Case Study: Searching for Formulas in an Investment Banking Dataset
Investment bankers use data with companies’ financials, like equity, return on assets (ROA), and debt-to-equity ratios. We’ll search formulas involving these metrics. The spreadsheet file contains these details.
Think of a group of businesses’ money stats – how much they own (equity), profits compared to total assets (ROA), and debts versus equity (debt-to-equity ratio). Our task? Find formulas linking these key numbers within the dataset provided.
First, open the Excel file. Explore its layout and data. Next, use Find and Replace to search formulas with words like “equity,” “ROA,” or “debt.” To find return on assets formulas, search “ROA” or “return on assets.” Use wildcards like “*ROA*” to find formulas containing ROA anywhere.


Next, leverage the Go To Special feature to identify cells containing formulas within the dataset. Select the entire worksheet, press Ctrl+G (or Cmd+G on a Mac), click on the “Special” button, and choose “Formulas” to highlight all cells containing formulas. From there, you can filter the highlighted cells to display only those related to your desired financial metrics.


Finally, document and organize the found formulas by creating a separate worksheet within the workbook to serve as a formula library. Copy the relevant formulas, along with their cell references and a brief description of their purpose, into this library for easy reference and reuse in future investment banking projects.
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Conclusion
Now, you’re ready to search for formulas in Excel like a pro and uncover the insights that drive your financial strategies. Remember, it’s all about understanding your formulas, utilizing the right search techniques, and adhering to the best practices for managing and organizing your findings. By mastering the art of searching for formulas in Excel and applying our tips, finance professionals and investment bankers can elevate their financial analysis and make smarter business decisions.
Don’t hesitate to experiment with different search techniques and customizations to find what works best for you and clearly communicate your insights to clients and stakeholders. If you want to take your formula searching skills to the next level, try Macabacus.
By sharpening your formula-searching skills and applying what you’ve learned here, you’ll be ready to navigate even the most complex financial workbooks with confidence and efficiency. Whether you’re an experienced investment banker or a new financial analyst, we say go for it — use the techniques above to dive deeper into your financial data and unlock better business results.