Excel Shortcuts for Finance
In Investment Banking, using a mouse is considered a sin. Speed matters. Here are the essential shortcuts to make you a spreadsheet ninja.
1. Navigation & Selection
| Action | Shortcut (Windows) |
|---|---|
| Move to edge of data | Ctrl + Arrow Keys |
| Select to edge of data | Ctrl + Shift + Arrow Keys |
| Select All | Ctrl + A |
| Go to A1 | Ctrl + Home |
| Switch Sheets | Ctrl + PageUp / PageDown |
2. Formatting (The Cosmetic Surgery)
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Format Cells Dialog | Ctrl + 1 (The Holy Grail) |
| Bold | Ctrl + B |
| Currency Format | Ctrl + Shift + 4 ($) |
| Percentage Format | Ctrl + Shift + 5 (%) |
| Add Borders | Alt + H + B + A (All Borders) |
3. Formulas & Operations
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| AutoSum | Alt + = |
| Edit Cell | F2 |
| Lock Cell Reference ($) | F4 (Crucial for modeling) |
| Paste Special | Ctrl + Alt + V |
| Trace Precedents | Alt + M + P (Where is this number coming from?) |
4. Rows & Columns
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Insert Row/Column | Ctrl + + (Plus) |
| Delete Row/Column | Ctrl + - (Minus) |
| Hide Row | Ctrl + 9 |
| Hide Column | Ctrl + 0 |
| Group Rows/Cols | Shift + Alt + Right Arrow |
5. The "Alt" Key Magic
Press Alt. You will see letters appear on the ribbon.
Alt + H: Home TabAlt + N: Insert TabAlt + A: Data Tab
Example: To Remove Duplicates:
Alt + A + M
7-Day Action Plan
Day 1: Unplug your mouse. Try to navigate a sheet using only Ctrl + Arrows.
Day 2: Master Ctrl + 1. Change number formats without clicking.
Day 3: Practice F4. Understand the difference between A1, $A$1, A$1, and $A1.
Day 4: Use Alt + = to sum a column instantly.
Day 5: Learn Paste Special (Ctrl + Alt + V). Paste "Values" only (removing formulas).
Day 6: Group rows using Shift + Alt + Right. Don't use "Hide". Grouping is cleaner.
Day 7: Challenge: Build a simple table and format it completely without touching the mouse.
Quiz
Test Your Knowledge
Question 1 of 5
1. Which key is used to lock a cell reference (add $ signs)?
💡 Final Wisdom: "Time is money." Saving 2 seconds on every action saves hours every week. Learn the shortcuts.