Finance PowerPoint Guide
Copyright Soufyan Hamid & Nicolas Boucher
By Soufyan HAMID
& Nicolas BOUCHER
Copyright:
This publication is protected by EU, US and International Copyright Laws.
Reproduction and distribution of this publication without written permission of the authors (Soufyan
Hamid & Nicolas Boucher) is prohibited.
© Soufyan Hamid & Nicolas Boucher 2023
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Finance PowerPoint Guide
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INTRODUCTION
In today's fast-paced and data-driven business world, effective communication is
paramount for finance professionals.
Presenting financial information, analysis, and recommendations in a clear, concise, and
compelling manner is crucial for influencing decision-making, securing investments, and
driving organizational success.
This is where Microsoft PowerPoint, a widely used presentation software, plays a pivotal
role.
Mastering PowerPoint is not just about creating visually appealing slides; it is about
harnessing a powerful tool that enables finance professionals to effectively convey complex
financial concepts, data insights, and strategic recommendations.
Whether you are delivering a financial report to stakeholders, pitching investment
opportunities to clients, or training colleagues on financial processes, PowerPoint
empowers you to create engaging, informative, and persuasive presentations that leave a
lasting impact.
Why is mastering PowerPoint essential for finance professionals? Here are a few key
reasons:
1. Clarity and Conciseness: PowerPoint allows you to distill complex financial
information into concise and digestible slides. By utilizing charts, graphs, and tables,
you can present data-driven insights that support your analysis, making it easier for
your audience to understand and grasp the financial implications.
2. Visual Impact: As the saying goes, "a picture is worth a thousand words." PowerPoint
enables you to enhance the visual impact of your presentations by incorporating
relevant images, graphics, and infographics. Visual elements not only capture
attention but also facilitate better information retention and comprehension.
3. Storytelling and Persuasion: PowerPoint provides a platform for storytelling,
enabling you to structure your presentation in a narrative format that engages and
resonates with your audience. By weaving a compelling story around your financial
analysis, you can evoke emotions, highlight key messages, and persuade
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stakeholders to take desired actions.
4. Professionalism and Credibility: Mastering PowerPoint demonstrates your
professionalism and attention to detail. A well-designed and polished presentation
reflects positively on your credibility as a finance professional. It shows that you
have taken the time to craft a visually appealing and thoughtfully organized
presentation, enhancing your reputation and establishing trust with your audience.
5. Time Efficiency: PowerPoint streamlines the process of creating and delivering
presentations. With its user-friendly interface, built-in templates, and time-saving
features like slide masters and content libraries, you can create impactful
presentations efficiently. Additionally, PowerPoint allows you to rehearse timings,
customize animations, and integrate multimedia elements, ensuring smooth
delivery and engagement during your presentations.
By mastering PowerPoint, finance professionals can effectively communicate financial
insights, gain buy-in from stakeholders, and influence decision-makers.
This comprehensive guide will walk you through various chapters, equipping you with the
knowledge and skills needed to leverage PowerPoint's capabilities specifically tailored to
the needs of finance professionals.
Let's embark on this journey to enhance your presentation skills and unlock your full
potential in effectively communicating financial information using PowerPoint.
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TABLE OF CONTENT
Introduction
3
Table Of Content
5
About Us
6
Why We Made This Guide
8
How To Use This Guide
9
1. Inserting & Formatting Tables
10
2. Inserting And Formatting Charts And Graphs
15
3. Animations
23
4. Aligning Objects
27
5. Distribute
31
6. Send Forward/Backward
34
7. Group And Ungroup
38
8. Icons
41
9. Smartart Graphics
45
10. Rehearsal Coach
50
11. Morph Transitions
54
12. Design Ideas
57
13. Working With Sections
60
14. Presenter View
65
15. Slide Masters
69
16. Exporting Your Presentation
73
17. Insert Power Bi Dashboard
77
18. Replace All Fonts
82
19. Record
85
20. Link To An Excel Table
88
21. Ctrl + Shift And Mouse Techniques
93
22. Replace Visuals With The Change Picture Function
96
23. Collaborating On Presentations
99
23. Top 50 Powerpoint Shortcuts
103
24. General Tips For Powerpoint
106
25. Delivering Presentations Remotely
107
Special Discount On Nicolas’ Course For Finance Professionals
110
Special Discount On Nicolas’ Guide “ 50 Questions And Answers For Finance Interview Jobs”
111
Enroll For The Next Cohort Of The Finance Stage, The Only Financial Storytelling Live Course
112
Last Words
113
How To Contact Us
114
Disclaimer
115
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ABOUT US
Soufyan Hamid
In my 16 years of career in audit (PwC), consulting (Deloitte) and FP&A (Saint-Gobain,
Starwood, Proximus), I followed all the usual steps to become an efficient finance
professional
- mastering reporting, dashboarding and automation
- striking with business drivers integration
- killing it with financial modelisation
I thought that I would already be CFO after 10 years.
But after some frustrating promotion trials, I discovered that all of this was not enough to
make an impact: if you want to have an influence on the decision making process YOU
MUST CONVINCE.
I unlocked these skills by following an
intense training on how experts must
communicate their findings to non-experts
I continued climbing the ladder until
working in direct relation with C-Suite
members.
This is why I adapted all this experience to
our field of expertise and decided to help
Finance Professionals to convince their
audience thanks to kickass presentations.
And one way to make your presentations
visually appealing is to invest time in
building slides that will support and even
enhance your presentation.
This is why learning these 25 features and
tips for PowerPoint will help you be more
efficient and work on what matters the
most: your delivery.
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Nicolas Boucher
I am a Finance thought leader with more than 14 years experience in Finance.
I have coached and trained more than 300 Finance Professionals online and on premises.
Living in 5 different countries across 3 different continents (France, USA, Luxembourg,
Singapore and Germany) gave me the capacity to integrate myself quickly and understand
different local and working cultures.
The last 7 years I worked for Thales Germany and held several different roles: Head of
Finance Transformation, Head of Finance and Controlling as well as Senior Manager in
Business Controlling.
Before that I worked for PwC in Luxembourg and Singapore. My 7 years’ experience as a
consultant and auditor for a Big 4 company helped me develop a goal oriented mind-set as
well as a high sense of commitment and responsibility.
In my career, I have done more than 10,000 slides.
Being productive at PowerPoint saved me hours of
work and allowed me to be recognized as a
high-performer in Finance.
One of my favorite functions is to use SmartArt.
SmartArt helps you turn boring presentations into
visual and high-standard professional
presentations within 5 minutes.
In this guide I wanted to share my tips to help you
master PowerPoint to boost your finance career!
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WHY WE MADE THIS GUIDE
Along our career PowerPoint was one of the most important tools to master.
By leveraging our expertise in PowerPoint, we were able to deliver high quality sets of
slides in an efficient way.
This is also what helped us get promoted faster than our peers.
By using this guide, you will:
●
Gain a deeper understanding of the features and functionalities of PowerPoint that
are most relevant to finance professionals.
●
Learn how to effectively present financial data, analyses, projections, and
recommendations using charts, graphs, infographics, and other visual elements.
●
Discover techniques for engaging and captivating your audience through effective
storytelling, customization, and interactive elements.
●
Master the art of delivering remote presentations and leveraging audio, video, and
other multimedia elements for enhanced communication.
●
Develop skills in creating professional and visually appealing presentations that
align with your company's brand and communication standards.
This guide aims to be your go-to resource for leveraging PowerPoint as a finance
professional.
Whether you are preparing for an important finance presentation, conducting budget
reviews, or delivering reports to your management, the knowledge and skills gained from
this guide will enable you to create impactful and compelling slides that leave a lasting
impression.
We encourage you to approach this guide with an open mind and an eagerness to learn.
Embrace the step-by-step instructions, practice the techniques provided, and explore the
real finance use cases to gain a practical understanding of how to apply PowerPoint to your
finance-related presentations.
Let this guide be your companion as you embark on the journey to become a master
presenter in the world of finance.
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HOW TO USE THIS GUIDE
This guide has been carefully structured to provide you with a comprehensive learning
experience in mastering PowerPoint for finance professionals.
1. Each chapter focuses on a specific topic or feature of PowerPoint that is relevant to
finance professionals. The chapters are structured to provide a step-by-step guide,
real finance use cases, bonus tips, and main takeaways. You are encouraged to read
and practice the content of each chapter to gain a comprehensive understanding
and practical application of the concepts presented.
2. Practice and Apply: As you progress through each chapter, take the time to practice
the techniques demonstrated.
Open PowerPoint, follow the step-by-step instructions, and recreate the examples
provided.
This hands-on approach will help reinforce your learning and increase your
familiarity with the software.
3. Explore Real Finance Use Cases: The real finance use cases provided in each chapter
offer practical applications of PowerPoint techniques to finance-related scenarios.
Study these examples, reflect on how they relate to your own work, and consider
how you can adapt and incorporate similar approaches into your own
presentations.
4. Bonus Tips: The bonus tips highlight additional recommendations and strategies to
enhance your PowerPoint presentations. These tips provide valuable insights to
further improve the impact and effectiveness of your finance-related presentations.
5. Main Takeaways: The main takeaways summarize the key points and lessons
learned from each chapter. These concise summaries serve as quick reference
points for the main concepts and techniques covered.
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1. INSERTING & FORMATTING TABLES
Why use it?
Tables are a powerful tool for organizing and presenting financial data in a clear and
structured manner.
By using tables in PowerPoint presentations, you can effectively communicate complex
information, such as financial statements, budgets, and performance metrics.
Tables offer a visually appealing way to display numerical data, making it easier for you to
understand and analyze the information.
Step-by-step:
1. Click on the "Insert" tab in the PowerPoint ribbon.
2. In the "Tables" group, click on the "Table" button.
3. A grid will appear, allowing you to select the number of rows and columns for your
table. Click and drag to specify the desired size.
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4. Once you release the mouse button, the table will be inserted onto your slide.
