[Crowne Plaza, Tuesday 22 October 2024] IBSU, alongside CPA PNG, successfully hosted the two-day Continuing Professional Development (CPD) workshop on “Microsoft Excel: Beginner to Advanced Skills.

The program, held at Crowne Plaza Hotel in Port Moresby on the 15th and 16th of October 2024, attracted 30 professionals from various industries, including accounting, banking, and auditing. Participants were eager to sharpen their technical skills in Excel, with special attention to applications critical for financial analysis, auditing, and reporting.

The workshop was conducted by two highly experienced resource professionals, Mr. Jobin, Academic Pro-Vice Chancellor, and Mr. Deepan, Senior Lecturer from the School of IT at IBSUniversity. Both facilitators are renowned for their proficiency in data analytics and financial systems, positioning them as exemplary leaders for this program. Their contributions guaranteed that participants acquired practical knowledge to improve their use of Microsoft Excel in accounting and auditing contexts.

Key Modules and Training Content

The training sessions were organized into beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels, allowing for the needs of participants at various proficiency levels. Each module highlighted hands-on learning and practical applications, concentrating specifically on accounting and auditing procedures.

Beginner Level

The beginner modules introduced essential Excel features and functions necessary for basic financial tasks. Topics included:

• Workbook and Worksheet Management: Participants learned to effectively navigate and manage multiple workbooks and worksheets, streamlining data organization for financial records.
• Basic Functions and Formulas: Participants practiced key formulas like SUM, AVERAGE, and simple arithmetic functions, necessary for day-to-day accounting activities.
• Data Formatting for Financial Reporting: This module introduced formatting techniques to ensure data consistency and enhance the readability of financial statements, enabling better decision-making.

Intermediate Level

Building on the foundation laid during the beginner sessions, the intermediate modules were bent towards data management and analysis techniques. These sessions covered:

• Data Validation and Conditional Formatting: Participants explored advanced formatting tools to create dynamic financial reports that highlight key trends and anomalies.
• PivotTables and Pivot Charts: These tools enabled participants to summarize and analyze large volumes of financial data, making complex financial analysis more accessible.
• IF Statements and Logical Functions: These functions were essential for automating decision-making processes in accounting tasks, such as performing automatic checks in audit processes.

Advanced Level

The advanced modules challenged participants to apply Excel in more complex scenarios, particularly in forecasting and auditing.

• Data Analysis for Auditing: This session focused on advanced functions such as VLOOKUP, INDEX-MATCH, and data filtering techniques for audit purposes.
• Financial Modeling: Participants engaged in exercises demonstrating how to build simple financial models for forecasting and budget analysis—key skills for high-level accounting roles.
• Macros for Automation: This module introduced Excel Macros, enabling participants to automate repetitive tasks, significantly increasing efficiency in large-scale financial operations.

The workshop received highly positive feedback. Many participants praised the quality of instruction and the relevance of the content to their daily tasks. Several professionals from the banking and auditing sectors mentioned that the new skills would allow them to streamline workflows, particularly in data analysis and financial reporting.

Participants also appreciated the personalized attention during the sessions, with facilitators ensuring everyone could practice and apply the new skills in real-time. The hands-on approach, along with practical experience solidified the concepts learned over the two days.

After the workshop, participants received certificates of completion, recognizing their newfound proficiency in Excel. Mr. John Vary, Manager of Conference, CPD & Branding at CPA PNG, praised the participants for choosing to build on their professional careers and highlighted the significance of Excel proficiency in today’s data-driven financial landscape.

Dr. Vasan, Head of the School of Accounting and Finance at IBSUniversity, also played a key role in organizing the event. He expressed gratitude for the teamwork among the School of Accounting and Finance, the School of Information Technology, and CPA PNG. He noted that this partnership showcases IBSU’s dedication to delivering advanced, industry-relevant training for professionals in Papua New Guinea.

The “Microsoft Excel: Beginner to Advanced Skills” CPD workshop was a successful initiative that greatly improved the technical skills of accounting and auditing professionals across various industries. It deepened participants’ understanding of Excel and established a foundation for more efficient and accurate financial analysis, reporting, and auditing practices.

This initiative, part of CPA PNG’s dedication to professional development, highlights the need for continuous learning in a rapidly evolving digital space. Future workshops will continue to prepare professionals, guaranteeing they remain competitive and proficient in essential tools like Excel for accounting and financial tasks.

Contact for more Information:

Dr. Rengalwar Srinivasan (prefers to be known as Dr. Vasan)

Head of School of Accounting and Finance

IBSUniversity

Email: rengalwar.srinivasan@ibs.ac.pg

Phone: + 675 70698105

Eng. Deepan 

M.E(CSE)., B.E(CSE)., D.EEE., MISTE.,

Senior Lecturer 

School of Information Technology

IBSUniversity

Email: deepan.arulanandham@ibs.ac.pg

Phone: +675 7880 4481

Article: School of Accounting and Finance

Images: IBSU Media

Editing & ND: IBSU Library & Information