Excel / Google Sheets
The most-used data tool in the world, still — and for good reason
What it is
About Excel / Google Sheets
Excel (Microsoft) and Google Sheets (Google Workspace) let users organise data in grids, apply formulas and pivot tables, build charts, and model scenarios such as cash flow forecasts and cost analyses. Excel remains dominant in finance and enterprise settings for its depth (advanced formulas, Power Query, VBA/macros), while Google Sheets is favoured for real-time collaboration and lightweight web-based use.
What you can do with it
Capabilities
Build financial models, budgets, and cash-flow forecasts
Analyse data with formulas, pivot tables, and charts
Automate repetitive tasks with macros (Excel/VBA) or Apps Script (Sheets)
Collaborate on shared spreadsheets in real time (especially Sheets)
Clean and transform data with Power Query (Excel) or built-in functions
How to learn it
Learning Resources
Microsoft Learn's free Excel courses; Google's Sheets help centre
ExcelJet and Leila Gharani's YouTube channel for practical Excel skills
Practise by building a real personal budget or cost model
Google's own Sheets/Apps Script documentation for automation
Pro Tip
Learn pivot tables and at least one lookup function (XLOOKUP or VLOOKUP) properly before anything else — together they solve the majority of everyday spreadsheet analysis problems.
Skills that use this tool
Roles that use this tool