Excel Business Reporting and Dashboards Training Course

Duration 5 days 11 modules · 33 contact hours
Level Intermediate Certificate on completion
Who attends Business Analysts, Management Information Analysts and others
Fee from USD 1,100 KSh 95,000 for Kenyan organisations
Where 52 cities + online See dates by city
Next start 16 Nov 2026 Course code SD-BI-169

Before you join: Participants should be comfortable entering and formatting data in Excel, using basic formulas such as SUM and IF, and working with worksheets, rows, columns and filters.

Dates & prices

Two start dates a month in every city, and live online on weekdays or weekends. Fees are per participant; classroom fees include tuition, materials, lunch and refreshments, and the certificate.

Suggest a date or city

Showing the next six months. Later dates, other cities and private deliveries for your team are available on request.

Course overview

Business reports often fail because data is spread across workbooks, calculations are difficult to audit, and dashboards show activity without explaining performance. Managers need timely views of revenue, cost, service, risk, workforce or project measures, with clear comparisons against targets and prior periods. This course addresses the practical work of turning operational data into refreshable Excel reports and decision-ready dashboards.

Participants build reporting models from structured source data, clean and combine extracts with Power Query, and calculate measures using Excel formulas, PivotTables, Power Pivot and DAX. They learn to define KPIs, distinguish actuals from budget and forecast, analyse variances, select appropriate charts, and design dashboards with filters, drill paths and controlled visual hierarchy. The course also covers data quality checks, workbook architecture, refresh procedures, protection and audit controls.

Teaching combines short instructor briefings, worked business cases, guided build activities and peer review of report designs. Cases reflect reporting situations such as regional sales performance, budget monitoring, customer service operations and workforce metrics. Participants leave with a reusable Excel reporting workbook structure, KPI and metric-definition templates, dashboard wireframes, a quality-control checklist and an application plan for a live reporting requirement.

The course suits professionals who already use Excel and need to produce recurring management reports rather than one-off spreadsheets. It is particularly relevant where teams need stronger reporting discipline before, alongside or instead of enterprise business intelligence platforms.

What you will be able to do

  • Define reporting requirements using a metric dictionary, KPI hierarchy and dashboard wireframe.
  • Prepare operational data using Excel Tables, validation rules and quality checks.
  • Build repeatable data transformations using Power Query connections, merges and appends.
  • Construct auditable calculations using structured references, XLOOKUP, SUMIFS and dynamic arrays.
  • Analyse business performance using PivotTables, slicers, variance methods and drill-through records.
  • Model related datasets using Power Pivot relationships, star schema principles and DAX measures.
  • Design interactive dashboards using KPI cards, charts, conditional formatting and controlled filters.
  • Implement workbook governance through refresh procedures, protection settings and reconciliation controls.

Benefits of attending

For you

  • Produce refreshable management dashboards instead of manually rebuilt monthly reports
  • Diagnose data-quality issues before they affect reported KPIs
  • Explain trends and variances with appropriate charts and supporting detail
  • Reduce formula errors through structured models and audit techniques
  • Present a portfolio-ready Excel dashboard and reporting model

For your organisation

  • Shorten reporting cycles through repeatable Power Query refresh processes
  • Improve confidence in management information through documented controls and reconciliations
  • Create consistent KPI definitions across finance, sales, operations and project teams
  • Reduce manual consolidation effort for recurring regional and departmental reports
  • Give managers clearer exception signals and supporting drill-through evidence

Course modules

11 modules over 5 days

Participants can define a reporting requirement with measurable KPIs, decision questions and a dashboard specification.

  • Reporting decisions framed through audience, cadence, granularity and management questions
  • Metric dictionaries distinguish measures, dimensions, targets, owners and calculation rules
  • SMART reporting requirements translated into data fields and dashboard specifications
  • Information hierarchy separates executive indicators from diagnostic operational detail
  • Wireframes map KPI placement, drill paths, filters and exception cues
  • RAG status rules defined using tolerances, thresholds and target direction

Participants can prepare structured source data that supports reliable calculations, analysis and refreshes.

