MS Excel: Pivot tables and macros?

Question

I will be interviewing for a position as a corporate accountant and have been asked by recruiters if I know how to do pivot tables and macros on excel. I don't have experience in either of these, but was wondering how difficult they are to learn. I have intermediate skills with Excel and those were not hard to obtain. Is this something I can begin to teach myself so I can get myself prepared for when I get formal training? I've got an accounting degree and a CPA license, so I can't imagine these skills being too difficult to learn for someone with a fair degree of intellect. Any input is appreciated!!! Thanks.

Answer 1

I don't think its all that difficult. Pivot tables are easier. Macros are written in VBA (Visual Basic for Applications). There are a lot of books out there on Excel and VBA. I would buy one and work on a few samples. I'd also start out playing with Excel's macro recorder. It creates a program with the VBA code for everything you do. Turn it on and try a couple of things. Look at the code and see how it was transcribed. Ultimately, you'll have to write the code yourself if you want to do anything moderately complicated, but the macro recorder gives you pretty good training wheels.

Answer 2

I was able to learn to do macros from what is in Excel in the help section. You use something they call Visual Basic. It wasn't bad.
The help section also has guidance on pivot tables, but I haven't tried it.

There are books you can buy that may make it easier for you

Answer 3

You won't have any problem learning them. Actually, when I learned them, I just had someone show me. Also, learn the look up tables. Those two functions are awesome.

Another note, although off topic. If you want to make yourself even more employable, learn ACCESS. By using Access with Excel you will really impress those recruiters! In fact, many employers request people with those skills.

Answer 4

macro means a visual basic program