5. To enter data into the table, click on a cell and start typing.
6. Use the "Tab" key to move to the next cell or the arrow keys to navigate within the
table.
7. To format the table, select the entire table or specific cells and access the "Table
Design" tab in the ribbon.
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8. Experiment with different table styles, colors, and fonts to match your
presentation's aesthetics.
a. Table Style options
(Un)selecting the option will adapt the format of the table on the first/last
row or column (for titles or totals for example).
Tweak it to get the best results
b. Existing Tables Styles
With preformatted table styles, you will save time and be able to change the
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whole table with titles/total rows, frames and separating borders.
c. Customize your own style
Start from an existing style and adapt
-
Shading: change the colour of the rows (beware if you have different
colours on alternative rows)
-
Borders: Borders can be useful to make a clear separation between
unrelated elements. That said, sometimes colours are enough to
separate information and borders might give a too heavy look to your
document. Have a look at the tables below and decide.
-
Effects: It is possible to add 3D, shadow and reflection effects but we
wouldn’t recommend to keep a light design.
9. Adjust column widths and row heights by clicking and dragging the borders of the
cells. You should see the following mouse pointer by selecting the column edge.
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Real Finance Use case:
Imagine you are preparing a presentation on quarterly sales figures for a team meeting.
Instead of simply listing the numbers on a slide, you can use a table to present the data in a
structured manner.
By organizing the sales data by product categories or regions, you can highlight trends,
compare performance, and facilitate a more meaningful discussion.
Bonus tip:
To make your tables more visually appealing and reader-friendly, consider incorporating
formatting options such as:
●
Alternating row colors to improve readability.
●
Applying a header row to label each column.
●
Using bold or italicized text to emphasize key figures or totals.
●
Adding borders or shading to highlight specific sections of the table.
Main takeaways:
●
Tables are a valuable tool for organizing and presenting financial data effectively.
●
Inserting a table in PowerPoint is easy and can be done from the "Insert" tab.
●
Customize table appearance and format by accessing the "Table Design" tab.
●
Consider using tables to present complex financial information, making it easier for
you to analyze and understand.
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2. Inserting and formatting charts
and graphs
Why use it?
Charts and graphs are essential visual aids for finance professionals to present and analyze
financial data effectively.
By using charts and graphs in PowerPoint presentations, you can convey financial figures in
a visually appealing and easily understandable format.
Charts and graphs allow you to showcase trends, comparisons, and relationships in
financial data, enabling you to communicate insights and findings more efficiently.
Step-by-step:
1. Click on the "Insert" tab in the PowerPoint ribbon.
2. In the "Illustrations" group, click on the "Chart" button.
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3. The Insert Chart dialog box will appear, displaying various chart types such as
column, line, pie, and more.
4. Select the desired chart type that best represents your financial data, and click on
the "OK" button.
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5. Excel will open in a separate window, displaying a sample data worksheet for your
chart.
6. Replace the sample data with your own financial data directly in the Excel worksheet
opened in powerpoint
7. You can also import data from an external source, by opening the file in Excel after
having edited your data manually.
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For that, just right-click on the chart and select Edit data > Edit data in Excel
8. As you input your data, the chart will update automatically to reflect the changes.
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9. Customize the chart elements such as titles, axes, legends, and data labels by
selecting them and using the options available in the "Chart Design" and "Format"
tabs in the ribbon.
a. Smoothen the line
b. If necessary and possible, adapt your y-axis so you see the changes Quarter over
quarter (in this case, it is not necessary
c. Delete/Hide unnecessary items like the vertical axis labels, the title (since your have a
title on your slide) and the legend (see next step)
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d. Adjust the colour (ideally patterned on your company’s brand)
f. Add labels to the line to replace the legend
-
select the last point of your line and “add labels”
-
Click-right on “Format data labels”
-
Under “Label Options”, select series name instead of value
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-
10. Experiment with different chart styles, colors, and layouts to enhance the visual
impact of your chart.
Real Finance Use case:
Suppose you are preparing a presentation on the revenue growth of your company over
the past five years.
Instead of presenting the raw numbers, you can create a line chart to illustrate the revenue
trend visually.
By plotting the revenue figures over time, you can highlight the growth trajectory, identify
any fluctuations, and emphasize important milestones or achievements.
Bonus tip:
To make your charts and graphs more impactful:
●
Choose the appropriate chart type that best represents your data and effectively
communicates your message.
●
Use consistent color schemes and font styles across your charts and graphs to
maintain visual coherence throughout your presentation.
●
Consider adding annotations or callouts to draw attention to specific data points or
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highlight important insights.
Main takeaways:
●
Charts and graphs provide a visually appealing and easy-to-understand
representation of financial data.
●
Inserting a chart in PowerPoint can be done through the "Insert" tab and selecting
the desired chart type.
●
Customize chart elements and formatting options using the "Chart Design" and
"Format" tabs.
●
Use charts and graphs to showcase trends, comparisons, and relationships in
financial data for effective communication and analysis.
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3. Animations
Why use it?
Animations can enhance your finance presentations by adding visual interest and guiding
the audience's attention to specific elements or data points.
By incorporating animations in PowerPoint, you can effectively communicate financial
concepts, reveal information gradually, and create a dynamic and engaging experience for
your audience.
Step-by-step:
1. Select the object or text that you want to animate.
2. Click on the "Animations" tab in the PowerPoint ribbon.
3. In the "Animations" group, choose an animation effect from the available options.
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You can explore entrance, emphasis, exit, and motion path animations.
4. Click on More… to see all available animations and preview them by clicking your
pointer on each animation to ensure it meets your expectations.
5. Adjust the animation settings using the options in the "Timing" and "Effect Options"
groups. You can modify the duration, delay, and order of animations.
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a. Animation Pane: open the Animation Pane to fine-tune the animation's
timing and smoothness and to manage and adjust the sequence of
animations.
b. The trigger will determine the moment the animation will appear
-
On click: you’ll decide by clicking when the animation takes place
-
With previous: you can animate your element together with another
one
-
After previous: by choosing that, you’ll make sure the next element is
automatically animated after a specified time delay and when your
story needs it and your speech is adapted to it (see next point)
c. Duration and delay will help you pace your animation without having to click
on it and give an interesting impact.
6. To apply the same animation to multiple objects, use the Animation Painter tool
located in the "Advanced Animation" group.
You just need to click on the element that’s already “animated” and use the painter
to apply the same animation to another element.
7. For more advanced animations, such as motion paths or custom animations,
explore the options in the "Add Animation" or "Motion Paths" groups.
Real Finance Use case:
Imagine you are presenting a financial analysis that highlights the revenue growth of
different product lines and the reasons behind their evolution.
To avoid your audience reading all the list before you finish speaking of the first product,
you can use an animation effect to reveal the revenue figures for each product line one by
one.
This gradual reveal can help emphasize the individual performance of each product and
maintain the audience's attention throughout the presentation.
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Bonus tip:
●
Use animations sparingly and purposefully to avoid overwhelming or distracting the
audience. The key is to enhance the content, not overshadow it.
●
Consider using animations to guide the audience's attention to important data
points, key messages, or financial trends.
●
For finance presentation, we recommend staying sober and working with simple
animations like
○
Appear
○
Fade (more stylish)
○
Pulse (to emphasize a point)
Main takeaways:
●
Animations in PowerPoint can add visual interest and control the pace of your
finance presentations.
●
Apply animations selectively to highlight and emphasize key information or data
points.
●
Use animation settings to control the timing, order, and trigger of animations.
●
Be mindful of using animations in a way that enhances the overall message and
does not overshadow the content.
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4. Aligning objects
Why use it?
Aligning objects is crucial for creating visually appealing and professional finance
presentations.
Proper alignment helps maintain consistency, improve readability, and create a cohesive
visual flow in your slides.
By aligning objects accurately, you can enhance the overall organization and structure of
your content, making it easier for your audience to follow and understand the financial
information presented.
Step-by-step:
1. Navigate to the slide where you want to align objects.
2. Select the objects that you want to align. To select multiple objects, hold down the
"Shift" key and click on each object.
3. Click on the "Home" tab in the PowerPoint ribbon (or the “Shape Format” tab
appearing on the right of the ribbon)
4. In the "Drawing" group, click on the "Arrange" button (or directly the “Align” button
in the “Arrange” section of the “Shape Format” tab)
5. From the dropdown menu, select the desired alignment option, such as aligning
objects to the left, right, top, or bottom, or aligning them horizontally or vertically.
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6. The selected objects will align based on your chosen alignment option.
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7. For more precise alignment, access the "Format" tab and utilize alignment tools like
"Align to Slide" or "Align Selected Objects."
8. To ensure consistent alignment throughout your presentation, use alignment guides
(red dotted lines) that appear when you drag and position objects on your slides.
9. Repeat the alignment process as needed for different slides and objects within your
presentation.
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Real Finance Use case:
In a financial report presentation, you may have multiple elements such as text boxes,
images, and charts.
By aligning these elements consistently, you can create a clean and organized layout.
For instance, aligning financial data tables to the left side of the slide and aligning charts to
the right side can establish a clear visual hierarchy and make it easier for your audience to
compare and analyze the information.
Bonus tip:
●
When aligning objects, use the "Snap to Grid" feature available in PowerPoint
settings to ensure precise alignment.
●
Grouping related objects can help maintain their alignment and facilitate easier
management and adjustments.
●
Consider using alignment guides to align objects based on their position relative to
other elements on the slide.
Main takeaways:
●
Proper alignment of objects enhances the visual appeal and professionalism of
finance presentations.
●
Use alignment options in the "Arrange" and "Format" tabs to align objects
accurately.
●
Distribute objects evenly to maintain consistent spacing and balance on your slides.
●
Use alignment guides and the "Snap to Grid" feature for precise alignment.
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5. Distribute
Why use it?
The "Distribute" feature in PowerPoint allows you to evenly space and distribute objects on
your slides.
