100 excel shortcuts for finance professionals

This document provides 100 Microsoft Excel keyboard shortcuts tailored for finance professionals, designed to boost efficiency in financial modeling, data analysis, and spreadsheet management. Shortcuts are for Windows (Excel 365/2024), with Mac equivalents noted where they differ significantly. Examples are included for key shortcuts to demonstrate their application in finance tasks, such as formatting financial statements, auditing formulas, and summarizing data. Master these shortcuts to streamline your workflow and excel in finance.

100 Excel Shortcuts for Finance

Professionals

Date: May 11, 2025

This document provides 100 Microsoft Excel keyboard shortcuts tailored for finance

pro-fessionals, designed to boost efficiency in financial modeling, data analysis, and

spread-sheet management Shortcuts are for Windows (Excel 365/2024), with Mac equivalents

noted where they differ significantly Examples are included for key shortcuts to

demon-strate their application in finance tasks, such as formatting financial statements, auditing

formulas, and summarizing data Master these shortcuts to streamline your workflow and

excel in finance

Excel Shortcuts

Select entire column Ctrl + Space

Example: Select column B to apply currency format to revenue data.

Select entire row Shift + Space

Example: Select row 5 to delete a redundant line in a balance sheet.

Insert a new row Ctrl + Shift + +

Example: Insert a row above total expenses to add a new category.

-Insert the current date Ctrl + ;

Example: Insert today’s date in a cell for a financial report’s timestamp.

Insert the current time Ctrl + Shift + :

Go to the beginning of a worksheet Ctrl + Home

Go to the last cell with data Ctrl + End

Example: Jump to the last cell in a large dataset to verify totals.

Copy selected cells Ctrl + C

Paste copied or cut cells Ctrl + V

Cut selected cells Ctrl + X

Example: Bold headers in an income statement for emphasis.

Open Format Cells dialog Ctrl + 1

Example: Format a cell as currency (e.g., $1,234.56) in a financial model.

Apply general format Ctrl + Shift + ~

Apply currency format Ctrl + Shift + $

Apply percentage format Ctrl + Shift + %

Apply number format with two decimals Ctrl + Shift + !

Example: Format a column of EBITDA figures to show two decimals (e.g., 1234.567 → 1234.57).

Move to the next worksheet Ctrl + Page Down

Move to the previous worksheet Ctrl + Page Up

Open ’Go To’ dialog Ctrl + G or F5

Find specific value Ctrl + F

Example: Find ”Revenue” in a large spreadsheet to locate key data.

Replace values Ctrl + H

Hide selected rows Ctrl + 9

Unhide hidden rows Ctrl + Shift + (

Hide selected columns Ctrl + 0

Unhide hidden columns Ctrl + Shift + )

Enter array formula (legacy Excel) Ctrl + Shift + Enter Open Name Manager Ctrl + F3

Create a table from a data range Ctrl + T

Example: Convert a cash flow dataset into a table for filtering by year.

Add borders to selected cells Ctrl + Shift + &

Example: Add borders to a table of financial ratios for clarity.

Display all formulas in a worksheet Ctrl + ‘

Example: Toggle formulas to audit a discounted cash flow model.

Go to the next open workbook Ctrl + Tab

Go to the previous open workbook Ctrl + Shift + Tab

Create a hyperlink Ctrl + K

Move one cell to the left Shift + Tab

Add a new worksheet Shift + F11

Calculate active worksheet Shift + F9

Open the Insert Function dialog Shift + F3

Insert a comment (note) Shift + F2

Example: Add a note to explain an assumption in a financial model.

Calculate active cell only F9

Open the drop-down list in a cell Alt + Down Arrow

Group rows or columns Alt + Shift + Right Arrow

Example: Group quarterly data rows to collapse for a cleaner view.

Ungroup rows or columns Alt + Shift + Left Arrow Enter a line break in a cell Alt + Enter

Enter cell contents Enter

Remove filters Alt + A + C

Open ’Remove Duplicates’ dialog Alt + A + M

Increase decimal places Alt + H + 0

Decrease decimal places Alt + H + 9

Wrap text in a cell Alt + H + W

Merge and center cells Alt + H + M + C

Example: Merge and center the title ”Income Statement” above a table.

Protect a worksheet Alt + T + P + P

Example: Freeze the top row of headers in a financial dataset.

Split the window Alt + W + S

Open Excel Options Alt + F + T

Select visible cells only Alt + ;

Edit the active cell F2

Go to the beginning of a row Home

Move one cell to the right Tab

Repeat last action F4

Example: Repeat currency formatting across multiple columns.

Open the Save As dialog F12

Calculate all worksheets Ctrl + F9

Select all cells in the worksheet Ctrl + A

Paste Special (values, formats, etc.) Ctrl + Alt + V

Example: Paste only values from a formula-based revenue forecast.

Autofit column width Alt + H + O + I

Example: Autofit columns to display full financial statement labels.

Center text alignment Alt + H + A + C

Apply bold, italic, underline Ctrl + 2

Toggle absolute/relative references F4 (in edit mode)

Example: Lock a cell reference (e.g., $A$1) in a formula for tax rates.

Open Pivot Table wizard Alt + N + V

Example: Create a Pivot Table to summarize sales by region.

Create chart on new worksheet F11

Create chart on current worksheet Alt + F1

Trace precedent cells Alt + M + P

Trace dependent cells Alt + M + D

Example: Trace precedents to verify inputs in a DCF model.

Remove trace arrows Alt + M + A + A

Evaluate formula Alt + M + V

Insert function arguments Ctrl + Shift + A

Copy formula down Ctrl + D

Example: Copy a SUM formula down a column of expenses.

Copy formula right Ctrl + R

Open Conditional Formatting Alt + H + L

Example: Highlight negative cash flows in red for quick review.

Open Data Validation dialog Alt + A + V + V

Insert new workbook Ctrl + N

Open existing workbook Ctrl + O

Toggle gridlines Alt + W + V + G

Switch to Page Layout view Alt + W + P

Apply accounting format Ctrl + Shift + $

Open Macro dialog Alt + F8

Refresh all data connections Ctrl + Alt + F5

Select current region Ctrl + Shift + *

Format as date Ctrl + Shift + #

Format as time Ctrl + Shift + @

Collapse ribbon Ctrl + F1

Table 1: 100 Excel Shortcuts for Finance Professionals

• Shortcuts are for Excel on Windows (Excel 365/2024) Mac shortcuts may differ (e.g., Ctrl replaced by Cmd, such as Cmd + C for copy)

• Alt-based shortcuts may require sequential key presses in older Excel versions (e.g., Alt, then H, then 0 for increasing decimals)

• For financial modeling, focus on shortcuts for formatting (Ctrl + 1, Ctrl + Shift +

$), navigation (Ctrl + Arrow Keys), and auditing (Alt + M + P/D)

• Examples illustrate practical applications in finance, such as formatting financial statements, auditing models, and analyzing data

• Source: Adapted from industry resources including Wall Street Prep, Corporate Finance Institute, and Macabacus