CFO Reporting Re-Imagined — Building Interactive Excel Reporting with Gen AI Assistance (Module 2)

Overview

In Module 2 of CFO Reporting Re-imagined — Building Interactive Excel Reporting with Gen AI Assistance, you'll learn how to transform static spreadsheets into dynamic, decision-enabling reporting. This session shows how to bring reports to life using Excel's interactive features—including dropdowns, slicers, conditional formatting, and tips for implementing functions and formulas—while using ChatGPT to help generate formulas and brainstorm layout ideas.

Prerequisites

Familiarity with basic financial statements, Excel formulas and functions, and pivot tables.

Objectives

• Apply PivotTables, functions and formulas to create core trend, comparative, and LTM calculations.
• Use data-validation dropdowns, dependent lists, slicers, and timelines to build self-service report interfaces that guide scenario analysis and minimize input errors.
• Select lightweight automation --Worksheet_Change events, one-click VBA/Office 
• Scripts, and refresh-all Power Query routines -- to distribute ready-to-use workbooks rapidly.
• Apply Gen AI ("My Excel Buddy" custom GPT) responsibly to generate formulas, refactor macros, and assist you with all Excel related tasks.

Highlights

• Advanced data-validation & dependent lists -- structured drop-downs keep user inputs clean and drive self-service parameter changes.
• Scenario-driven slicers -- one-click region or date pivots let users explore "what-ifs" without rewriting formulas.
• PivotTables as data sources -- how to set up pivottables as reporting data sources
• Micro-automation tips -- one-click VBA or Office Scripts refresh data, tidy formatting, and export polished PDFs in seconds.
• Gen AI prompt patterns -- Use responsible prompting, data privacy, and ethical considerations in their Gen AI use and consider where "My Excel Buddy" custom GPT can streamline workflows.