Thanks to that, you can achieve a balanced and visually pleasing layout, ensuring that your
finance presentations appear polished and professional.
Distributing objects properly enhances readability, clarity, and overall visual impact, making
it easier for your audience to comprehend the financial information being presented.
Step-by-step:
1. Navigate to the slide where you want to distribute objects.
2. Select the objects that you want to distribute. To select multiple objects, hold down
the "Shift" key and click on each object.
3. Click on the "Home" tab in the PowerPoint ribbon (or the “Shape Format” tab
appearing on the right of the ribbon)
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4. In the "Drawing" group, click on the "Arrange" button (or directly the “Align” button
in the “Arrange” section of the “Shape Format” tab)
5. In the alignment submenu, click on the "Distribute Horizontally" or "Distribute
Vertically" option, depending on your desired distribution orientation.
6. The selected objects will be evenly distributed based on the chosen orientation.
7. To distribute spacing equally between objects, select the objects and click on the
"Distribute Horizontally" or "Distribute Vertically" button within the "Arrange"
dropdown menu.
8. Adjust the spacing by selecting the distributed objects and dragging them closer or
farther apart.
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9. Repeat the distribution process as needed for different slides and sets of objects
within your presentation.
Real Finance Use case:
In a financial presentation featuring multiple charts, you can use the "Distribute" feature to
evenly distribute the charts horizontally across the slide.
This distribution ensures that each chart has equal spacing, creating a balanced visual
composition.
This might seem secondary but it’s the kind of easy steps that make you win points (or
avoid losing points) even before you speak.
Bonus tip:
●
When distributing objects, consider utilizing alignment guides to achieve precise and
consistent distribution.
●
Grouping objects before distributing them can help maintain their relative positions
and ensure they distribute as a cohesive unit (for example if you have a text box
inside a shape next to a picture, group them to consider them as one unit)
●
Experiment with different distribution options, such as distributing spacing equally
or centering objects, to achieve the desired visual effect.
Main takeaways:
●
The "Distribute" feature in PowerPoint allows for even spacing and distribution of
objects on slides.
●
Proper distribution enhances the visual balance and professionalism of finance
presentations.
●
Utilize distribution options within the "Arrange" dropdown menu to distribute
objects horizontally or vertically.
●
Adjust spacing and use alignment guides for precise and consistent distribution.
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6. Send forward/backward
Why use it?
The "Send Forward/Backward" feature in PowerPoint enables you to adjust the stacking
order of objects on a slide.
This feature will help you control the visual hierarchy of elements (whether an element is in
front or behind other ones).
It ensures that important information is prominently displayed and easily accessible.
Managing the arrangement of objects using the "Send Forward/Backward" feature
enhances the clarity and impact of your finance presentations.
Step-by-step:
1. Navigate to the slide containing the object you want to adjust
2. Select the object that you want to move forward or backward in the stacking order.
To select multiple objects, hold down the "Shift" key and click on each object.
3. Click on the "Home" tab in the PowerPoint ribbon (or the “Shape Format” tab
appearing on the right of the ribbon)
4. In the "Drawing" group, click on the "Arrange" button (or directly the “Bring
Forward/backwards” button in the “Arrange” section of the “Shape Format” tab)
5. From the dropdown menu, click on the "Bring Forward" option to bring the selected
object(s) one step forward in the stacking order.
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6. Alternatively, click on the "Send Backward" option to send the selected object(s) one
step backward.
7. Repeat steps 3-6 to further adjust the stacking order as needed or press F4 to
repeat the action.
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8. To quickly bring an object to the front or send it to the back of the stacking order,
use the "Bring to Front" or "Send to Back" options in the "Arrange" dropdown menu.
(Alternatively you can right-click on an object and select “Bring to Front or “Send to
Back”)
9. Continue adjusting the stacking order of objects until you achieve the desired
arrangement on your slide.
Real Finance Use case:
When you have overlapping elements, such as text boxes and images, you can ensure the
important financial figures or visuals are easily visible.
This way, key information takes priority, enhancing the clarity and focus of your
presentation.
There’s nothing more irritating than seeing a shape you want on top of a graph appear
backwards and not knowing how to change it.
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Bonus tip:
●
Use the "Selection Pane" available in the "Format" tab to view and manage the
stacking order of objects more precisely, especially when dealing with complex slide
compositions.
●
Grouping objects together can simplify the arrangement process and allow you to
move multiple objects forward or backward simultaneously.
●
Experiment with different stacking orders to find the most visually appealing and
logical arrangement for your finance presentation.
Main takeaways:
●
The "Send Forward/Backward" feature in PowerPoint allows you to adjust the
stacking order of objects on a slide.
●
Managing the arrangement enhances the visual hierarchy and clarity of finance
presentations.
●
Use the "Arrange" dropdown menu and right-click options to bring objects forward
or send them backward.
●
Consider grouping objects and utilizing the "Selection Pane" for more complex slide
compositions.
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7. Group and Ungroup
Why use it?
The ability to group and ungroup objects in PowerPoint is invaluable for finance
professionals.
Grouping allows you to treat multiple objects as a single entity, making it easier to move,
resize, and format them collectively.
Ungrouping objects allows you to edit individual elements within a group.
With these features, you can efficiently manage and modify slide layouts, enhancing the
overall organization and visual consistency of your finance presentations.
Step-by-step:
1. Navigate to the slide containing the objects you want to group or ungroup.
2. Select the objects you want to group together. To select multiple objects, hold down
the "Shift" key and click on each object.
3. Click on the "Home" tab in the PowerPoint ribbon.
4. In the "Drawing" group, click on the "Arrange" button.
5. From the dropdown menu, click on the "Group" option to group the selected objects
into a single entity.
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6. The grouped objects will now move and resize together as a unit.
7. To ungroup objects, select the grouped object you want to edit.
8. Click on the "Home" tab, navigate to the "Arrange" button, and select "Ungroup"
from the dropdown menu.
9. The objects within the group will now become separate, editable elements.
10. Repeat the grouping and ungrouping process as needed for different sets of objects
within your presentation.
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Real Finance Use case:
Consider a finance presentation with a waterfall chart on which you add an arrow (to show
the full variance) and 2 text boxes to give more explanations on particular points.
By grouping these elements together, you can easily move and align them as a cohesive
unit.
For example, if you need to resize or reposition a section of the slide, grouping the related
objects simplifies the process and ensures that their arrangement remains consistent.
Bonus tip:
●
When grouping objects, ensure that they logically belong together and that the
group maintains visual coherence.
●
Use the "Selection Pane" available in the "Format" tab to view and manage grouped
objects, especially in complex slide layouts.
●
Grouping objects allows you to apply formatting options, such as uniform fill colors
or borders, to the entire group with a single action.
Main takeaways:
●
Grouping objects in PowerPoint allows you to treat multiple objects as a single
entity, simplifying movement and formatting.
●
Ungrouping objects enables you to edit individual elements within a group.
●
Utilize the "Arrange" button in the "Drawing" group to group or ungroup objects.
●
Group related elements to maintain visual coherence and easily manage complex
slide layouts.
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8. Icons
Why use it?
Icons are powerful visual elements that can enhance your finance presentations by
conveying information quickly and effectively.
Icons represent various financial concepts, data points, or actions, making complex ideas
more approachable and visually engaging.
By incorporating icons in your PowerPoint slides, you can communicate financial
information with clarity and precision, improving overall comprehension for your audience.
But above all, that’s an extremely powerful alternative to bullet points
Step-by-step:
1. Navigate to the slide where you want to insert an icon
2. Click on the "Insert" tab in the PowerPoint ribbon.
3. In the "Illustrations" group, click on the "Icons" button.
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4. The Insert Icons panel will appear, displaying a wide range of pre-designed icons.
5. Use the search bar or browse through different categories to find an icon that
represents your desired financial concept.
6. Once you find the appropriate icon, click on it to insert it into your slide.
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7. Resize and position the icon as needed by clicking and dragging the corners or
edges.
8. To customize the icon's appearance, select it and use the options available in the
"Format" tab, such as changing the color, outline, or effects.
9. If necessary, add a label or caption to the icon by inserting a text box near it and
typing the desired text.
10. Repeat the process to insert and customize additional icons in your presentation as
required.
Real Finance Use case
By using icons, you can visually represent each bullet point by the message you want to
deliver.
Icons provide a quick visual reference, allowing your audience to grasp the content at a
glance and facilitating their understanding of the various investment options available.
And thinking about how you represent your point will force you to think twice before
adding too many bullet points.
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Bonus tip:
●
Choose icons that are simple, recognizable, and relevant to each point you want to
develop.
●
Maintain visual consistency by using icons from the same style or set throughout
your presentation.
●
Experiment with different icon sizes, colors, or combinations to match your
presentation's design and enhance visual impact.
Main takeaways:
●
Icons can effectively convey financial concepts and data points in a visually
appealing manner.
●
Use the "Icons" button in the "Illustrations" group of the "Insert" tab to access a
variety of pre-designed icons.
●
Customize icon appearance using the options in the "Format" tab.
●
Incorporate icons to improve comprehension, engage the audience, and visually
represent financial information.
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9. SmartArt graphics
Why use it?
SmartArt graphics is one of our favorite functions.
With SmartArt, you can create diagrams, processes, hierarchies, and other visual
representations that help simplify information and enhance understanding.
But the best is how fast you can turn a few bullet points into impactful visualizations which
makes your presentations much more professional and memorable.
Step-by-step:
1. Begin by selecting the text you want to transform into a SmartArt graphic.
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2. Locate and click on the "Home" tab located in the PowerPoint ribbon at the top of
the screen.
3. Within the "Paragraph" group, find and click on the "Convert to SmartArt" button
and go directly to “More SmartArt Graphics”.
4. This will open the Choose a SmartArt Graphic dialog box, which presents various
categories and types of SmartArt graphics.
5. Take your time to browse through the categories or use the search bar to find a
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SmartArt graphic that aligns with your desired concept or relationship and once you
have found a suitable SmartArt graphic, select it and click on the "OK" button to
insert it onto your slide.