  • Excel Tables structure source data with names, types and calculated columns
  • Data validation controls permitted entries, lookup lists and error messages
  • TRIM, CLEAN and SUBSTITUTE repair imported text fields consistently
  • Date serials, locale formats and fiscal calendars standardised before analysis
  • Duplicate records identified using COUNTIFS, composite keys and conditional formatting
  • Quality checks reconcile row counts, totals, blanks and outliers

Participants can create repeatable Power Query transformations for common reporting data sources.

  • Power Query connections import CSV, workbook, folder and database extracts
  • Applied Steps document repeatable filtering, type changes and transformations
  • Merge queries joins customer and transaction tables using matching keys
  • Append queries combines monthly files into a consistent reporting dataset
  • Parameters control file paths, reporting periods and refresh settings
  • Query error handling identifies failed conversions and unmatched records

Participants can construct readable, expandable and auditable Excel calculations for reporting models.

  • Structured references build readable formulas that expand with Excel Tables
  • XLOOKUP retrieves attributes with exact matches and specified fallback values
  • SUMIFS and COUNTIFS calculate segmented measures against multiple criteria
  • Dynamic arrays use FILTER, SORT and UNIQUE for responsive report extracts
  • LET names repeated calculations, reducing formula length and audit effort
  • Formula auditing traces precedents, dependents, errors and circular references

Participants can use PivotTables and connected controls to analyse performance by business dimension.

  • PivotTables summarise transactional data by time, category, region and owner
  • Value Field Settings apply sums, averages, percentages and running totals
  • Calculated fields and measures distinguish source calculations from report logic
  • Slicers and timelines filter connected PivotTables from controlled selections
  • Show Values As compares contribution, variance and period-to-period movement
  • Drill-through extracts supporting records for management challenge and follow-up

Participants can model related datasets and create reusable DAX measures for consistent analysis.

  • Data Model relationships connect fact tables with dates, products and customers
  • Star schema separates transaction facts from descriptive dimension attributes
  • DAX measures calculate revenue, margin and volume without duplicate formulas
  • CALCULATE changes filter context for targets, scenarios and comparison periods
  • Time intelligence compares month-to-date, year-to-date and prior-period performance
  • Measures are formatted and named for consistent PivotTable presentation

Participants can define meaningful KPIs and communicate material variances and exceptions.

  • KPIs link strategic objectives, operational drivers, targets and accountable owners
  • Variance analysis separates actual, budget, forecast and prior-period comparisons
  • Waterfall charts explain revenue, cost or headcount movement components
  • Conditional formatting highlights exceptions using icons, data bars and formulas
  • Sparklines show trend direction within compact management report layouts
  • Target bands distinguish acceptable performance from escalation conditions

Participants can select and format charts that communicate business performance accurately.

  • Chart selection matches comparison, composition, distribution, trend and relationship questions
  • Combo charts combine columns and lines without misleading secondary axes
  • Axis scales, labels and units prevent distorted visual interpretation
  • Small multiples compare regions, products or business units consistently
  • Dynamic chart ranges respond to filters, periods and category changes
  • Chart junk removed through restrained colour, direct labels and whitespace

Participants can assemble an interactive Excel dashboard with controlled filters and management views.

  • Dashboard grids organise headlines, trends, drivers and supporting detail
  • Interactive controls connect slicers, timelines, drop-downs and form controls
  • GETPIVOTDATA retrieves governed values for KPI cards and commentary
  • Camera tool and linked pictures assemble dynamic dashboard display panels
  • View settings manage freeze panes, zoom, print areas and screen layouts
  • Accessibility checks address colour contrast, labels, number formats and readability

Participants can implement workbook controls that support maintainability, review and controlled refreshes.

  • Workbook architecture separates raw data, transformations, calculations, outputs and documentation
  • Named ranges, styles and sheet conventions support maintainable reporting files
  • Refresh procedures document source ownership, schedules, checks and exception handling
  • Protection settings secure formulas, worksheets, workbooks and permitted input cells
  • Performance tuning reduces volatile formulas, unnecessary formatting and oversized ranges
  • Control totals and reconciliation logs support review and audit evidence

Participants can plan the release and improvement of an Excel reporting deliverable for their workplace.

