Using Excel for Business and Financial Modelling

What This Book Covers

Financial modelling doesn’t have to feel like a mechanical exercise in spreadsheet formulas. In this practical third edition, Danielle Stein Fairhurst – a seasoned trainer who has spent years helping analysts, finance professionals, and business users build better models – distils hands-on techniques for turning Excel into a reliable decision-making tool.

From Spreadsheet Basics to Robust Models 📊

The book moves step by step from model design and planning through best-practice principles, essential Excel functions, and powerful tools for analysis, review, and presentation. You’ll explore error avoidance strategies, logical functions, lookup formulas, pivot tables, macros, and much more.

What Sets This Edition Apart

Updated for current Excel versions, this edition places greater emphasis on financial modelling as a distinct discipline. It includes new material on linked dynamic text assumptions, advanced conditional formatting, scenario methods, and waterfall charts – tools that help you tell a clearer story with your numbers.

Skills You’ll Build

• Designing and structuring models for clarity and auditability
• Applying best practices like linking, consistent formulas, and clear documentation
• Reducing error risk through checks and robust formula choices
• Using functions for aggregation, lookups, dates, and financial evaluation
• Building dynamic charts and dashboards for presentations

Who This Book Is For

Analysts, finance professionals, business managers, and students who already use Excel but want to create more credible, transparent, and insightful financial models will find practical value here. The companion website provides templates, checklists, and additional resources to support your learning.

A Practical, Example-Driven Approach

Rather than focusing only on theory, the book draws on real course materials and common questions from hundreds of workshop participants. Each chapter includes examples and techniques you can apply immediately to budgeting, forecasting, valuation, and reporting tasks.