June 1, 2026
Why Excel macros still matter in 2026
<div class="SCXW86518476 BCX0"> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW86518476 BCX0"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW86518476 BCX0"><span class= "TextRun SCXW86518476 BCX0" lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US" data-contrast="auto"><span class= "NormalTextRun SCXW86518476 BCX0">Excel macros are far from obsolete. </span><span class= "NormalTextRun SCXW86518476 BCX0">And </span><span class= "NormalTextRun SCXW86518476 BCX0">here's</span><span class= "NormalTextRun SCXW86518476 BCX0"> why. </span></span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW86518476 BCX0"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW86518476 BCX0"><span class= "TextRun SCXW86518476 BCX0" lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US" data-contrast="auto"><span class= "NormalTextRun SCXW86518476 BCX0">This episode explores why </span><span class= "NormalTextRun SCXW86518476 BCX0">VBA</span><span class= "NormalTextRun SCXW86518476 BCX0">s (</span><span class= "NormalTextRun SCXW86518476 BCX0">V</span><span class= "NormalTextRun SCXW86518476 BCX0">isual</span><span class= "NormalTextRun SCXW86518476 BCX0"> </span><span class= "NormalTextRun SCXW86518476 BCX0">B</span><span class= "NormalTextRun SCXW86518476 BCX0">asic</span><span class= "NormalTextRun SCXW86518476 BCX0"> </span><span class= "NormalTextRun SCXW86518476 BCX0">for </span><span class= "NormalTextRun SCXW86518476 BCX0">A</span><span class= "NormalTextRun SCXW86518476 BCX0">pplications</span><span class= "NormalTextRun SCXW86518476 BCX0">) </span><span class= "NormalTextRun SCXW86518476 BCX0">still</span><span class= "NormalTextRun SCXW86518476 BCX0"> </span><span class= "NormalTextRun SCXW86518476 BCX0">play</span><span class= "NormalTextRun SCXW86518476 BCX0"> </span><span class= "NormalTextRun SCXW86518476 BCX0">an important role</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW86518476 BCX0"> in workflow efficiency for accountants and finance professionals.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW86518476 BCX0" data-ccp-props= "{"201341983":0,"335559738":240,"335559739":240,"335559740":240}"> </span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW86518476 BCX0"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW86518476 BCX0"><span class= "NormalTextRun SCXW86518476 BCX0">Key learnings:</span><span class= "EOP SCXW86518476 BCX0" data-ccp-props= "{"201341983":0,"335559738":240,"335559739":240,"335559740":240}"> </span></p> </div> <div class="ListContainerWrapper SCXW86518476 BCX0"> <ul class="BulletListStyle1 SCXW86518476 BCX0" role="list"> <li class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW86518476 BCX0" role="listitem" aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="14" data-list-defn-props= "{"335552541":1,"335559683":0,"335559684":-2,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"hybridMultilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW86518476 BCX0"><span class= "NormalTextRun SCXW86518476 BCX0">Why macros still matter in modern Excel workflows </span></p> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="ListContainerWrapper SCXW86518476 BCX0"> <ul class="BulletListStyle1 SCXW86518476 BCX0" role="list"> <li class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW86518476 BCX0" role="listitem" aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="14" data-list-defn-props= "{"335552541":1,"335559683":0,"335559684":-2,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"hybridMultilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="2" data-aria-level="1"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW86518476 BCX0"><span class= "NormalTextRun SCXW86518476 BCX0">How VBA compares with Power Query </span></p> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="ListContainerWrapper SCXW86518476 BCX0"> <ul class="BulletListStyle1 SCXW86518476 BCX0" role="list"> <li class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW86518476 BCX0" role="listitem" aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="14" data-list-defn-props= "{"335552541":1,"335559683":0,"335559684":-2,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"hybridMultilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="3" data-aria-level="1"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW86518476 BCX0"><span class= "TextRun SCXW86518476 BCX0" lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US" data-contrast="auto"><span class= "NormalTextRun SCXW86518476 BCX0">The limits of Power Query for in-</span><span class= "NormalTextRun SCXW86518476 BCX0">situ </span><span class= "NormalTextRun SCXW86518476 BCX0">data</span><span class= "NormalTextRun SCXW86518476 BCX0"> fixes </span></span></p> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="ListContainerWrapper SCXW86518476 BCX0"> <ul class="BulletListStyle1 SCXW86518476 