6. Your organized text will be converted into a SmartArt
7. To further tailor the SmartArt graphic to your needs, you can customize its
appearance by selecting it and accessing the options found in the "SmartArt Design"
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and "Format" tabs. Use these options to modify colors, styles, layout, and other
formatting elements to match your presentation's visual theme.
8. If necessary, you can rearrange or add/remove shapes within the SmartArt graphic
by utilizing the tools available in the "SmartArt Tools" tabs. These tools enable you to
adjust the structure and hierarchy. You can also open the pane to have a visual
organization of your SmartArt
9. Repeat the process of adding and customizing SmartArt graphics as required to
enhance your presentation's visual impact.
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Real Finance Use case:
Imagine you are presenting a budget process with different milestones and deadlines.
You can use a SmartArt graphic, such as a "List" or "Process" diagram, to visually represent
the different levels or steps involved in your plan.
Bonus tip:
●
You can also create your SmartArt from scratch by going to the “Insert” tab and
selecting “SmartArt”
●
Use appropriate SmartArt layouts that align with your financial content, such as
"Hierarchy" for organizational structures, "Cycle" for recurring processes, or "Matrix"
for comparisons.
●
Customize the colors, styles, and text formatting within the SmartArt graphic to
match your presentation's overall design.
●
Consider incorporating icons or images within the SmartArt shapes to further
enhance the visual representation and understanding of financial concepts.
Main takeaways:
●
SmartArt graphics offer a versatile and visually engaging way to present financial
concepts and relationships.
●
Use the "SmartArt" button in the "Illustrations" group of the "Insert" tab to access
various SmartArt graphic types.
●
Customize the SmartArt graphic using options in the "SmartArt Design" and
"Format" tabs.
●
Use SmartArt to simplify financial information, illustrate processes, hierarchies, or
comparisons, and enhance the overall understanding of your content.
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10.Rehearsal Coach
Why use it?
The Rehearsal Coach feature in PowerPoint is a valuable tool for finance professionals to
practice and refine their presentation delivery.
It helps you improve your timing, pace, and overall effectiveness as a presenter.
Thanks to that, you can gain confidence, identify areas for improvement, and ensure a
smooth and impactful delivery of your finance presentations.
Step-by-step:
1. Open your PowerPoint presentation and click on the "Slide Show" tab in the
PowerPoint ribbon.
2. In the "Set Up" group, click on the "Rehearse Timings" button to start the Rehearsal
Coach.
3. The presentation will start in full-screen mode, and a timer will appear at the bottom
right of the slide.
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4. Begin delivering your presentation, speaking as you would during an actual
presentation.
Examples of live feedback received during the rehearsal
5. As you progress through the slides, the timer will track the duration of your
presentation and the time spent on each slide.
6. Pay attention to the timing cues provided by the Rehearsal Coach, such as a pop-up
message when you exceed the recommended time for a slide.
7. Practice your delivery, adjusting your pace, and ensuring that you effectively convey
your key points within the allocated time.
8. When you finish rehearsing the entire presentation, click on the "Esc" key to exit the
full-screen mode.
9. The Rehearsal Coach will display a summary that includes the total time spent, the
average time per slide, and any timing discrepancies.
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10. Review the summary, analyze areas where you may need to adjust your timing or
content, and use this feedback to refine your presentation delivery.
Real Finance Use case:
We often think of content but rarely about the actual delivery of the presentation. And as
finance professionals, we often start with a disadvantage because of the very nature of
what we present.
That’s why we have to practice to
-
Test the timing and duration of your presentation
-
Train the pace of your speech
-
Learn how to vary your vocab
-
Speak without reading your slides
-
Avoid filler words
Bonus tip:
●
Rehearsal Coach with a timer is great to practice and improve your delivery, but you
should also pay attention to your overall presentation style, body language, and
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voice tone.
●
Take note of the timing cues and recommendations provided by the Rehearsal
Coach to identify slides where you may need to adjust the content or pace.
●
It’s important not to forget that practicing in a real life setup will help you build more
confidence than using the Rehearsal Coach. When you practiced enough with the
feature, ask some colleagues to see your presentation and give feedback.
Main takeaways:
●
The Rehearsal Coach feature in PowerPoint allows you to practice and refine your
presentation delivery.
●
Use the "Rehearse Timings" button in the "Slide Show" tab to start the Rehearsal
Coach.
●
Pay attention to the timing cues and recommendations provided during the
rehearsal process.
●
Practice your timing, pace, and overall delivery to ensure a smooth and impactful
presentation of your financial content.
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11.Morph Transitions
Why use it?
Morph transitions in PowerPoint are a powerful tool for creating smooth transitions
between slides.
By utilizing morph transitions, you can seamlessly animate and transition elements,
enhancing the flow and continuity of your finance presentations.
It’s also a good alternative to bullet points (when you want a list to scroll for example)
Step-by-step:
1. Select the object or objects that you want to animate or transition.
2. Click on the "Transitions" tab in the PowerPoint ribbon.
3. In the "Transition to This Slide" group, click on the "Morph" option.
4. The morph transition will be applied to the selected objects.
5. To adjust the duration, direction, and other parameters of the morph transition, go
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to the "Timing" group and then adjust the different options
6. Preview the morph transition by clicking on the "Preview" button in the "Preview"
group to ensure it meets your desired effect.
7. Repeat the process on other slides where you want to apply the morph transition.
8. To ensure a smooth transition, ensure that the objects you want to morph maintain
similar size, position, and content between slides.
9. Play the presentation to see the morph transitions in action and make any
necessary adjustments.
Real Finance Use case:
Consider a finance presentation where you want to showcase the growth of a your
company’s revenue over time.
By applying a morph transition to a chart or graph, you can seamlessly animate the
changes in data between consecutive slides.
This helps the audience visualize the progression and understand the financial trends with
clarity and continuity.
Another example would be the movement of a rectangle to draw the attention on a specific
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row of a table and move on to the next one in the next slide.
Bonus tip:
●
Experiment with different types of objects, such as charts, images, or text boxes, to
create compelling morph transitions.
●
The goal is not to create an animated movie: use morph transitions sparingly and
purposefully to enhance the visual impact and focus on key elements.
●
Don’t hesitate to put elements outside of the slide to create a modern animation
style.
●
Try to change the shape and size of the element you want to “Morph”: the change
will be nicely animated.
Main takeaways:
●
Morph transitions in PowerPoint create smooth and visually appealing transitions
between slides.
●
Apply morph transitions through the "Transitions" tab and selecting the "Morph"
option.
●
Customize the morph transition parameters using the "Effect Options" button.
●
Utilize morph transitions to animate and transition elements, enhancing the flow
and continuity of your finance presentations.
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12.Design Ideas
Why use it?
Design Ideas in PowerPoint provide instant design suggestions to enhance the visual
appeal of your finance presentations.
This feature offers a range of professionally designed layouts, color schemes, and visual
elements that can elevate the overall look and feel of your slides.
By utilizing Design Ideas, even if you don't have advanced design skills, you can create
visually impressive and cohesive finance presentations that effectively engage your
audience.
Step-by-step:
1. Click on the "Design" tab in the PowerPoint ribbon.
2. In the "Design Ideas" group, click on the "Design Ideas" button.
3. The Design Ideas pane will appear on the right side of your PowerPoint window,
displaying a variety of design suggestions for your selected slide.
4. Scroll through the design suggestions and click on the one that appeals to you.
5. PowerPoint will automatically apply the chosen design to your slide, including layout
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changes, color schemes, and other visual enhancements.
6. If the initial design suggestion is not to your liking, click on the "Design Ideas" button
again to see more options or click the "Reset" button in the Design Ideas pane to
revert back to the original slide layout.
7. Apply Design Ideas to other slides in your presentation by repeating the process for
each slide.
8. Review and refine the overall design of your finance presentation by consistently
applying Design Ideas to maintain visual cohesion.
Real Finance Use case:
It’s often difficult and time consuming for us, finance professionals, to work on the design
of our slides.
On occasions (like for a board or a shareholders’ meeting), the design of our presentation
will play an important role in terms of branding and professionalism of the finance
department.
With Design Ideas, you can enhance the visual appeal of your slides effortlessly.
Bonus tip:
●
Consider the content and message of your slides when selecting design suggestions
to ensure they align with the tone and purpose of your finance presentation.
●
Customize the chosen design by modifying individual elements, such as fonts,
colors, or background images, to maintain brand consistency or accommodate
specific preferences.
●
Use Design Ideas as a starting point and make additional design modifications
based on your own creativity and preferences.
Main takeaways:
●
Design Ideas in PowerPoint provide instant design suggestions to enhance the visual
appeal of your finance presentations.
●
Access Design Ideas through the "Design" tab and the "Design Ideas" button.
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Apply a design suggestion to a slide and customize it further using the formatting
options available.
●
Utilize Design Ideas to create visually impressive and cohesive finance
presentations, even if you have limited design skills.
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13.Working with sections
Why use it?
Sections in PowerPoint allow you to organize and manage your finance presentations more
efficiently.
By dividing your presentation into logical sections, you can navigate through the content
more easily, collaborate with others effectively, and deliver a more structured and
organized presentation.
Sections provide a visual and organizational framework that streamlines the creation and
management of complex finance presentations.
Step-by-step:
1. Select the slides that you want to include in a section. To select multiple slides, hold
down the "Ctrl" key and click on each slide.
2. Right-click on one of the selected slides and choose the "Add Section" option from
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the context menu.
3. A new section will be created, and the selected slides will be grouped under that
section.
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4. Repeat steps 2-4 to create additional sections as needed.
5. To rename a section, right-click on the section header and choose the "Rename
Section" option. Enter a descriptive name for the section.
6. Rearrange sections by clicking and dragging the section headers to the desired
position within the slide sorter view or the slide thumbnails pane.
