Excel like a finance pro.
The functions, VBA, and shortcuts a finance operator actually uses — curated, with CFO examples. Prefer them pre-built? Grab a ready-made model.
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AutoSum
Alt=Entry & fillTotal the cells above or to the left in a single keystroke.
Difficulty
Beginner
1What it does
AutoSum drops a SUM of the contiguous numbers directly above (or to the left of) the active cell. Excel guesses the range for you — you just confirm it.
2The shortcut
Alt=
- 1Click the empty cell below a column of numbers.
- 2Press
Alt + =— Excel inserts=SUM(...)with the range selected. - 3Press
Enterto confirm (or adjust the range first).
3Before → after
Press the shortcut to play it on a sample sheet.
or press the keys for real
Before — cursor in the empty cell
| A — Line | B — Amount | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Software | 12,000 |
| 2 | Payroll | 8,500 |
| 3 | Rent | 9,500 |
| 4 | Total |
fx
4When you use it
- Total a column of line items.
- Foot a row of monthly figures.
- Sum a whole selection at once without typing the formula.
5Related functions
- SUMIFS — see its own page, with a live demo.
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