BCX0" role="list"> <li class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW86518476 BCX0" role="listitem" aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="14" data-list-defn-props= "{"335552541":1,"335559683":0,"335559684":-2,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"hybridMultilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="4" data-aria-level="1"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW86518476 BCX0"><span class= "NormalTextRun SCXW86518476 BCX0">How AI can help write and debug VBA code </span></p> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="ListContainerWrapper SCXW86518476 BCX0"> <ul class="BulletListStyle1 SCXW86518476 BCX0" role="list"> <li class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW86518476 BCX0" role="listitem" aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="14" data-list-defn-props= "{"335552541":1,"335559683":0,"335559684":-2,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"hybridMultilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="5" data-aria-level="1"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW86518476 BCX0"><span class= "NormalTextRun SCXW86518476 BCX0">How to automate data cleansing tasks in Excel </span></p> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="ListContainerWrapper SCXW86518476 BCX0"> <ul class="BulletListStyle1 SCXW86518476 BCX0" role="list"> <li class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW86518476 BCX0" role="listitem" aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="14" data-list-defn-props= "{"335552541":1,"335559683":0,"335559684":-2,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"hybridMultilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="6" data-aria-level="1"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW86518476 BCX0"><span class= "NormalTextRun SCXW86518476 BCX0">Why VBA is a useful entry point into programming </span></p> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="ListContainerWrapper SCXW86518476 BCX0"> <ul class="BulletListStyle1 SCXW86518476 BCX0" role="list"> <li class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW86518476 BCX0" role="listitem" aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="14" data-list-defn-props= "{"335552541":1,"335559683":0,"335559684":-2,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"hybridMultilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="7" data-aria-level="1"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW86518476 BCX0"><span class= "NormalTextRun SCXW86518476 BCX0">How to store macros in the personal macro workbook </span></p> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="ListContainerWrapper SCXW86518476 BCX0"> <ul class="BulletListStyle1 SCXW86518476 BCX0" role="list"> <li class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW86518476 BCX0" role="listitem" aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="14" data-list-defn-props= "{"335552541":1,"335559683":0,"335559684":-2,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"hybridMultilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="8" data-aria-level="1"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW86518476 BCX0"><span class= "NormalTextRun SCXW86518476 BCX0">Ways to run macros from the quick access toolbar</span><span class="EOP SCXW86518476 BCX0" data-ccp-props= "{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}"> </span></p> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW86518476 BCX0"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW86518476 BCX0"><span class= "TextRun SCXW86518476 BCX0" lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US" data-contrast="auto"><span class= "NormalTextRun SCXW86518476 BCX0">Listen now</span><span class= "NormalTextRun SCXW86518476 BCX0"> to </span><span class= "NormalTextRun SCXW86518476 BCX0">help </span><span class= "NormalTextRun SCXW86518476 BCX0">level</span><span class= "NormalTextRun SCXW86518476 BCX0"> </span><span class= "NormalTextRun SCXW86518476 BCX0">up</span><span class= "NormalTextRun SCXW86518476 BCX0"> </span><span class= "NormalTextRun SCXW86518476 BCX0">your Excel skills</span><span class= "NormalTextRun SCXW86518476 BCX0"> with macros. </span></span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW86518476 BCX0"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW86518476 BCX0"><span class= "NormalTextRun SCXW86518476 BCX0">Host:</span><span class= "NormalTextRun SCXW86518476 BCX0"> Neale Blackwood CPA. He has more than 20 years of experience as a Microsoft Excel educator and is the author of more than 200 </span><a class= "Hyperlink SCXW86518476 BCX0" href= "https://intheblack.cpaaustralia.com.au/topic/excel" target= "_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><span class= "NormalTextRun SCXW86518476 BCX0" data-ccp-charstyle= "Hyperlink">INTHEBLACK</span></a><span class= "NormalTextRun SCXW86518476 BCX0"> articles as well as a book, </span><span class= "NormalTextRun SCXW86518476 BCX0">Advanced Excel Reporting for Management Accountants</span><span class= "NormalTextRun SCXW86518476 BCX0">.