Creating Audit Trails in Microsoft Excel (Video) (Course Id 2576)

• Who is this course for?
  This course is designed for CPAs, accountants, and professionals seeking Continuing Professional Education (CPE), especially those with prior experience in Microsoft Excel.

• What is this course about or what problem does this course solve?
  This course addresses how to create and utilize audit trails in Microsoft Excel to enhance collaboration, data integrity, and transparency in spreadsheet management.

• How can the knowledge from this course be used?
  Participants can apply the skills learned to monitor spreadsheet edits, manage formula transparency, and use Excel tools such as Track Changes, Show Changes, FORMULATEXT, and the Inquire Add-In to streamline auditing and collaboration processes.

• Why is this course important to a CPA, Accountant, or IRS Enrolled Agent?
  The course equips financial professionals with practical Excel tools to ensure accurate and auditable spreadsheet data, which is crucial for reliable financial reporting and internal controls.

• When is this course relevant or timely?
  This course is especially relevant with the release of the latest Excel features in Microsoft 365 and continued use of collaborative work environments that demand strong audit capabilities.

• How is a course like this consumed or used?
  Delivered as a self-study video course, learners engage with narrated demonstrations and downloadable handouts, including an example workbook, and complete review and final exam questions to earn 2.0 CPE credits.

In this presentation, author and Excel expert David H. Ringstrom, CPA, will delve into the essential features of Excel that enhance collaboration and data integrity, focusing on the concept of an Audit Trail. Attendees will learn how to enable Track Changes to monitor spreadsheet edits, restore workbook sharing, and effectively review changes made by collaborators. David will also explore the Show Changes feature in Excel Online, demonstrate the use of the FORMULATEXT function for better formula management, and introduce the Inquire Add-In available in Enterprise versions of Excel to streamline data analysis and auditing processes. Join us to gain practical insights that will elevate your Excel skills and improve your workflow.

David is the author of “Microsoft Excel 365 for Dummies”, “Exploring Microsoft Excel’s Hidden Treasures”, and has written or co-authored six other books. He demonstrates every technique at least twice: first, on a PowerPoint slide with numbered steps, and second, in the subscription-based Excel for Microsoft 365. David draws your attention to any differences in Excel 2021, 2019 or 2016 during the presentation and in his detailed handouts. The handouts include an Excel workbook with most of the examples he uses during his demonstrations.

Excel for Microsoft 365 is a subscription-based product that receives periodic feature updates. Conversely, perpetually licensed versions have year numbers in their names and do not receive any feature updates.

Video - NASBA QAS - NASBA Registry - 2576

Course Learning Objectives

• State which versions of Excel offer the Inquire add-in.
• Recognize Excel's legacy feature that supports accepting or rejecting changes in collaborative editing.
• State the purpose of the Protect Sheet command.

Chapter 1 - Creating Audit Trails in Microsoft Excel

Chapter 1 Review Questions

Key Terms