May 2025: Mastering Excel for Financial Operations

Excel remains an essential tool for AP and AR professionals. Its versatility and powerful features enable financial teams to manage data efficiently, perform complex analyses, and streamline workflows. Recognizing its significance, IOFM is dedicating this month to helping you enhance your Excel skills, ensuring you can leverage its capabilities to optimize your financial operations. 

This Month’s Quick Take: Excel Innovations in Financial Operations 

In 2025, Excel continues to evolve, introducing features that significantly benefit AP and AR professionals. Notably, the integration of advanced data analysis tools and automation capabilities allows for more efficient processing of financial data. Features such as dynamic arrays, XLOOKUP, and Power Query, enable users to handle large datasets with ease, reducing manual errors and saving time. Staying updated with these innovations is crucial for financial professionals aiming to enhance accuracy and efficiency within their workflows. 

To help you stay ahead, IOFM offers two Excel Certificate Programs designed to equip you and your team with the skills to master Excel and unlock its full potential. Build from the basics with the Excel Specialist in Accounting (CESA) program, or dive deep into advanced tools like Power Query, Power Pivot, and Power BI with the Excel Reporting Expert (CERE) program. Whichever path you choose, you’ll gain the skills to turn raw data into powerful insights. 

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FREE ON-DEMAND WEBINAR: Pushing Excel to New Limits 

Join IOFM and Carl Seidman for a deep dive into Excel tools that actually solve AP problems. From dynamic formulas to cleaner forecasting models, this session delivers practical takeaways for transforming your cash flow process. Watch the recording today and put Excel to work – smarter. 

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Three Easy Tools in Excel You May Not Know Exist 

Even with AI on the rise, Excel still plays a key role in AP and AR. In this quick read, we explore three easy features – Sparklines, Drop-Down Lists, and Freeze Pane – that can boost your spreadsheet game without the need for complex formulas or code. 

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MEMBER WEBINAR: Strategies for Making Effective Confirmation Calls to Prevent B2B Payment Fraud 

Payment fraud is evolving – and confirmation calls are one of your first lines of defense. Join IOFM and Debra Richardson for an On-Demand Member Webinar to learn how to make confirmation calls more effective, avoid common pitfalls, and strengthen your internal controls. You'll walk away with proven strategies and ready-to-use scripts to help protect your organization. 

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Excel Like a Pro: IOFM Tools to Optimize AR: Download Now!

ON-DEMAND MEMBER WEBINAR: AI with Excel

IOFM Members get exclusive access to Premium Member Webinars like AI with Excel, where Excel expert Jeff Lenning shares how AP and AR professionals can use tools like Copilot and ChatGPT to streamline processes, reduce manual work, and transform how they manage data in Excel. 

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FREE ON-DEMAND WEBINAR: Essential Skills and Powerful Techniques for Excel

Mastering Excel starts with mastering the essentials. This on-demand webinar shows you the practical shortcuts, smart structures, and dependable functions that turn clunky spreadsheets into streamlined power tools. 

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