Summary of Excel Skills

Jung Ki Lee
B. Comm Candidate, 2013
Accounting Specialist Program
Rotman Commerce,
University of Toronto

Summary of Experience in
Excel Report Modeling
Copyright © 2011, Author: Jung Ki Lee

Agenda
• The Spreadsheet: the model in general

• Part One: Graphing, Forecasting, Macros

• Part Two: Sensitivity Analyses

• Key Takeaways


The Spreadsheet
• Constructed an economic and financial model for
the aluminum industry

• Disclaimer: The spreadsheet photos that follow
are solely intended for a demonstration of my
Microsoft Excel skills. None of the screen
captures that follow are to be used for future
academic assignments.

• Credit goes to my group members in helping me
construct this model: Alana Stewart, Eva Fok

This model consisted of
numerous sub-models which
we applied a variety of
microeconomic principles into
Excel.
Due to my superior knowledge
of Excel, I lead the
construction of 17 out of the
18 models in this assignment.


Part 1:
Constructing Supply Models

Step-Charts and Macros

Price Forecasting


For this model, we were required to
draw out a supply curve for the
aluminum industry. Using concepts
learned in class, we drew a step
chart.

The hard thing about step charts is
that there are no Excel functions that
automatically draw one out for you.

Therefore, we had to manually lay
out the data points for 156 smelters’
capacities across 12 different supply
models.


Four more
models off
screen
One supply
model
Solution: I Came up with a
To make the step chart, macro that can cut the
take raw data and insert a laborious steps of inserting a
row between every other row between each line.
line and copy the formula
that is the same x above And, with a clever bit of
and the same y below. filtering, you can copy the
No choice but to do it formula needed to implement
manually the step chart in minutes!
Doing this would have meant
inserting and copying the With teamwork and our
formula 157 times per shortcut, this saved us not
model! And we had twelve hours, but DAYS worth of time
of them. in graphing these models.


With the aid of our instructor, we
constructed a model for
predicting prices. The notable
thing here is that I constructed
this with all calculations
referencing back to the
parameters indicated. Changing
the parameters changed the
entire calculations and the
resulting graphs.


Part 2:
Profit Sensitivity Analysis

Portfolio Allocation

Portfolio Sensitivity Analysis


Using economic principles learned in class, we
applied a sensitivity analysis on profits.

The beauty of this model is
that the user can play
around with the scroll bar
to see different results for
the 157 smelters.
This also updates the graph
on the right as the scroll bar
moves.

The formula used to derive values in these columns
uses a complex double-if-statement in order to be
consistent with the economic assumptions we made
(and to save ourselves time from tailoring each
formula to the firm’s attributes).

Eight of these models were constructed
testing the sensitivity of each
parameter in the maximization problem.
Each parameter had its own intrinsic
calculations that made it challenging.


With some clever series adjustments, I
made it so that the optimal allocation
is highlighted against the possible
Here I applied basic allocations.
portfolio allocation This is so the investor can know where
learned in class. Using he or she is relative to the possible
the scroll bar again, the allocations.
user can play around with
how risk-loving or risk-
averse the investor is.


In terms of calculations, this involves
copious amounts of algebra and of all
models, this was the most difficult
one I constructed. Here, I perform
another sensitivity analysis and,
again, the user may play with the
scroll bars to get an understanding of
how sensitive their portfolios are.

Key Takeaways of my Achievements
• I have demonstrated teamwork in delegating
tough, conceptual Excel jobs
• I showed my problem solving skills in finding
shortcuts to do work faster and more efficiently
• While the models are complex, I always prioritize
communication of the models to the audience
• I am a hard worker: over 80 hours went into this
model alone in 3 weeks (with lectures,
commuting, homework and conferences in
between).

Thank you for your time!
Jung Ki Lee
B. Comm. Candidate, 2013
Accounting Specialist Program
Rotman Commerce,
University of Toronto


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