Event Overview

Accounting and finance professionals increasingly need to automate repetitive Excel tasks, improve reporting speed, and strengthen data controls without becoming traditional programmers.

This practical workshop introduces Excel VBA with Generative AI through the concept of vibe coding—programming by intent rather than writing every line of code manually. Participants learn to describe business requirements in natural language, use AI assistants such as ChatGPT, Claude, or Microsoft Copilot to generate VBA code, and then review, test, debug, and refine the resulting automation.

The programme combines the productivity benefits of Generative AI with essential VBA knowledge. Participants develop sufficient code literacy to understand how AI-generated macros work, identify incorrect assumptions, apply business rules accurately, and build reliable Excel automation for finance and business workflows.

Event Outline

1. Vibe Coding and Generative AI for Excel Automation

From syntax-driven programming to intent-driven development; structuring effective VBA prompts; the Describe–Generate–Execute–Observe–Refine workflow; recognising AI assumptions and hallucinations.

2. VBA Foundations

Developer Tab and Visual Basic Editor; modules and procedures; variables and data types; "Option Explicit"; user interaction using "MsgBox" and "InputBox"; writing portable VBA.

3. Business Rules and Control Structures

Conditional logic with "If...Then...Else"; categorisation using "Select Case"; automating repetitive tasks with "For...Next"; processing variable datasets with "Do While" and "Do Until".

4. Debugging and Refining AI-Generated Code

Running macros safely; stepping through code; identifying logical and runtime errors; feeding error messages and observations back to AI for iterative improvement.

5. Excel Object Model and Professional Automation

Working with "Application", "Workbook", "Worksheet", "Range" and Excel Tables; properties and methods; understanding "Sub" procedures and custom "Function" procedures.

6. Building Practical Finance and Business Tools

Text and date handling; data cleansing; arrays for high-volume processing; opening and consolidating external workbooks and CSV files; automated report preparation.

7. Controls and Defensive Programming

Data validation, exception handling and "On Error" techniques; handling missing files and invalid data; reviewing generated code before deployment; maintaining human oversight and auditability.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the workshop, participants will be able to:

- Apply the 5-step Vibe Coding Loop: Describe, Generate, Execute, Observe and Refine.

- Use AI assistants to generate and improve Excel VBA macros from natural-language requirements.

- Navigate the VBA Editor and understand variables, data types, procedures, functions and the Excel Object Model.

- Apply "If...Then...Else", "Select Case", "For...Next" and "Do...Loop" structures to automate business rules and repetitive processes.

- Build interactive macros using "InputBox" and "MsgBox".

- Read, test and debug AI-generated VBA rather than accepting generated code without verification.

- Automate data cleaning, formatting, reconciliation, reporting and workbook consolidation.

- Improve macro performance using arrays and efficient range handling.

- Incorporate validation and error handling to create more reliable and auditable automation.

- Generate portable VBA solutions suitable for both Windows and Mac environments where practicable.

Target Audience

Accounting and finance professionals, FP&A analysts, auditors, business analysts and managers who want to automate Excel workflows and develop practical VBA solutions with the assistance of Generative AI.

Prerequisites

Participants should have a good working knowledge of Microsoft Excel, including formulas, formatting and basic data manipulation. No prior VBA or programming experience is required.

Technical Requirements

Participants should bring a Windows PC or MacBook with the desktop version of Microsoft Excel 365, access to an AI assistant such as ChatGPT, Claude or Microsoft Copilot.