Accounting is hard enough! Excel doesn’t have to be. These are the only shortcuts you’ll ever need.

If you’re like me, you work with a lot of numbers in Excel every day. A few extra clicks can slow you down. It can also break your focus. Think of Excel as a fast calculator. Using the mouse too much is like using a 10-key with one hand tied. Keyboard shortcuts make a big difference.

They save time. They also keep your work flowing. But learning all of them can feel hard. That’s why I made this guide. It shows only the shortcuts you really need. Let’s jump in and boost your speed with the ones that matter most.

1. Apply Currency Format: Ctrl + Shift + $

I use this shortcut to apply the currency format to numbers fast. It adds a dollar sign, shows comma separators, and keeps two decimal places. The currency symbol shown depends on your region of the PC and the Excel desktop app. If you’re in the UK, you get the pound sign in place of the dollar sign.

As an accountant, you deal with cash flow, expenses, and balance sheets. This shortcut makes such data easier to read. It also keeps formatting consistent in reports and client files.

Here’s how to use this shortcut:

Click once on the cell B2 to make it active. Let’s consider that your source dataset is in between B2:B9.

Hold the left mouse button and drag down to the cell B10 to select the whole range.

Or press and hold the Shift key, then press the Down Arrow key until B9 is selected.

Keep the range B2 to B9 selected.

Place one finger on the Ctrl key and hold it down. While holding the Ctrl key, press and hold the Shift key.

Now press the $ key once. It’s usually found above the number 4.

Let go of all the keys. Check the cells in B2 to B9. You’ll see a dollar sign, commas for thousands, and two decimal places.

The values are now in the proper currency format.

2. Apply Percentage Format: Ctrl + Shift + %

I use this shortcut to quickly format numbers as percentages. It multiplies the number by 100 and adds a percent sign. You don’t have to find the percentage option in the ribbon. In accounting, percentages are important for ratios, growth rates, and financial analysis. This shortcut helps you format data fast and keeps your reports accurate and consistent.

Click on the cell B2 to select it, considering this is the first cell of the dataset.

Hold the left mouse button and drag down to the cell B9 to select all the cells in that range, the last cell of the dataset.

Keep the cells from B2 to B9 selected. Press and hold the Ctrl key on your keyboard.

While holding Ctrl, press and hold the Shift key.

Press the % key once while holding both Ctrl and Shift.

Release all the keys. Excel will convert the selected numbers to percentage format.

You will see a percent sign added to each value, and numbers multiplied by 100.

3. Apply Date Format: Ctrl + Shift + #

You’re working on a ledger with dozens of transaction IDs. The dates are stored as plain numbers and look confusing. You try to spot overdue payments, but the numbers make no sense.

You waste time clicking through the Format Cells menu. You can fix this instantly with one shortcut. I press Ctrl + Shift + # and turn all those numbers into clean date values. The default date format for this shortcut is DD-MMM-YY.

So, select the source dataset that contains date entries, which could be in any format.

Then simply press Ctrl + Shift + # to use this keyboard shortcut.

4. AutoSum: Alt + =

You’re closing monthly books and need to total all expenses fast. You don’t want to click the AutoSum icon on the Home tab every time.

You simply press Alt + = to insert the SUM formula instantly. This shortcut helps you finish totals faster and avoid manual mistakes.

Find below the quick steps to use this Excel shortcut for accountants:

Select the cell directly below the last number in the column.

Press and hold the Alt key.

Press the = key once.

Release both keys.

Excel will detect the numbers above and insert a SUM formula.

Press Enter to confirm the formula.

Check the result to make sure the range is correct.

5. Show or Hide Formulas: Ctrl + `

You need to check formulas in your financial model quickly. You don’t want to click through menus to find and review formulas.

You press Ctrl + ` to toggle between showing formulas and their results instantly. This shortcut helps you audit your work faster and catch errors before finalizing reports.

Select the cell where you want to check the formula syntax.

Press and hold the Ctrl key.

While holding Ctrl, press the ` key (the key above Tab).

