Free Resources

Practical resources for the climb

Free guides, the blog, the newsletter, and tools for finance and analytics professionals who got really good and want to keep going.

The Excel Reference Guide for finance and analytics professionals
Most Popular: 25,000+ Downloads
Get Your Free Guide

Enter your email on the next page to get instant access.

The Excel Reference Guide

The most comprehensive Excel quick-reference guide for finance and analytics professionals.

What's Inside

  • 50+ essential keyboard shortcuts
  • Data cleaning functions (TRIM, LEFT, RIGHT, MID)
  • XLOOKUP and INDEX/MATCH mastery
  • SUMIFS, COUNTIFS, and calculation functions
  • Formatting and navigation shortcuts
  • Printable quick-reference card

More Free Resources

Additional ways to level up your Excel and analytics skills.

30+ articles

The Blog

Practical articles on Excel, analytics, and building a finance and analytics career. The work, the craft, and the climb, written for the individual professional.

Read the blog
100+ Videos

YouTube Channel

Weekly Excel tutorials, career advice, and analytics insights. Over 100+ videos covering everything from basic shortcuts to advanced financial modeling.

Watch Now
Weekly

Next Steps Newsletter

A weekly newsletter for finance and analytics professionals climbing the next rung. Practical thinking, career angles, and the occasional rant. By Matt Brattin.

Subscribe
4-Part Series

Excel for Analytics Free Training

A 4-video series on YouTube you can follow along with, download the source file, and start building real analytics skills today.

Start Free Training
From a Former CFO

Get your company to pay for it.

Most companies have learning and development budgets that go unused every year. A focused request, with the benchmark data built in, is often well within reach.

Pick what you're asking for, fill in your details, and download a tailored reimbursement letter. No email required.

Benchmark data built into every letter
Works for The Climb, Excel 4 Academy, or any program
Tailored to your details, downloads instantly
Read the full L&D budget playbook

Generate your letter

Your ask: $590/year (founding rate)

Fill in the fields above to generate your letter.

Books by Matt Brattin

Long-form, not free, and worth it.

The Art of Analytics & Surviving the Hairball

The Art of Analytics is available now. Surviving the Hairball is coming soon. Practical analytics for finance, and steady judgment for corporate life.

Browse books