving them human-friendly names. For example:
=SUM(A1:A3). The function sums all the values from A1 to A3.

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Five Time-saving Ways to Insert Data into Excel

When analyzing data, there are five common ways of inserting basic Excel
formulas. Each strategy, however, comes with an advantage over the other.
Therefore, before diving further into the main formulas, we’ll clarify those
methods, so you can create your preferred workflow earlier on.

1. Simple insertion: Typing a formula inside the cell

Typing a formula in a cell or the formula bar is the most straightforward

method of inserting basic Excel formulas. The process usually starts by typing
an equal sign, followed by the name of the function.

Excel is quite intelligent in that when you start typing the name of the function,
a pop-up function hint will show. It’s from this list you’ll select your preference.
However, don’t press the Enter key. Instead, press the Tab key so that you can
continue to insert other options. Otherwise, you may find yourself with an
invalid name error, often as ‘#NAME?’. To fix it, just re-select the cell, and go to
the formula bar to complete your function.

Note that pressing F2 while hovered over a cell allows you to edit the cells’ formula.

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2. Using Insert Function Option from Formulas Tab

If you want full control of your functions insertion, using the Excel Insert
Function dialogue box is all you ever need. To achieve this, go to the Formulas
tab and select the first menu labeled Insert Function. The dialogue box will
contain all functions you need to complete your analysis.

The Excel shortcut to insert a function is ALT + M + F.

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3. Selecting a Formula from One of the Groups in Formula Tab

The option is for those who want to delve into their favorite functions quickly.
To find this menu, navigate to the Formulas tab and select your preferred
group. Click to show sub-menu filled with a list of functions. From there, you
can select your preference. However, if you find your preferred group is not on
the tab, click on the More Functions option – probably it’s just hidden there.

The Excel formula shortcuts are the following:

Recently used: ALT + M + R

Financial: ALT + M + I

Logical: ALT + M + L

Text: ALT + M + T

Date & Time: ALT + M + E

Lookup & Reference: ALT + M + O

Math & Trig: ALT + M + G

More Function: ALT + M + Q

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4. Using AutoSum Option

For quick and everyday tasks, AutoSum is your go-to option. So, navigate to the
Home tab, in the far-right corner, click the AutoSum option. Then click the caret
to show other hidden formulas. This option is also available in the Formulas
tab first option after the Insert Function option.

Alternatively, the Autosum Excel function can be accessed by typing ALT + the =
sign in a spreadsheet and it will automatically create a formula to sum all the
numbers in a continuous range.

Step 1: Place the cursor below the column of numbers you want to sum (or to
the left of the row of numbers you want to sum).

Step 2: Hold down the Alt key and then press the equals = sign while still
holding Alt.

Step 3: Press Enter.

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5. Quick Insert: Use Recently Used Tabs

If you find re-typing your most recent formula a monotonous task, then use
the Recently Used menu. It’s on the Formulas tab, a third menu option just
next to AutoSum.

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Seven Basic Excel Formulas For Your Workflow

Since you’re now able to insert your preferred formulas and function correctly,
let’s check some fundamental Excel functions to get you started.

1. SUM

The SUM function is the first must-know formula in Excel. It usually aggregates
values from a selection of columns or rows from your selected range.

=SUM(number1, [number2], …)

Example:

=SUM(B2:G2) – A simple selection that sums the values of a row.

=SUM(A2:A8) – A simple selection that sums the values of a column.

=SUM(A2:A7, A9, A12:A15) – A sophisticated collection that sums values from

range A2 to A7, skips A8, adds A9, jumps A10 and A11, then finally adds from
A12 to A15.

=SUM(A2:A8)/20 – Shows you can also turn your function into a formula.

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2. AVERAGE

The AVERAGE function should remind you of simple averages of data such as
the average number of shareholders in a given shareholding pool.

=AVERAGE(number1, [number2], …)

Example:

=AVERAGE(A1:A10) – Shows a simple average, also similar to (SUM(A1: A10)/9)

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3. COUNT

The COUNT function counts all cells in a given range that contains only numeric
values.

=COUNT(value1, [value2], …)

Example:

COUNT(A:A) – Counts all values that are numerical in A column. However, it

doesn’t use the same formula to count rows.

COUNT(A1:C1) – Now it can count rows.

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4. COUNTA

Like the COUNT function, COUNTA counts all cells in a given rage. However, it
counts all cells regardless of type. That is, unlike COUNT that relies on only
numerics, it also counts dates, times, strings, logical values, errors, empty
string, or text.

=COUNTA(value1, [value2], …)

Example:

COUNTA(A:A) – Counts all cells in column A regardless of type. However, like

COUNT, you can’t use the same formula to count rows.

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5. IF

The IF function is often used when you want to sort your data according to a
given logic. The best part of the IF formula is that you can embed formulas and
function in it.

=IF(logical_test, [value_if_true], [value_if_false])

Example:

=IF(C2<D3, ‘TRUE,’ ‘FALSE’) – Checks if the value at C3 is less than the value at
D3. If the logic is true, let the cell value be TRUE, else, FALSE

=IF(SUM(C1:C10) > SUM(D1:D10), SUM(C1:C10, SUM(D1:D10)) – An example

of a complex IF logic. First, it sums C1 to C10 and D1 to D10, then it compares
the sum. If the sum of C1 to C10 is greater than SUM of D1 to D10, then it
makes the value of a cell equal to the sum of C1 to C10. Otherwise, it makes it
the SUM of D1 to D10.

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6. TRIM

The TRIM function makes sure your functions do not return errors due to
unruly spaces. It ensures that all empty spaces are eliminated. Unlike other
functions that can operate on a range of cells, TRIM only operates on a single
cell. Therefore, it comes with the downside of adding duplicated data in your
spreadsheet.

=TRIM(text)

Example:

TRIM(A4) – Removes empty spaces in the value in cell A4.

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7. MAX & MIN

The MAX and MIN functions help in finding the maximum number and the
minimum number in a pull of values.

=MIN(number1, [number2], …)

Example:

=MIN(B2:C11) – Finds the minimum number between column B from B2 and

column C from C2 to row 11 in both column B and C.

=MAX(number1, [number2], …)

Example:

=MAX(B2:C11) – Similarly, it finds the maximum number between column B

from B2 and column C from C2 to row 11 in both column B and C.

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