Release both keys.

Excel will show the formulas instead of the results in the selected range.

Press the same keys again to hide the formulas and show results.

Review your formulas to verify correctness or find mistakes.

6. Edit Active Cell: F2

You need to correct a value or formula in a cell without deleting it first. You press F2 to enter edit mode directly inside the cell. This shortcut helps you save time and avoid retyping long formulas. You don’t need to double-click or use the mouse to edit.

Go to the cell that you wish to edit.

Press the F2 key once.

Excel puts the cursor at the end of the cell content so you can edit.

Use the arrow keys to move the cursor within the cell if needed.

Make your changes to the value or formula.

Press Enter to save the changes.

Press Esc if you want to cancel the edit and keep the original content.

7. Jump to Edge of Data Region: Ctrl + Arrow Keys

You use Ctrl + Arrow Keys to move instantly across rows or columns in a data region. It takes you to the last non-empty cell in the direction you choose. If there’s a gap in the data, it stops at the first empty cell.

You can use it to jump from the first record to the last in seconds. You can move left or right across hundreds of columns in one keypress. You can go up or down through thousands of rows without touching the mouse.

This shortcut saves time when you check balances, scan entries, or audit data blocks.

8. Toggle Filters On or Off: Ctrl + Shift + L

You can also use Ctrl + Shift + L to activate and deactivate the Sort & Filter tool. It adds dropdowns to your column headers. You use these dropdowns to filter records fast. In accounting, you work with large tables every day.

You need filters to find invoices, sort transaction types, or view specific dates. This shortcut saves you from clicking the ribbon and speeds up your review process.

Select any of the column headers of the source dataset.

Press Ctrl + Shift + L to apply filters.

Look at the small dropdown arrows in the header row to confirm filters are active.

Click any dropdown arrow to filter records based on your criteria.

Press Ctrl + Shift + L again to remove the filters.

Use this toggle as often as needed when you check or clean accounting data.

9. Create a Table: Ctrl + T

Tracking payments in plain rows can slow you down. Press Ctrl + T to turn raw entries into a structured Excel Table.

This shortcut creates an organized format with filters and dynamic range. As an accountant, you manage large lists of figures. This shortcut helps you organize and analyze those numbers faster than using the Table command from the ribbon.

Select the source cell range from A1 to B9 or whichever cell range in your worksheet.

Press Ctrl + T to open the Create Table dialog box.

Confirm the selected range is correct in the box.

Make sure the My table has headers checkbox is selected.

Press Enter to apply the Table format.

Use the Table Design tab to access Table Tools, Table Style Options, Table Properties, and so on.

10. Insert Current Date: Ctrl + ;

In accounting, you often need to record today’s date for invoices, payments, and reports. Typing the date manually takes time and can cause mistakes like wrong formatting or typos.

Pressing Ctrl + ; inserts the current date instantly as a fixed value. This shortcut helps you work faster and keeps your data accurate without needing to use formulas or menus.

Select the source cell where you want the date.

Press Ctrl + ; to insert the current date in the active cell.

Press the Down Arrow key to move to the next cell in the column.

Repeat pressing Ctrl + ; in each cell where you want the date.

Continue until you fill all cells in the selected range with the current date.

11. Insert Current Time: Ctrl + Shift + :

As an accountant, you need accurate timestamps for transactions and records. Entering or tracking exact times manually wastes your time and can cause errors.

Use Ctrl + Shift + : to insert the current time instantly. This Excel keyboard shortcut for accountants saves time and ensures accuracy compared to typing or using time functions.

Select the cell where you want to enter the timestamp.

Press and hold the Ctrl key and the Shift key on your keyboard.

While holding those keys, press : (colon) to insert the current time in the cell.

Release all keys after the time appears in the cell.

Repeat for other cells in the range if needed or use autofill if applicable.

12. Format Cells Dialog: Ctrl + 1

Whenever you need to modify numbers, texts, or cells in your worksheet, you use various tools listed in the Home tab of the Excel ribbon menu. It takes a lot of time to click on menus and buttons to find the features you need.

