How to Use Excel Agent Mode for Finance Professionals: AI-Powered Productivity Webinar
Overview
This hands-on AI CPE course is available individually or as part of our 5-, 10-, or 15-course AI bundles. Complete all 15 courses to earn your AI Professional Certificate for CPAs and 30 CPE credits.
This live, hands-on webinar gives accounting and finance professionals a practical introduction to Excel’s new Agent Mode, a breakthrough AI feature that lets you accomplish complex spreadsheet tasks using simple natural language commands. Our expert instructor will guide participants through real-world financial scenarios, demonstrating how Agent Mode can automate data cleaning, streamline reporting, and accelerate financial statement preparation and dashboard creation, freeing up more time for high-value analysis and decision-making. You’ll learn how to:
- Use natural language prompts to perform advanced Excel tasks with speed and precision
- Apply Agent Mode to common finance workflows, from budgeting to audit support
- Strengthen quality control while adopting AI-driven automation
- Integrate Agent Mode responsibly within existing financial processes
Objective
To equip CPAs and other finance professionals with hands-on skills for using Excel Agent Mode to automate routine spreadsheet tasks, improve analytical efficiency, and enhance reporting accuracy while maintaining professional standards and control.
Emphasis
- Natural language automation in Excel using Agent Mode
- AI-driven enhancements to data cleaning, financial analysis, and reporting workflows
- Real-world applications for budgeting, audits, dashboard creation, and financial modeling
- Requirements, limitations, and best practices for using Agent Mode with Microsoft 365 and Copilot
- Quality control considerations when integrating AI into spreadsheet-based finance tasks
To check if you can use Excel Agent Mode:
1. Open Excel for Web (Agent Mode is not available in the desktop version).
2. From the Home tab, click Add-ins.
3. Search for Excel Labs in the Office Add-ins store.
4. If you can install Excel Labs, add it and open the Agent Mode (Frontier) feature inside the add-in.
5. Wait a few seconds for the prompt in the right side panel to open and then type “Create a one column panel” to confirm it works. If you can type the command and it starts reasoning, you can then close Excel Labs; you are ready for the webinar. If you don’t see Add-ins or Excel Labs, your IT department may need to enable add-ins for your Microsoft Excel 365 account.