7. Expand or collapse sections by clicking on the arrow icon next to each section
header. This allows you to hide or reveal the slides within a section for easier
navigation.
8.
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9. To rename, move or copy a section right-click on the section header and choose the
appropriate option from the context menu.
10. Utilize the sections to navigate through your finance presentation easily during
editing, rehearsal, or delivery.
Real Finance Use case:
Imagine you are creating a presentation with different sections to go through the review of
the budget assumptions of each P&L section you covered.
By using sections, you can:
●
Allocate the preparation of the work with your team
●
Keep the content organized
●
Easily navigate to the relevant sections during your presentation
●
Potentially skip parts which, according to the moment, could be delivered by other
means.
Bonus tip:
●
Use sections to create an outline or agenda slide at the beginning of your
presentation, showcasing the different sections and their corresponding topics.
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Collapse sections you have already presented to focus on the remaining content
during rehearsals or while delivering the presentation.
●
Collaborate with colleagues by assigning specific sections to team members for
efficient content creation and management.
Main takeaways:
●
Sections in PowerPoint allow you to organize and manage your finance
presentations more efficiently.
●
Create sections by selecting slides and choosing the "Add Section" option from the
context menu.
●
Rename, rearrange, expand, or collapse sections to structure your presentation and
navigate easily.
●
Utilize sections for a clearer organization, collaboration, and delivery of your finance
presentation.
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14.Presenter View
Why use it?
Presenter View is a powerful tool in PowerPoint that enhances your experience as a
presenter during a finance presentation.
It provides you with additional features and functionality to effectively deliver your content,
manage your slides, and engage with your audience.
That way, you can stay organized, control the flow of your presentation, and have easy
access to your notes.
Step-by-step:
1. Connect your computer to the display or projector you will be using for your finance
presentation.
2. Open your PowerPoint presentation and click on the "Slide Show" tab in the
PowerPoint ribbon.
3. In the "Monitors" group, check the box next to "Use Presenter View" to enable it.
4. Click on the "Slide Show" button to start your presentation.
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5. The Presenter View will appear on your computer screen, while the projected
display shows the actual presentation slides.
6. In the Presenter View, you will see various elements, including the current slide,
slide thumbnails, speaker notes, and additional controls.
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7. Navigate through your slides using the arrow keys or the navigation controls within
the Presenter View.
8. Take advantage of the speaker notes section to keep track of important points,
reminders, or cues during your presentation.
9. Use the pen and highlighter tools to annotate or emphasize specific areas of your
slides as you present.
10. Monitor the elapsed time, slide timer, and upcoming slide previews to manage the
pace and timing of your presentation.
Real Finance Use case:
During a finance presentation, Presenter View can be invaluable. You can have a look at the
speaker notes section to have important talking points, details that are not on the slides, or
reminders readily available.
You can also discreetly refer to the upcoming slide previews and manage the timing of your
delivery more effectively.
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You can also use the different pointers available to emphasize the focus on specific data
points in a table or on a graph.
Bonus tip:
●
Customize the Presenter View layout by right-clicking within the Presenter View and
accessing the "Layout" options. This allows you to configure the elements displayed
based on your preferences and presentation needs.
●
Familiarize yourself with the additional features available in Presenter View, such as
zooming in on slides, switching displays, or accessing presenter tools, to further
enhance your presentation experience.
Main takeaways:
●
Presenter View in PowerPoint provides additional features and functionality for a
seamless presentation experience.
●
Enable Presenter View through the "Slide Show" tab and check the box next to "Use
Presenter View."
●
Utilize the speaker notes, slide thumbnails, annotations, and timing tools available
in Presenter View to enhance your delivery and engagement with the audience.
●
Customize the Presenter View layout to suit your preferences and needs.
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15.Slide Masters
Why use it?
Slide Masters in PowerPoint allow you to establish consistent design elements, layouts, and
formatting throughout your finance presentations.
You can save time, maintain brand consistency, and ensure a professional and polished
look for your slides.
Slide Masters provide a centralized location to make global changes to your presentation's
design, helping you create cohesive and visually appealing finance presentations.
Step-by-step:
1. Click on the "View" tab in the PowerPoint ribbon.
2. In the "Master Views" group, click on the "Slide Master" button.
3. The Slide Master view will open, displaying the Slide Master at the top and
thumbnail representations of each slide layout below.
4. Modify the Slide Master by selecting elements, such as the background, colors,
fonts, or placeholders, and apply formatting changes as desired.
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5. To change the layout of a specific slide, select the corresponding slide layout
thumbnail and make the necessary adjustments.
6. Use the "Insert Placeholder" button in the "Master Layout" group to add
placeholders for text, images, charts, or other content types to the Slide Master or
specific slide layouts.
7. Customize the placeholder properties, such as size, position, or formatting, to define
how content will appear on slides using that layout.
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8. Apply the changes made in the Slide Master to the entire presentation by clicking on
the "Close Master View" button in the "Close" group of the Slide Master tab.
9. The modified Slide Master and slide layouts will be applied to your presentation.
10. Review and refine the design of your slides, making additional adjustments as
needed.
Real Finance Use case:
In bigger corporations, the internal marketing or communication department will generally
be responsible for delivering a consistent Slide Masters.
But knowing how to use it will help you remove annoying elements in the background (for
example in case you want to show a graph).
Bonus tip:
●
Make global changes to the design, formatting, or placeholders, saving you time and
effort in updating individual slides.
●
Save your customized Slide Master as a template (.potx) to use it as a starting point
for future finance presentations, maintaining consistent branding and design
elements.
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Main takeaways:
●
Slide Masters in PowerPoint allow for consistent design elements, layouts, and
formatting in finance presentations.
●
Access the Slide Master view through the "View" tab and the "Slide Master" button.
●
Modify the Slide Master and individual slide layouts to establish the desired design
and formatting.
●
Use placeholders to define the positioning and formatting of content on slides.
●
Make global changes to the presentation's design by applying modifications in the
Slide Master view.
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16.Exporting Your Presentation
Why use it?
Exporting your presentation is essential when you need to share or deliver your finance
presentation outside of PowerPoint.
Ensure compatibility, accessibility, and the ability to distribute your presentation to a wider
audience.
Exporting allows you to share your finance presentation as a standalone file, an image, a
PDF, or even as a video, depending on your specific requirements.
Step-by-step:
1. Click on the "File" tab in the PowerPoint ribbon.
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2. In the left-hand menu, click on the "Save As" or "Export" option.
3. Choose the desired file format from the available options based on your intended
use and audience. Some common export formats include:
a. PowerPoint Presentation (.pptx): This is the default format that preserves all
the features and editable elements of your presentation.
b. PDF Document (.pdf): Exporting as a PDF creates a static document that can
be easily shared and viewed across different platforms.
c. Video: You can export your presentation as a video file, enabling you to share
it on video-sharing platforms or embed it in websites.
d. JPEG or PNG Image: Exporting slides as images allows you to share individual
slides or create visual assets for other purposes.
4. Choose the location where you want to save the exported file and enter a file name
if necessary.
5. Click on the "Save" or "Export" button to start the export process.
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6. Depending on the file format and settings you choose, additional options or settings
may be presented. Adjust them as needed.
7. Wait for the export process to complete, which may take a few moments depending
on the complexity and size of your presentation.
8. Locate the exported file in the chosen location and verify that it appears as
intended.
9. Test the exported file on the intended devices or platforms to ensure compatibility
and proper viewing.
10. Share or distribute the exported file as needed, whether through email, file sharing
services, or other appropriate channels.
Real Finance Use case:
For example, you may export your presentation as a PDF to share it with the audiences and
make sure no alteration is done on the figures and the message.
It is especially important because we speak of financial information and we want to avoid
having multiple “versions of the truth”
Exporting slides as images can be useful for including them in reports or online platforms,
while exporting as a video enables you to reach a wider audience through different media
channels (try once to deliver your management report as a video and you’ll see surprising
reactions)
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Bonus tip:
●
When exporting to PDF, consider including speaker notes or selecting the "Notes
Pages" option to provide additional context or instructions.
●
Often, we use the “Print to PDF” function to send as PDF but it gives a visually
disappointing result if you use effects or have newly installed fonts.
●
Check the compatibility of the exported file format with the devices and software
your audience will be using to ensure optimal viewing experience.
●
Keep the original PowerPoint file (.pptx) as a backup or for future editing needs.
Main takeaways:
●
Exporting your presentation allows you to share, distribute, and deliver your finance
presentation outside of PowerPoint.
●
Choose the appropriate file format based on your intended use and audience, such
as PowerPoint Presentation, PDF, image, or video.
●
Adjust any additional options or settings depending on the selected export format.
●
Test the exported file for compatibility and proper viewing.
●
Share or distribute the exported file through appropriate channels to reach your
target audience.
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17.Insert Power BI dashboard
Why use it?
Power BI is a powerful data visualization and business intelligence tool that integrates
seamlessly with PowerPoint.
By inserting a Power BI dashboard into your finance presentation, you can enhance the
visual impact and effectiveness of your data-driven content.
Power BI allows you to create interactive and dynamic dashboards that provide deeper
insights into financial data, enabling you to present complex information in a more
engaging and understandable way.
Step-by-step:
1. Navigate to the slide where you want to insert the Power BI dashboard.
2. Open the Power BI service or Power BI Desktop application.
3. Create or open the Power BI dashboard that contains the financial data you want to
present.
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4. Once you have your dashboard ready, click on the "Share" or "Embed" button in the
Power BI interface.
5. In the sharing options, select the option to embed the dashboard.
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6. Customize the size, layout, and other display options for the embedded dashboard
as desired.
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7. Copy the embed code provided by Power BI.
8. Return to your PowerPoint presentation and navigate to the desired slide.
9. Click on the "Insert" tab in the PowerPoint ribbon.
10. In the "Text" group, click on the "Object" button and choose the "Embed" option.
11. In the "Insert Object" dialog box, paste the embed code copied from Power BI.
12. Click "OK" to insert the embedded Power BI dashboard into your slide.
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13. Resize and reposition the embedded dashboard on the slide as needed.
