🎯 Episode Highlights & Key Takeaways
In Episode #61 and #61 of the CPA Career Paths podcast, I had the pleasure of speaking with Jeff Lenning, CPA, Microsoft Excel MVP, and founder of Excel University. Jeff’s journey from public accounting to becoming a globally recognized Excel expert shows how one tool—when mastered—can reshape your entire career.
Here’s what we covered:
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How Jeff transitioned from audit to Excel training
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The top 5 reasons Excel is essential for accountants
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Common spreadsheet mistakes to avoid
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Why Excel still matters in the AI era
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Jeff’s advice for landing your first accounting job
Whether you’re in school or already a few years into your accounting journey, you’re going to want to read this.
📈 From Audit to Excel MVP
Jeff’s love for accounting started early—his father was a CPA. “I grew up helping him in his tax office,” he told me. But after graduating and joining Arthur Andersen, Jeff found his passion in automation, efficiency, and Excel.
“Audit gave me the opportunity to see how many different companies run—and that exposure helped me later when I launched my own business.”
It was during his time in corporate finance at Gateway that Jeff realized Excel was more than just a tool—it was a career differentiator.
💡 5 Reasons You Need to Master Excel
When I asked Jeff why every accounting professional should become an Excel pro, his response was immediate and passionate:
1. Make Your Job Less Boring
Tedious tasks? Automate them.
“I delegated my work to Excel—and that gave me time for more meaningful work.”
2. Improve Job Security
You don’t get automated out. You become the one doing the automating.
“My job security actually increased because I became the Excel guy.”
3. Shine During Performance Reviews
“When your Excel work makes life easier for the team, people notice.”
I shared that I received glowing feedback during my annual review for building a spreadsheet that linked 754 step-up calculations across multiple tabs. Yes, Excel skills are that powerful.
4. Unlock New Opportunities
“Once I became known for Excel, I got asked to help with more exciting, cross-functional work.”
5. Save Time
Time = freedom.
“Instead of working weekends, I was mountain biking with my family.”
🧠 Must-Know Excel Skills for Accountants
Jeff shared a powerful short list of the top Excel tools he recommends all accountants learn:
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Tables for storing data
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SUMIFS for multiple-condition calculations
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PivotTables for advanced summaries
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Power Query for cleaning and transforming data
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Power Pivot for large-scale data modeling
And don’t underestimate the power of keyboard shortcuts.
“Every one of my courses starts with 5 keyboard shortcuts. They boost productivity immediately.”
❌ Common Excel Mistakes—and How to Avoid Them
Jeff highlighted the most common Excel mistakes accountants make:
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No error check sheet
“Always validate your totals—assets, liabilities, and income statements—before delivering reports.”
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Disorganized workbooks
“Don’t scatter formulas across tabs. Keep it clean and consistent.”
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Over-customized formulas
“Use consistent, fill-down formulas that are easy for others to understand.”
He also recommends adding conditional formatting to make workbooks more readable at a glance.
🤖 Will AI Replace Excel?
Short answer: No.
“AI enhances your Excel experience—but it doesn’t replace Excel skills.”
Jeff uses ChatGPT and Copilot daily, especially to:
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Understand inherited formulas
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Write macros and VBA
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Automate repetitive workbook tasks
But he made it clear that understanding your spreadsheets is still your responsibility.
📚 Why He Still Maintains His CPA License
Even though Jeff doesn’t do taxes or audits anymore, he proudly maintains his CPA designation.
“Having ‘CPA’ after my name tells people I understand their world—and they trust the training I offer.”
His courses at Excel University are NASBA-approved for CPE credit, and they’re specifically designed for accounting and finance professionals.
“My trainings are practical. They’re built to help you work faster, not just pass an attendance check.”
💬 Jeff’s Advice for Aspiring CPAs
To wrap up our conversation, I asked Jeff what advice he’d give to those just starting their careers.
“Start with a big-name firm if you can. It builds your résumé and opens doors later.”
And of course:
“Don’t wait. Start building your Excel skills now. They’ll help you get the job—and keep it.”
🚀 Take Control of Your CPA Career
If there’s one takeaway from this episode, it’s this:
Excel can be your superpower.
Whether you’re automating monthly closes, analyzing data for tax planning, or preparing killer workpapers for your audit team—your skills in Excel will set you apart and make your life easier.
👉 Ready to level up?
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Let’s master this journey together. ✨