In this chapter, you will learn to take financial data received from numerous sources, and normalize the information (modify it for your use). Financial information is often received from a multitude of sources. Data may be exported into CSV (Comma-separated values) from financial programs, provided in a flat-file format from database driven third-party financial software, or even provided to you in Excel format. There are as many ways to receive the data, as there are ways to store it; however, even within your organization, the data may not be formatted for your needs.
We will take several different formats and create useable Excel spreadsheets for later data manipulation, printing, or analysis. As well as manipulating data structure and style, we will use Excel functions to assist in identifying missing data and other areas of concern when dealing with financial information.