14. Test the embedded dashboard in slideshow mode to ensure it displays and
functions correctly.
Real Finance Use case:
It’s important to consider PowerBI for what it is: a business intelligence and a dashboard
tool.
Therefore, it will be better to use it for meetings and workshops in which analyzing and
going through the data will be the objective.
If you have to deliver a presentation in which you have a well defined story to deliver, it’s
best to work with static visuals you’ll have customized to fit your narrative.
Otherwise, you’ll turn your presentation into an endless session of Q&A and the outcome
will most probably not be reached.
Bonus tip:
●
Ensure that the Power BI dashboard you embed is properly designed and optimized
for the slide size and layout to avoid any formatting issues.
●
If you want to share the PowerPoint presentation with others, make sure they have
access to the embedded Power BI dashboard or provide them with the necessary
permissions to view the dashboard.
Main takeaways:
●
Inserting a Power BI dashboard into your finance presentation enhances data
visualization and interactivity.
●
Create or open the desired Power BI dashboard and customize its display options.
●
Copy the embed code provided by Power BI and insert it into your PowerPoint
presentation using the "Embed" option in the "Insert" tab.
●
Resize and reposition the embedded dashboard as needed.
●
Utilize the interactive features of the embedded Power BI dashboard to present and
analyze financial data effectively.
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18.Replace all fonts
Why use it?
Consistency in font usage is crucial for maintaining a professional and cohesive look
throughout your finance presentation.
PowerPoint provides a useful feature that allows you to replace all fonts used in your
presentation with a different font of your choice.
It’s also important because many companies have standardized presentations with fonts,
colours and visuals
Step-by-step:
1. Click on the "Home" tab in the PowerPoint ribbon.
2. In the "Editing" group, click on the arrow next to the "Replace" button.
3. From the dropdown menu, select "Replace Fonts."
4. The Replace Fonts dialog box will appear, displaying a list of fonts currently used in
your presentation.
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5. In the "Replace" field, select the font you want to replace from the list.
6. In the "With" field, choose the font that you want to use as a replacement.
7. Click on the "Replace All" button to replace all instances of the selected font with the
replacement font throughout your presentation.
8. PowerPoint will display a message confirming the successful replacement of fonts.
9. Review your slides to ensure that the fonts have been replaced correctly and appear
as intended.
10. Make any necessary adjustments to font sizes or formatting to ensure consistency
and readability.
Real Finance Use case:
When working on a finance presentation, you may want to ensure that all slides
consistently use a specific font that aligns with your company's branding or presentation
guidelines.
The problem is that you often have to consolidate slides coming from different people
before presenting them to a common audience.
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For example, slides covering the direct margin of a business unit will come from a different
financial analyst/controller than those covering the operating expenses.
For the person having to merge all inputs, this feature will save him/her time.
Bonus tip:
●
Before replacing the fonts, make sure to choose a replacement font that is similar in
style and readability to the original font used in your presentation.
●
Consider creating a PowerPoint template with the desired font settings and use it as
a starting point for future finance presentations, saving you time in replacing fonts.
●
Also make sure people know which main font to use for their graphs if they copy
them as pictures in PowerPoint because you won’t be able to change them with this
feature.
Main takeaways:
●
The "Replace All Fonts" feature in PowerPoint allows you to quickly update fonts
across all slides in your finance presentation.
●
Access this feature through the "Replace" button in the "Home" tab and select
"Replace Fonts" from the dropdown menu.
●
Choose the font you want to replace and the replacement font.
●
Click on "Replace All" to update the fonts throughout the presentation.
●
Review the slides and make necessary adjustments to font sizes or formatting for
consistency and readability.
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19.Record
Why use it?
The Record feature in PowerPoint enables you to create narrated presentations or
rehearse and time your delivery.
This feature is particularly useful for finance professionals who want to create self-paced
training modules, provide voice-over explanations or record presentations for remote and
asynchronous audiences.
Step-by-step:
1. Click on the "Slide Show" tab in the PowerPoint ribbon.
2. In the "Set Up" group, click on the "Record Slide Show" button.
3. A dialog box will appear with recording options. Choose whether to record from the
current slide or from the beginning of the presentation.
4. If desired, check the "Slide and animation timings" option to record the duration of
each slide and any animations.
5. Click on the "Start Recording" button to begin the recording.
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6. As you progress through your slides, speak into your computer's microphone to
provide narration or explanation for each slide.
7. Advance to the next slide by clicking the mouse or using the arrow keys while
recording.
8. If you need to pause the recording, click on the "Pause" button in the recording
toolbar.
9. To resume recording, click on the "Resume Recording" button.
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10. When you reach the end of your presentation, click on the "Stop" button in the
recording toolbar to finish the recording.
11. A message will appear asking if you want to save the timings and narration. Choose
the appropriate option based on your preference.
12. Review the recorded presentation to ensure the narration and timings are accurate.
13. Save your presentation to retain the recorded narration and timings.
Real Finance Use case:
By recording your narration alongside the slides, you can provide detailed explanations,
examples, or analyses that enhance the understanding and retention of information.
Knowing not all audiences are able to free up time to attend a presentation, that can be a
good alternative to meetings and workshops if it doesn’t require convincing them.
Bonus tip:
●
Use a good quality microphone or headset to ensure clear and crisp audio for your
recorded narration.
●
Rehearse your presentation before recording to ensure a smooth and confident
delivery.
●
Monitor your pacing and avoid rushing through the content, allowing your audience
to absorb the information effectively.
Main takeaways:
●
The Record feature in PowerPoint allows you to create narrated presentations or
rehearse and time your delivery.
●
Access this feature through the "Slide Show" tab and the "Record Slide Show"
button.
●
Choose recording options, such as starting from the current slide or the beginning
of the presentation.
●
Speak into your microphone while progressing through the slides to provide
narration or explanation.
●
Save the presentation to retain the recorded narration and timings.
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20.Link to an Excel Table
Why use it?
Linking an Excel table to your finance presentation provides several benefits.
By establishing a connection between your PowerPoint presentation and an Excel table,
you can ensure that the financial data in your presentation remains up to date and
accurate.
This is particularly useful when dealing with dynamic or frequently updated financial
information.
By linking to an Excel table, you can easily update the data in both Excel and PowerPoint
simultaneously, saving time and ensuring consistency.
Step-by-step:
1. Navigate to the slide where you want to insert the linked Excel table.
2. Open the Excel file containing the table or create a new table in Excel.
3. Select the entire table or the specific range of cells you want to link to PowerPoint.
4. Copy the selected table or cells to the clipboard using the "Ctrl+C" keyboard
shortcut or the right-click context menu.
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5. Return to your PowerPoint presentation and navigate to the desired slide.
6. Click on the location where you want to insert the linked Excel table.
7. Right-click on the slide and choose the "Paste Options" button from the context
menu.
8. From the Paste Options menu, select either "Use Destination Theme" or "Keep
Source Formatting" based on your preferences for how the table should appear in
PowerPoint.
9. Click on the Paste Options button again and choose the "Link & Keep Source
Formatting" option to create a linked Excel table.
10. PowerPoint will insert the Excel table as a linked object on the slide, displaying the
current data from the Excel file.
11. To update the linked Excel table, open the Excel file and make changes or additions
to the data.
12. Save the Excel file.
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13. Return to your PowerPoint presentation and open the "File" tab.
14. In the left-hand menu, click on the "Info" option.
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15. Under the "Related Documents" section, click on the "Edit Links to Files" button.
16. In the "Links" dialog box, select the linked Excel file and click on the "Update Now"
button.
17. PowerPoint will update the linked Excel table with the latest data from the Excel file.
Real Finance Use case:
Linking an Excel table to your finance presentation is beneficial when presenting financial
data that requires frequent updates, such as monthly P&L analysis (vs budget) or evolution
graph of important drivers.
By establishing a link between Excel and PowerPoint, you can ensure that your
presentation always reflects the most current and accurate financial information, without
the need for manual updates.
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Bonus tip:
●
When linking to an Excel table, ensure that the Excel file and the PowerPoint
presentation are stored in the same location or accessible to each other to maintain
the link.
●
Review the linked Excel table in PowerPoint after each update to confirm that the
data is correctly displayed and formatted.
●
You can also use Automatic Update in the “Edit Links” option
●
Beware your original Excel workbook isn’t too dynamic because of filters and slicers.
That can easily change the content of your visuals without you noticing.
Main takeaways:
●
Linking an Excel table to your finance presentation allows for up-to-date and
accurate financial data.
●
Copy the selected Excel table or cells and paste them into PowerPoint using the
"Paste Options" menu.
●
Choose the "Link & Keep Source Formatting" option to create a linked Excel table.
●
To update the linked Excel table, make changes in the Excel file and use the "Update
Now" button in the "Edit Links to Files" dialog box in PowerPoint.
●
Linking to an Excel table ensures that your presentation reflects the most current
financial data without manual updates.
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21.CTRL + SHIFT and Mouse
techniques
Why use it?
Mastering keyboard shortcuts and mouse techniques can significantly boost your
productivity and efficiency when working with PowerPoint as a finance professional.
The CTRL+SHIFT combination, along with various mouse techniques, provides quick access
to essential functions and enables precise control over objects, text, and slide elements.
By harnessing these techniques effectively, you can streamline your workflow, save time,
and navigate PowerPoint with ease.
CTRL+SHIFT and Mouse Techniques:
1. CTRL + Drag: Copies and move selected object in any direction
2. SHIFT + Drag: Will move the selected object to vertical or horizontal
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3. CTRL+SHIFT+Click: Holding down the CTRL+SHIFT keys while clicking on an object
allows you to select multiple objects simultaneously.
