Microsoft Excel has several functions that an accountant would be lost without. One of these is a function that allows one to compare Excel files. As this function is self-explanatory, it is better then to explain why an accountant would need it. The nature of the work of an accountant is to work with figures and balance sheets. Therefore being able to compare Excel files would mean that a person would not need to keep shifting and wasting time comparing two worksheets because the function will point out the differences automatically. 

However that is not the only function in Excel that is indispensable. The Excel NOW function is used to keep the dates and time current. All the user has to do is enter =NOW() into a cell. Unfortunately, it will adjust automatically whenever you save or open the file again.  For date input without time, the command is =TODAY().

For fixed dates, you will need to press the Control key at the same time that you press the semicolon key. These functions are good to know because they give help you keep track of your work and change the data accordingly.

Naturally, the computation functions are vital to using Excel. But accountant often need more than just basic math. They use percentage and will find the Paste function to be critical to working faster. By inputting 1.05 on a blank cell, you can automatically increase the figures by 5%. This comes in handy when a store experiences a price increase of 5%. If the increase is more than the .05 becomes a .10 for a 10%, and so on. It beats having to calculate manually or coming up with a formula that would convert the values. To complete the process, after you encode the figure, follow it up with the command Edit>Copy>Control-C. Then, select your range that are to be changed and enter the following command: Edit>Paste Special>Multiply>OK.

There are some other magical Excel functions that makes an accountant’s  life simpler like the option to shade alternate rows, protecting and hiding your formulas so no one can edit or tamper with your worksheet, and detecting multiple entries.

How to compare two Excel files is one of the best ways accountants can use to in finding any duplicated entries. Excel compare tool would be the most useful tool to do that. The arduous task of entering data in excel files some times without knowing can be entered more than once thereby giving totally different figures.  Below are some of the best known ways in finding out more about Excel use. How to compare to excel files can be easy and worthwhile if well understood.

Manual cross-checking of account details can be time consuming, arduous and less accurate most of the times.  The first step is to make sure to be using the Microsoft Excel 2003 version or any other later versions not earlier ones. Then open the two files to be compared and click on the compare side by side.  At this point one needs to identify if both the files have a unique identifier.  Then go ahead and select the start and end keys.

The compare tool is a must have for financial institutions and accountants.  At the completion of the comparison a new Excel sheet is provided with the new and any deleted data that were similar.  It makes work easy as all the data that were changed are highlighted for the user’s attention. It is worth noting that the tool is fast and does not keep one waiting as it does the comparison process.

An interesting fact here is that the final copy of the compared files or spread-sheets will be in the same earlier format used.  Two different files from two different directories can be compared with the Excel tool and a report given.  The synch scroll features can save accountants and financial analysts a lot of time. Users can try a free-download of this software before deciding to purchase a final copy.

This is definitely the best way to manage to large spreadsheets without having to go through it manually page by page.  Spotting the difference becomes very easy as they are highlighted and a report.  This is a tool that accountants should not do without in the course of their duties.