Hi Reader,

I used to avoid scripts. VBA scared me.
Maybe you're the same—great at Excel, but allergic to code.

But now AI flipped that for me. It builds tiny automations and explains them clearly.

I need to share that with you because it has given me so much joy in automating boring task and having them now run themselves.

And here’s the point: you don’t need to “learn to code” to get them. You can let AI draft the script, explain it in plain language, and help you tweak it until it works.

Before showing you how I do it and teach it...
​...I want you to make sure you secure your spot to my live event of this Thursday on Financial Analysis with AI (see below)

Tell The Right Story with Your Data

Join me for a free masterclass on using AI to clean data, sharpen analysis, and turn numbers into clear financial narratives (including how to apply it in financial modeling).

Pick your session for free:

• ​For English speakers 🇬🇧
• ​Live en francais ici 🇫🇷

Here's what you will learn as well:

• Why financial storytelling is critical for modern Finance teams
• How to use AI to sanity-check numbers and boost trust
• A faster way to prep data (without babysitting spreadsheets)
• Smarter ways to analyze and present insights with AI support
• Practical tips for building and sharing reports that land

These events are best for CFOs, FP&A, and finance teams who want to save time while adding value to their analysis.

​Save your spot now if you want to learn it in English​

​Reserve ta place pour la masterclass en francais​

Free event with me and sponsored by Jedox

What “data cleaning with AI” exactly is and how to use it

Data cleaning with AI = using AI to detect, fix, and document problems in raw data, then generate code (Excel/VBA, Python/pandas, SQL, Power Query) that does those fixes repeatably.

With a reasoning model, you’re not just asking AI to “clean the data.” You’re asking it to plan → code → check → explain → iterate like an analyst would.

You are asking AI for some help to create a script. No coding required!

Example of today: Data cleaning using VBA script with AI

Imagine your boss comes to you and wants a clean, consolidated customer revenue table delivered in Excel today for the last 3 years.

You have exports from CRM, invoicing, and the bank, all with messy headers, mixed date formats, currency symbols, and duplicates.

Below is how I prompted AI to consolidate all tabs into one:

Here's the prompt I used:

Output:

Then it gave me a lot of different options, like:

• Manual copy and paste
• PowerQuery step by step
• Python script

And VBA.

Today I want to show you the VBA solution.

​The link to the file used in the example​

How to run

ChatGPT gave me the exact code to run which I pasted below:

1. Copy code generated by AI
2. Turn on the Developer tab​
   File > Options > Customize Ribbon > check Developer
3. Open the VBA editor​
   Developer > Visual Basic or press Alt+F11
4. Insert a new module​
   In the Project pane, select your workbook
   Insert > Module
5. Paste your code
   ​Click into the blank module window and paste
6. Click run
   ​Press F5 or choose Run → Run Sub/UserForm

In 10 seconds your consolidated tab is created!

Faster than your copy and paste no?

What are other things Visual Basic / PowerQuery / Python can do

• Clean text - removes extra spaces and hidden characters
• Fix dates - parses to real Excel dates (yyyy-mm-dd) and flags any it can’t parse
• Normalize amounts - converts currency strings to numbers; handles $, €, £, commas, and parentheses negatives
• Fill country - Proper Case; blanks become Unknown
• Tidy layout - auto-fits the columns
• Add/remove columns and lines
• Calculate new fields

Why this matters

I keep repeating this in my AI CFO sessions: data hygiene + automation can be now automated with AI. Not with AI in the middle but with AI writing the script to automate.

The hours saved by automating a simple multi‑tab consolidation (and making it refreshable) compound every month, freeing you to analyze, not copy‑paste.

If you can consolidate, validate, visualize, and narrate results in minutes, you’re already many steps ahead of your peers and invaluable to your boss.

Best,
Your AI Finance Expert,
Nicolas

P.S. The free live events on Financial Analysis start in 3 days, the seats are limited, so you'd better act fast and reserve your spot now.
​
​🇬🇧 Link for the English-speaking event​

🇫🇷 Lien pour le live en francais​

Transparency note:​
Some of the links in this newsletter are affiliate links or paid placements. That means I might earn a commission if you use them. But I only share things I personally trust and believe are worth your time.