4. CTRL+SHIFT+Drag: Will copy and move the selected object to vertical or horizontal
5. CTRL+SHIFT+resize: Will resize the object from its center
6. SHIFT + resize: Will block the form you’re inserting to square, circle,…
Try to incorporate CTRL+SHIFT and mouse techniques into your PowerPoint workflow.
This will help you navigate and manipulate slide elements with precision and speed, and
ultimately boost your productivity.
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Bonus Tips:
●
Customize keyboard shortcuts: PowerPoint allows you to customize keyboard
shortcuts to fit your preferences. Consider assigning frequently used commands to
CTRL+SHIFT combinations to further optimize your workflow.
●
Practice and memorize: To maximize the benefits of these techniques, practice
using them regularly until they become second nature. With time and repetition,
you'll effortlessly incorporate them into your PowerPoint workflow.
Main Takeaways:
●
Mastering CTRL+SHIFT and mouse techniques in PowerPoint enhances your
productivity and efficiency.
●
CTRL+SHIFT+Click enables the selection of multiple objects simultaneously.
●
CTRL+SHIFT+Drag duplicates objects or text quickly.
●
CTRL+SHIFT+Arrow Keys provides precise movement and resizing of objects or text.
●
CTRL+SHIFT+Mouse Scroll allows zooming in and out for detailed viewing or slide
overviews.
●
Customize keyboard shortcuts and practice regularly to maximize the benefits of
these techniques.
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22.Replace visuals with the Change
Picture Function
Why use it?
The Change Picture function in PowerPoint allows you to easily update and modify images
within your finance presentations.
This feature is particularly useful when you need to replace outdated images, graphs or
icons without having to copy-paste and adjust the format and size.
Step-by-step:
1. Navigate to the slide containing the image you want to change.
2. Select the image by clicking on it.
3. Click on the "Format" or "Picture/Graphic Tools" tab in the PowerPoint ribbon.
4. In the "Change" group, locate the "Change Picture/Graphic" button. The icon for this
button may vary depending on the version of PowerPoint you are using.
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5. Click on the "Change Picture/Graphic" button and you will be able to select between
a. This device: you can use a picture saved in your device (Browse your
computer or network location);
b. From Stock Images: you can search an extensive source of free stock picture;
c. From online sources: thanks to Bing (Microsoft’s Google), you can search for
public images (beware of rights of use);
d. From icons: you’ll be able to replace by an icon (see chapter on icons)
e. From clipboard: you can replace the image/icon by the last element you
copied
6. In this example, we will select what we have from the Clipboard (updated graph
from Excel)
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7. PowerPoint will automatically resize and adjust the new image to fit the original
dimensions and position of the previous image.
8. Review the updated slide to ensure that the new image aligns with your
presentation's design and content.
9. Repeat the process for any other slides or images within your presentation that
require changing.
Real Finance Use case:
The typical use case for finance will be replacing charts from Excel directly from the
clipboard.
For that, instead of pasting as picture, click on the chart you want to replace after having
copied the new chart and use the “change picture” feature to replace without having to
change the format and size.
Bonus tip:
●
Maintain image consistency and visual coherence throughout your presentation by
using images that have a similar style or theme.
●
Consider using royalty-free image libraries or sourcing high-quality images from
reputable sources to ensure professional-looking visuals.
Main takeaways:
●
The Change Picture function in PowerPoint enables you to update and modify
images within your finance presentations.
●
Select the image you want to change and locate the Change Picture button in the
Format or Picture Tools tab.
●
Browse for the new image file, select it, and insert it into your presentation to
replace the existing image.
●
Review the updated slide to ensure visual consistency and alignment with your
presentation's design.
●
Use high-quality and relevant images to enhance the visual impact and support the
content of your presentation.
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23.Collaborating on Presentations
Why use it?
Collaboration is an essential aspect of working on finance presentations, especially when
multiple team members or stakeholders are involved.
PowerPoint provides several collaborative features that enable finance professionals to
collaborate efficiently, gather feedback, and make revisions together.
By leveraging these collaboration tools, you can enhance teamwork, streamline the review
process, and create more impactful finance presentations.
Step-by-step:
1. Save your PowerPoint presentation to a shared location or a collaborative platform,
such as cloud storage or project management software.
2. Invite team members or stakeholders to collaborate on the presentation by granting
them appropriate access permissions to view, edit, or comment on the file.
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3. Enable real-time collaboration in PowerPoint by utilizing co-authoring features
available in cloud-based platforms like Microsoft 365 or PowerPoint Online.
4. Communicate and coordinate with team members through integrated commenting
and messaging features to discuss specific slides, content, or revisions.
5. Assign tasks or responsibilities to team members using project management tools
or by clearly outlining responsibilities within the presentation.
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6. Set up regular meetings or check-ins to discuss progress, provide updates, and
address any questions or concerns.
7. Utilize PowerPoint's "Track Changes" feature to keep a record of revisions made by
different collaborators, making it easier to review and compare changes.
8. Leverage version history to access previous iterations of the presentation and
restore earlier versions if needed.
9. Encourage collaboration by creating a shared document outlining guidelines,
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expectations, and best practices for working together on the presentation.
10. Communicate openly and provide constructive feedback to ensure a collaborative
and productive working environment.
Real Finance Use case:
Each month, different financial professionals will work on the same slide deck for the
monthly results management report.
When PowerPoint didn’t have these collaboration tools, it could be a serious pain for
consolidators to gather, copy, paste, adjust and harmonize the inputs received by the
different finance colleagues.
Now with this, everybody can work on the same document as long as it’s on a cloud
location (Sharepoint, OneDrive, Teams)
Bonus tip:
●
Clearly define roles and responsibilities within the presentation to ensure that
everyone understands their contributions and timelines.
●
Regularly communicate and provide status updates to keep all collaborators
informed and aligned.
●
Use tools like PowerPoint's Comments feature to ask specific questions or provide
context for certain slides, facilitating focused collaboration.
Main takeaways:
●
Collaborative features in PowerPoint facilitate efficient teamwork and allow multiple
stakeholders to work together on finance presentations.
●
Save the presentation to a shared location or collaborative platform and grant
appropriate access permissions to collaborators.
●
Utilize co-authoring features and integrated commenting and messaging tools to
communicate and collaborate in real time.
●
Assign tasks and responsibilities to team members and track changes using
PowerPoint's features.
●
Foster open communication, provide constructive feedback, and establish clear
guidelines to ensure a productive collaborative environment.
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23.TOP 50 POWERPOINT SHORTCUTS
Shortcut
Functionality
Ctrl+S
Save the presentation
Ctrl+C
Copy selected objects/text
Ctrl+V
Paste copied objects/text
Ctrl+Z
Undo the last action
Ctrl+Y
Redo the last undone action
Ctrl+A
Select all objects/text
Ctrl+B
Bold selected text
Ctrl+I
Italicize selected text
Ctrl+U
Underline selected text
Ctrl+Shift+C
Copy formatting of selected object
Ctrl+Shift+V
Paste formatting of selected object
Ctrl+Shift+>
Increase font size
Ctrl+Shift+<
Decrease font size
Ctrl+Shift+F
Change font
Ctrl+Shift+P
Open the font size menu
Ctrl+Shift+A
Align selected objects/text to the left
Ctrl+Shift+C
Center selected objects/text
Ctrl+Shift+E
Align selected objects/text to the right
Ctrl+Shift+J
Justify selected objects/text
Ctrl+Shift+D
Duplicate selected objects
Ctrl+Shift+H
Hide selected objects
Ctrl+Shift+S
Open the Slide Master view
Ctrl+Shift+O
Group selected objects
Ctrl+Shift+G
Ungroup selected objects
Ctrl+Shift+N
Create a new slide
Ctrl+Shift+M
Insert a new slide
Ctrl+Shift+H
Hide/show the ribbon
Ctrl+Shift+T
Create a new text box
Ctrl+Shift+V
Paste as a picture
Ctrl+Shift+W
Close the presentation
Ctrl+Shift+L
Apply the Bullets feature to selected text
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Ctrl+Shift+N
Clear formatting of selected text
Ctrl+Shift+O
Open the Outline view
Ctrl+Shift+P
Open the Print dialog box
Ctrl+Shift+S
Save the presentation as a different file
Ctrl+Shift+T
Increase the indent of selected text
Ctrl+Shift+V
Paste text only
Ctrl+Shift+W
Close the active window
Ctrl+Shift+X
Cut selected objects/text
Ctrl+Shift+Y
Copy selected objects/text as a picture
Ctrl+Shift+Z
Switch to the next pane
Ctrl+Shift+F5
Start the slideshow from the current slide
Ctrl+Shift+F6
Switch to the previous presentation window
Ctrl+Shift+F9
Minimize the presentation window
Ctrl+Shift+F10
Maximize or restore the presentation window
Ctrl+Shift+F11
Lock the control on the slide master
Ctrl+Shift+F12
Open the Save As dialog box
Ctrl+Shift+Tab
Switch to the previous tab in the Ribbon
Ctrl+Shift+Arrow keys
Extend the selection of objects/text
Ctrl+Shift+Plus (+)
Insert a new slide in Normal view
Ctrl+Shift+Minus (-)
Delete the currently selected slide
Ctrl+Shift+Arrow keys
Extend the selection of objects/text
Ctrl+Shift+Plus (+)
Insert a new slide in Normal view
Ctrl+Shift+Minus (-)
Delete the currently selected slide
Ctrl+Tab
Switch to the next tab in the Ribbon
Ctrl+Backspace
Delete one word to the left
Ctrl+Delete
Delete one word to the right
Ctrl+Enter
Insert a line break in a text box
Ctrl+Home
Jump to the beginning of the text box
Ctrl+End
Jump to the end of the text box
Ctrl+Page Up
Jump to the previous slide
Ctrl+Page Down
Jump to the next slide
Ctrl+F2
Open the Print Preview window
Ctrl+F5
Start the slideshow from the beginning
Ctrl+F6
Switch to the next presentation window
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Ctrl+F9
Minimize the active window
Ctrl+F10
Maximize or restore the active window
Ctrl+F11
Lock the control on the current slide master
Ctrl+F12
Open the Open dialog box
Alt+F4
Close PowerPoint
F1
Open the Help window
F5
Start the slideshow
F6
Switch between different elements on the slide
F7
Spell check the presentation
F9
Refresh the slideshow or linked objects
Shift+F1
Display a context-sensitive help topic
Shift+F2
Edit a selected object
Shift+F3
Change the case of selected text
Shift+F5
Start the slideshow from the current slide
Shift+F6
Switch between the presentation and task panes
Shift+F9
Switch between a selected object and the Outline pane
Shift+F10
Display a shortcut menu for a selected item
Shift+F11
Add a new slide
Shift+F12
Save the presentation
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24.GENERAL TIPS FOR POWERPOINT
Here are 20 tips to consider when making your PowerPoint presentations:
