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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Instant number formats

CtrlShift$Formatting

One chord each for currency, percent, or comma style — no ribbon trip.

Difficulty

Amateur

Practice file

1What it does

A set of chords formats the selection instantly: Ctrl + Shift + $ for currency, Ctrl + Shift + % for percent, Ctrl + Shift + ! for comma (thousands) style, and Ctrl + Shift + ~ back to General. They change only how the number *looks*, never the value underneath — the fast way to make a column of raw figures read like money or margins.

2The shortcut

CtrlShift$

1Select the numbers to format.
2Press Ctrl + Shift + $ for currency (or % for percent, ! for comma style).
3Press Ctrl + Shift + ~ to strip formatting back to General.

3Before → after

Press the shortcut to play it on a sample sheet.

or press the keys for real

Press to cycle the format chords — the value never changes, only its look

GeneralCurrencyPercentComma

	A — Raw value	B — As displayed
1	1234.5	1234.5

CtrlShift~formats it as general.

4When you use it

Turn a column of raw numbers into currency in one press.
Format a ratio column as a percent instantly.
Add thousands separators without opening a dialog.

5Related functions

ROUND / ROUNDUP / ROUNDDOWN — see its own page, with a live demo.

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