Instead, use the Ctrl + 1 shortcut key to open the Format Cells dialog box for all those features. It has six tabs, and these are Number, Alignment, Font, Border, Fill, and Protection. These tabs cover all the formatting and modification needs for you as an accountant.

To use this hotkey, select the target cell or cell range and press Ctrl + 1 to bring up Format Cells.

To apply the Percentage number formatting, go to the Number tab and click on the Percentage option below the Category column.

13. Select Entire Column: Ctrl + Space

As an accountant, you often need to format or check entire columns of numbers. Manually selecting a full column with the mouse can slow you down drastically and lead to errors.

Instead, use the Excel shortcut Ctrl + Space to select the entire column of the active cell. This shortcut works faster and gives you more control than using a mouse.

To use this keyboard shortcut, follow these steps:

Select any one cell within the dataset range, such as B1:B10,000.

Press and hold the Ctrl key on your keyboard.

While holding Ctrl, press the Spacebar once.

Excel will highlight the entire column that contains your selected cell.

Perform any formatting or data action you need on the selected column.

14. Select Entire Row: Shift + Space

Tired of dragging your mouse just to select a full row? Shift + Space does it instantly.

Since you’re an accountant, you often deal with rows of transactions that need quick edits or reviews. This shortcut keeps you fast and focused without wasting effort.

Click on any one cell within the row that you want to select.

Press and hold the Shift key on your keyboard.

While holding Shift, press the Spacebar once.

Excel will highlight the entire row where your selected cell is located.

Continue with your required task on the selected row.

15. Autofit Column Width: Alt, H, O, I

You’ve opened a business account ledger in an Excel worksheet only to find columns getting cut off or looking messy when the width is too small. You can’t get a complete view of the column data.

Now, if there are hundreds of columns, using the mouse or Excel ribbon menu to fix column width can be a daunting task. Here is the shortcut key for the autofit column width to save time and mental peace.

Let me walk you through the process below:

All you need to do is select the source columns in the worksheet or click on the Select All button located at the top left corner of the worksheet.

Then, Press Alt > H > O > I to auto-fit the column width. This shortcut adjusts the column perfectly to fit the data inside.

16. Recalculate All Worksheets: F9

As an accountant, you rely on live calculations for accuracy. Working on complex financial models can sometimes show outdated results.

Press F9 to force Excel to recalculate all worksheets instantly. This shortcut keeps your data fresh without digging through Excel’s menus.

17. Trace Dependents: Ctrl + ]

Tracking how one number affects others can be confusing in large spreadsheets. Press Ctrl + ] to trace dependents instantly. This shortcut highlights all cells that directly depend on the selected cell.

As an accountant, you can use this to check how a change in one entry might affect the entire report. It saves time and reveals the calculation chain without digging through menus.

Select the cell that contains the source value or formula.

Press the Ctrl and ] keys on your keyboard.

Excel will instantly highlight the dependent cells that reference the selected cell.

If none of the cells of the active worksheet depend on the selected cell, Excel will show the No cells were found notification message.

You can now choose to edit those cells or review how they are connected.

18. Trace Precedents: Ctrl + [

Formulas often break when you lose track of the cells feeding into them. You can press the shortcut keys Ctrl + [ to trace precedents in one go. This shortcut selects all the cells that are involved in the calculation of the selected cell.

As an accountant, you can use it to verify sources and fix wrong references fast. It works better than using menus because it keeps your hands on the keyboard and saves clicks.

Navigate to and select the cell that contains formulas or calculated values.

Press Ctrl and then press [.

Watch for highlighted cells except the source cell or the formula cell. These cells contribute to the source cell, and changing these cells will influence the source cell that contains a formula.

Conclusions

So these are all the keyboard shortcuts you need to work faster in Microsoft Excel as an accountant.

Did you find this list of Excel keyboard shortcuts useful? Is the list missing a few important shortcuts that you feel should have been in this list? Comment below to let me know! Don’t forget to share this Excel guide with your friends and colleagues.