1. Use a simple and clean slide design to maintain clarity.
2. Stick to a consistent color scheme throughout your presentation.
3. Use high-quality images to enhance visual appeal.
4. Keep text concise and avoid overcrowding slides.
5. Utilize bullet points or numbered lists for easy readability.
6. Use slide transitions sparingly and choose subtle effects.
7. Incorporate appropriate animations to highlight key points.
8. Align text and objects to create a balanced composition.
9. Make use of white space to enhance visual focus.
10. Use charts and graphs to present data in a visually appealing manner.
11. Link to an Excel table for dynamic and updatable data.
12. Use slide master and layout templates for consistent formatting.
13. Use SmartArt to visually represent concepts and relationships.
14. Use slide notes to provide supplementary information for your audience.
15. Experiment with different slide layouts to add variety to your presentation.
16. Crop and edit images to fit your design and emphasize important details.
17. Customize the color and style of objects to match your branding.
18. Create custom shapes and icons to add a personal touch.
19. Use advanced animation features like motion paths or triggers for dynamic effects.
Learn and utilize PowerPoint keyboard shortcuts for increased efficiency.
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25.Delivering Presentations
Remotely
Delivering presentations remotely requires specific considerations to ensure effective
communication and engagement.
By understanding the best practices for remote presentations, you can deliver your finance
content seamlessly and make a strong impact on your audience.
What to consider when delivering a presentation remotely?
1. Choose a suitable platform for delivering your remote presentation, such as video
conferencing software or webinar platforms. Ensure that the platform supports the
features you need, such as screen sharing, chat, Q&A and breakout room
functionality.
2. Prepare your presentation materials, ensuring they are optimized for remote
delivery. Simplify slides, use larger fonts, and incorporate visuals that are easily
visible through video conferencing.
3. Test your internet connection and audio/video equipment to ensure they are
working properly. Use a high-quality microphone and camera to ensure clear
communication.
4. Share presentation materials with remote participants in advance, allowing them to
review and follow along during the presentation.
5. Engage participants through clear and concise communication. Speak clearly, use a
conversational tone, and pause for questions or comments at appropriate intervals.
6. Utilize screen sharing to present your slides or other materials. Ensure that
participants can clearly see and follow the content being shared.
7. Encourage interaction and engagement by using chat or Q&A features available in
the remote presentation platform. Answer questions and address comments to
maintain participant involvement.
8. Be mindful of time management, ensuring that the presentation stays within the
allotted time frame. Consider scheduling breaks if the presentation is lengthy.
9. Use visual cues and gestures to enhance communication and maintain interest.
Maintain eye contact with the camera, use hand gestures effectively, and vary your
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vocal tone to engage participants.
10. Record the presentation if allowed and share the recording with participants
afterward for reference or for those who were unable to attend.
11. Follow up with participants after the presentation, addressing any additional
questions or concerns they may have.
Bonus tip:
●
Use the following ice-breakers to start your presentation
○
"Two Truths and a Lie": Begin your presentation by sharing three statements
about yourself, two of which are true and one that is false. Encourage
participants to guess which statement is the lie using the chat or polling
feature. This activity helps create engagement and sparks conversations.
○
“Starting question”: Ask your audience to reply to a specific question related
to the course. Then pick up 2 or 3 persons and ask them to explain their
response
○
"One-Minute Introductions": Allocate one minute to each participant for a
quick self-introduction. Ask them to share their name, role, and an
interesting fact about themselves. You can either go in order or randomly call
on participants to introduce themselves. This exercise helps everyone get
acquainted and promotes a friendly atmosphere. But this is only good for a
small audience
○
"Guess the Emoji": Display a series of emojis related to your presentation
topic or the overall theme of the meeting. Ask participants to guess what the
emojis represent and type their answers in the chat. This interactive activity
encourages active participation and lightens the mood.
○
"Polling Question": Prepare a poll or multiple-choice question related to the
content of your presentation. Share the question with participants and give
them a brief time to respond. Once everyone has voted, reveal the results
and briefly discuss the answers. This ice-breaker fosters engagement and
sets a collaborative tone for the rest of the presentation.
●
Ask that the audience turn on their camera to increase the engagement
●
Ask people to react by using emojis or move their thumbs up and down
●
Consider the time zones of remote participants when scheduling the presentation to
ensure maximum attendance.
●
Practice using the remote presentation platform beforehand to familiarize yourself
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with its features and minimize technical issues during the actual presentation.
Main takeaways:
●
Remote presentations allow finance professionals to connect with audiences across
different locations or time zones.
●
Choose a suitable platform and optimize your presentation materials for remote
delivery.
●
Test your equipment and ensure a stable internet connection for clear
communication.
●
Use ice-breaker techniques to warm up the audience
●
Engage participants through clear communication, screen sharing, and interactive
features.
●
Utilize visual cues and gestures to enhance engagement and maintain interest.
●
Record the presentation for reference or for participants who were unable to
attend.
●
Follow up with participants after the presentation to address any additional
questions or concerns.
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Copyright Soufyan Hamid & Nicolas Boucher
SPECIAL DISCOUNT ON NICOLAS’
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Finance PowerPoint Guide
Copyright Soufyan Hamid & Nicolas Boucher
SPECIAL DISCOUNT ON NICOLAS’
GUIDE “ 50 Questions and Answers
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If you're looking for a new job, the most important step is the job interview.
This is your opportunity to show the employer why you are the best candidate for the
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Preparing for the interview can be nerve-wracking, but it's important to take the time to do
it properly. In this guide, we'll help you prepare answers for a job interview and give you
some tips on how to do it effectively.
What is in this guide: 50 interview questions and answers for finance jobs.
For each question you will get:
1. Why the recruiter will ask you this question and what is expected
2. An example on how to answer this question
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Finance PowerPoint Guide
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ENROLL FOR THE NEXT COHORT OF
THE FINANCE STAGE, THE ONLY
FINANCIAL STORYTELLING LIVE
COURSE
Slides are only 1 aspect of a successful and convincing presentation.
If you want to really make an impact on your audience and deliver a message that turns
into an action, you’ll have to go through 4 steps
That’s why Soufyan created a live cohort-based course to teach you all his techniques and
secrets to become the financial storyteller of your company.
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4 sessions of 2 hours practicing it with 14 other participants
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1 optional Q&A session during the program
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Access to my self-paced video training (end 2023)
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60-min coaching with me (you decide when)
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Templates and frameworks to use
To know everything about the course and check when the next cohort starts, go to
www.thefinancestage.com
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Copyright Soufyan Hamid & Nicolas Boucher
LAST WORDS
As we conclude this guide on mastering PowerPoint for finance professionals, we want to
take a moment to reflect on the knowledge and skills you have acquired.
By enhancing your PowerPoint abilities, you have unlocked a powerful tool that can propel
your finance career to new heights.
In today's competitive business landscape, effective presentation skills are essential for
finance professionals seeking to make a significant impact. The ability to communicate
financial data, insights, and recommendations clearly and persuasively is highly valued by
employers, clients, and stakeholders.
By mastering PowerPoint, you have equipped yourself with a valuable asset that will set
you apart in your finance career. You now have the ability to create visually appealing
presentations, deliver engaging narratives, and captivate your audience with the power of
data-driven visuals.
As you move forward in your finance journey, we encourage you to continue refining your
presentation skills. Embrace opportunities to practice and showcase your abilities, whether
it's delivering reports, pitching ideas, or training colleagues. Seek feedback and strive for
continuous improvement, adapting your presentations to suit different audiences and
objectives.
Remember, effective presentations not only convey information but also inspire trust,
confidence, and credibility. As you harness the power of PowerPoint, your presentations
will become a vital tool for influencing decisions, helping your company, and advancing
your finance career.
We want to express our sincere appreciation for joining us on this learning adventure.
We wish you the utmost success in your finance career, and may your PowerPoint
presentations be the catalysts that boost you to new professional heights.
Best regards,
Soufyan & Nicolas
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HOW TO CONTACT US
If you want to give us any feedback, you can contact Soufyan here: soufyan@soufbp.com
and Nicolas here: nboucher.pro@gmail.com
You can also access the previous newsletters of Nicolas here (it’s free and you can even
subscribe from there).
Soufyan’s newsletters are easy to find here (it’s free too and you’ll learn everything that he
learned to become a financial storytelling expert).
Good luck for your next presentation and thank you for your trust!
Soufyan & Nicolas
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Copyright Soufyan Hamid & Nicolas Boucher
DISCLAIMER
Note 1: This guide was made in our own capacity and our name and is independent from
any employer.
Note 2: All the information in this guide is published in good faith and for general
information purposes only. Soufyan Hamid and Nicolas Boucher do not make any
guarantees about the completeness, reliability, and accuracy of this information. Any action
you take upon the information you find in this guide, is strictly at your own risk.
Consent
By buying and using this guide, you hereby consent to our disclaimer and agree to its
terms.
Copyright:
This publication is protected by EU, US and International Copyright Laws.
Reproduction and distribution of this publication without written permission of the author (Nicolas
Boucher) is prohibited.
© Soufyan Hamid & Nicolas Boucher 2023
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