</span><span class= "EOP SCXW86518476 BCX0" data-ccp-props= "{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":276}"> </span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW86518476 BCX0"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW86518476 BCX0"><span class= "NormalTextRun SCXW75023298 BCX0">For more,</span><span class= "NormalTextRun SCXW75023298 BCX0"> </span><a class= "Hyperlink SCXW75023298 BCX0" href="https://youtu.be/nR_fI9IFLKA" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><span class= "TextRun Underlined SCXW75023298 BCX0" lang="EN-AU" xml:lang= "EN-AU" data-contrast="none"><span class= "NormalTextRun SCXW75023298 BCX0" data-ccp-charstyle= "Hyperlink">check out the accompanying YouTube video </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW75023298 BCX0" data-ccp-charstyle="Hyperlink">of </span><span class= "NormalTextRun SCXW75023298 BCX0" data-ccp-charstyle= "Hyperlink">this episode</span></span></a><span class= "NormalTextRun SCXW75023298 BCX0">.</span><span class= "EOP SCXW75023298 BCX0" data-ccp-props= "{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":276}"> </span></p> </div> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW86518476 BCX0"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW86518476 BCX0"><span class= "TextRun SCXW86518476 BCX0" lang="EN-AU" xml:lang="EN-AU" data-contrast="auto"><span class= "NormalTextRun SCXW86518476 BCX0">R</span><span class= "NormalTextRun SCXW86518476 BCX0">ead </span><span class= "NormalTextRun SCXW86518476 BCX0">more of </span></span><a class="Hyperlink SCXW86518476 BCX0" href= "https://intheblack.cpaaustralia.com.au/contributors/neale-blackwood" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><span class= "TextRun Underlined SCXW86518476 BCX0" lang="EN-AU" xml:lang= "EN-AU" data-contrast="auto"><span class= "NormalTextRun SCXW86518476 BCX0" data-ccp-charstyle= "Hyperlink">Neale's Excel articles </span><span class= "NormalTextRun SCXW86518476 BCX0" data-ccp-charstyle= "Hyperlink">on</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW86518476 BCX0" data-ccp-charstyle="Hyperlink"> INTHEBLACK</span><span class= "NormalTextRun SCXW86518476 BCX0" data-ccp-charstyle= "Hyperlink">.</span></span></a><span class= "NormalTextRun SCXW86518476 BCX0"> </span><span class= "EOP SCXW86518476 BCX0" data-ccp-props= "{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":276}"><br /> </span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW86518476 BCX0"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW86518476 BCX0"><span class= "NormalTextRun SCXW86518476 BCX0">Loving this content?</span> <span class="EOP SCXW86518476 BCX0" data-ccp-props= "{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":276}"> </span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW86518476 BCX0"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW86518476 BCX0"><span class= "TextRun SCXW86518476 BCX0" lang="EN-AU" xml:lang="EN-AU" data-contrast="none"><span class= "NormalTextRun SCXW86518476 BCX0">D</span><span class= "NormalTextRun SCXW86518476 BCX0">on</span><span class= "NormalTextRun SCXW86518476 BCX0">'</span><span class= "NormalTextRun SCXW86518476 BCX0">t</span><span class= "NormalTextRun SCXW86518476 BCX0"> forget to subscribe to EXCEL TIPS and share this episode with your colleagues and friends in the business community</span><span class= "NormalTextRun SCXW86518476 BCX0">. </span></span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW86518476 BCX0"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW86518476 BCX0"><span class= "TextRun SCXW86518476 BCX0" lang="EN-AU" xml:lang="EN-AU" data-contrast="auto"><span class= "NormalTextRun SCXW86518476 BCX0">Would you like to listen to more Excel Tips </span><span class= "NormalTextRun SCXW86518476 BCX0">and other CPA Australia podcasts like INTHEBLACK and With Interest</span><span class= "NormalTextRun SCXW86518476 BCX0">? </span></span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW86518476 BCX0"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW86518476 BCX0"><span class= "NormalTextRun SCXW86518476 BCX0">Head to </span><a class= "Hyperlink SCXW86518476 BCX0" href= "https://www.youtube.com/@CPAaustralia/podcasts" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><span class= "NormalTextRun SCXW86518476 BCX0" data-ccp-charstyle= "Hyperlink">CPA Australia's YouTube channel</span></a><span class= "NormalTextRun SCXW86518476 BCX0">.