  • Stakeholder briefing identifies decisions, users, measures, data sources and cadence
  • Dashboard backlog prioritises report changes using value, effort and risk
  • Release checklist verifies refresh, calculations, filters, labels and distribution
  • Feedback loops capture user questions, recurring exceptions and enhancement requests
  • Personal application plan defines a reporting deliverable, milestones and sponsors
  • Peer review tests dashboard clarity against stated management decisions

Exercises and examples are adapted to each cohort's sectors and roles.

What you take back to work

  1. Excel reporting workbook architecture template
  2. KPI and metric dictionary template
  3. Dashboard wireframe and chart-selection guide
  4. Power Query transformation checklist
  5. Workbook quality-control and reconciliation checklist
  6. Personal reporting implementation plan

Who should attend

  • Business Analysts — build recurring management reports from operational and financial data
  • Management Information Analysts — improve report accuracy, refreshability and visual communication
  • Finance Analysts — present budget, forecast and variance information for management review
  • Operations Managers — monitor service, productivity, quality and exception measures
  • Project Managers — report milestones, resource use, risks and delivery performance
  • Data and Reporting Professionals — create governed Excel dashboards before wider BI publication

Skills and tools covered

Excel data preparationPower Query transformationKPI dashboard designPivotTable analysisDAX measuresReporting governance

Tools and standards

Microsoft Excel, Power Query, Power Pivot, DAX

How the course runs

Training methodology

The course uses short briefings followed by guided construction of Excel reporting components. Participants work with realistic business datasets to clean source files, create calculations, build PivotTables, define measures and assemble dashboards. Group activities compare alternative KPI definitions, chart choices and dashboard layouts for management audiences. Trainers use review checkpoints to examine formula logic, data controls and visual design. The final application planning session converts course methods into a scoped reporting improvement for each participant's workplace.

Requirements and prerequisites

Participants should be comfortable entering and formatting data in Excel, using basic formulas such as SUM and IF, and working with worksheets, rows, columns and filters. Experience with business reports, budgets, sales data, operations data or project information is useful. Participants should be able to interpret common business measures such as totals, percentages and variances. Prior experience with PivotTables is helpful but not essential. No programming, database administration, Power BI, Power Query, Power Pivot or DAX experience is required.

A typical training day

08:30 – 10:30First session
10:30 – 10:45Refreshment break
10:45 – 12:30Second session
12:30 – 13:30Lunch and networking
13:30 – 15:00Third session
15:00 – 15:15Refreshment break
15:15 – 16:30Workshop and daily review

Live online deliveries follow the same structure in East Africa Time, with shorter screen blocks and longer breaks.

What the fee includes

  • Instruction by a practitioner facilitator
  • Full course workbook and materials
  • Exercise files, templates and case studies
  • Refreshments and lunch on classroom deliveries
  • Certificate of completion
  • Post-course application plan

Frequently asked questions

You should be comfortable with worksheets, basic formatting, filters and simple formulas such as SUM and IF. PivotTable, Power Query, Power Pivot and DAX experience is not required.

Bring a laptop with a current desktop version of Microsoft Excel where possible, plus a sample reporting challenge or non-sensitive example dataset. The trainer provides course materials and business datasets for the taught activities.

It is designed for analysts, finance professionals, managers, project professionals and reporting specialists who prepare recurring reports in Excel. It suits people moving from static spreadsheets to controlled, interactive reporting models.

This course focuses on building business reporting and dashboards in Microsoft Excel, including Power Query, PivotTables, Power Pivot and DAX. A Power BI course focuses on publishing, sharing and administering reports through the Power BI service and related platform features.

Participants can use the methods to improve a monthly management pack, budget tracker, sales report, service dashboard or project status report. The application plan identifies a suitable workplace deliverable, stakeholders, data sources and first implementation steps.

Each training day runs from 08:30 to 16:30 and provides about 6.5 contact hours. Time is distributed across reporting requirements, data preparation, formulas, PivotTables, data models, dashboard design, controls and application planning.

Questions about this course?

Ask about dates, fees, group bookings or running it for your team. Our training team replies by email.

Ask on WhatsApp info@skillsetdevelopment.com

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