</span><span class= "EOP SCXW86518476 BCX0" data-ccp-props= "{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":276}"> </span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW86518476 BCX0"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW86518476 BCX0"><span class= "TextRun SCXW86518476 BCX0" lang="EN-AU" xml:lang="EN-AU" data-contrast="auto"><span class= "NormalTextRun SCXW86518476 BCX0">And </span><span class= "NormalTextRun SCXW86518476 BCX0">don't</span><span class= "NormalTextRun SCXW86518476 BCX0"> forget to subscribe to the channel. </span></span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW86518476 BCX0"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW86518476 BCX0"><span class= "NormalTextRun SCXW86518476 BCX0">You can </span><a class= "Hyperlink SCXW86518476 BCX0" href= "https://apps.cpaaustralia.com.au/find-a-cpa/" target="_blank" rel= "noreferrer noopener"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW86518476 BCX0" data-ccp-charstyle="Hyperlink">find a CPA at our custom portal</span></a><span class= "NormalTextRun SCXW86518476 BCX0"> on the CPA Australia website.</span><span class="EOP SCXW86518476 BCX0" data-ccp-props= "{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":276}"> </span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW86518476 BCX0"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW86518476 BCX0"><span class= "NormalTextRun SCXW86518476 BCX0">CPA Australia </span><a class="Hyperlink SCXW86518476 BCX0" href= "https://www.cpaaustralia.com.au/tools-and-resources/podcasts" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><span class= "NormalTextRun SCXW86518476 BCX0" data-ccp-charstyle= "Hyperlink">publishes four podcasts</span></a><span class= "TextRun SCXW86518476 BCX0" lang="EN-AU" xml:lang="EN-AU" data-contrast="auto"><span class= "NormalTextRun SCXW86518476 BCX0">, providing commentary and thought leadership across business, </span><span class= "NormalTextRun SCXW86518476 BCX0">finance</span><span class= "NormalTextRun SCXW86518476 BCX0"> and accounting:</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW86518476 BCX0" data-ccp-props= "{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":276}"> </span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW86518476 BCX0"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW86518476 BCX0"><a class= "Hyperlink SCXW86518476 BCX0" href= "https://www.cpaaustralia.com.au/tools-and-resources/podcasts/with-interest" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><span class= "NormalTextRun SCXW86518476 BCX0" data-ccp-charstyle= "Hyperlink">With Interest</span></a><span class= "EOP SCXW86518476 BCX0" data-ccp-props= "{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":276}"> </span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW86518476 BCX0"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW86518476 BCX0"><a class= "Hyperlink SCXW86518476 BCX0" href= "https://www.cpaaustralia.com.au/tools-and-resources/podcasts/intheblack" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><span class= "NormalTextRun SCXW86518476 BCX0" data-ccp-charstyle= "Hyperlink">INTHEBLACK</span></a><span class= "EOP SCXW86518476 BCX0" data-ccp-props= "{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":276}"> </span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW86518476 BCX0"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW86518476 BCX0"><a class= "Hyperlink SCXW86518476 BCX0" href= "https://www.cpaaustralia.com.au/tools-and-resources/podcasts/excel-tips" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><span class= "NormalTextRun SCXW86518476 BCX0" data-ccp-charstyle= "Hyperlink">Excel Tips</span></a><span class= "EOP SCXW86518476 BCX0" data-ccp-props= "{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":276}"> </span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW86518476 BCX0"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW86518476 BCX0"><a class= "Hyperlink SCXW86518476 BCX0" href= "https://www.cpaaustralia.com.au/tools-and-resources/podcasts/intheblack-outloud" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><span class= "NormalTextRun SCXW86518476 BCX0" data-ccp-charstyle= "Hyperlink">INTHEBLACK Out Loud</span></a><span class= "EOP SCXW86518476 BCX0" data-ccp-props= "{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":276}"> </span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW86518476 BCX0"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW86518476 BCX0"><span class= "NormalTextRun SCXW86518476 BCX0">Search for them in your podcast platform.</span><span class="EOP SCXW86518476 BCX0" data-ccp-props= "{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":276}"> </span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW86518476 BCX0"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW86518476 BCX0"><span class= "NormalTextRun SCXW86518476 BCX0">You can email the podcast team at </span><a class="Hyperlink SCXW86518476 BCX0" href= "mailto:podcasts@cpaaustralia.com.au" target="_blank" rel= "noreferrer noopener"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW86518476 BCX0" data-ccp-charstyle= "Hyperlink">podcasts@cpaaustralia.com.au</span></a></p> </div>