A financial report is a written report that reports on the financial situation of a company at a given time. It includes an income statement, balance sheet, statement of cash flows and changes in equity.
ContentsMove data to MS PowerPointUse chartsIncorporate multimediaCreate SmartArt graphicsUse animations and transitionsChoose an appropriate font styleAdd a templateFinancial report PowerPoint presentation tips to followConclusionSince a financial report gives a view of the financial condition and performance of the business, it serves as the basis for stakeholders to decide whether to discontinue or continue doing business with the business. Common stakeholders who need a financial report are banks, capital investments, business owners, suppliers, tax authorities, etc.
Microsoft PowerPoint is one of the best tools for creating financial reports. It provides all the basic features such as transitions, images, animations, graphics and much more. You can download the presentation to view offline or embed it on a website to share with others.
Here we will show you how to create a stunning financial report with Microsoft PowerPoint.
When preparing a financial report, MS Excel is the most user-friendly tool to use. It allows you to create calculations, create charts, create pivot tables, etc.
You can consider Excel for preparing your reports and for transferring data to MS PowerPoint for presentations.
However, PowerPoint also lets you do the same using tables. It depends on which one you find easier to use.
How to transfer data from MS Excel to MS PowerPoint
Method 1
Step 1: Go to MS Excel and highlight the data you want to insert into PowerPoint. Click the Copy to Clipboard button.
Step 2: Open PowerPoint, then right-click to select how you want to paste it.
Method 2
Here is another way to insert data in MS PowerPoint.
Step 1: From MS PowerPoint, go to the insert menu and select the Object button.
Step 2: In the Insert dialog box, you can browse for a specific Excel spreadsheet file and you can insert it into your presentation slide.
Step 3: Choose the icon Show as icon and press ok.
Now you will see an icon of your slides. Once you double click on it, you will see that your Excel data has been transferred.
Charts are a great way to present data in PowerPoint. A chart shows your audience what data is important and why. Plus, it adds visual interest to slides that would otherwise be filled with text.
How to create a chart using Excel data
Step 1: In MS PowerPoint, select Charts from the Insert menu.
Step 2: Choose the chart style you like and press OK.
Step 3: PowerPoint will display a default Excel sheet window in the slide. Go to MS Excel and copy the data you want to overwrite and paste into the Excel sheet from PowerPoint. When you're done, just close the window.
Step 4: Tap the chart and select the chart style icon on its left side. In the dialog window, choose the style and color of your chart.
If you want to add variety to a text presentation, add a media file. This will make your presentation more interesting for your audience. Plus, it helps visual learners better understand your content.
How to embed a multimedia file in MS PowerPoint
Step 1: Go to insert and select the type of media file you want to add to your slides. For example, image, video and sound.
Step 2: You will see a drop-down menu that asks where you want to retrieve your video. We chose a video from our PC. From here you can adjust the size, layout and styles of the video if you wish.
Apart from multimedia, you can also insert PDF files which will be essential in your financial report. There is a free online PDF editor that can create PDF files automatically and quickly. And the good thing is that there are many templates available that you can choose from to complete your presentation.
Experiment with how you communicate. Instead of just using text, try graphics. SmartArt graphics are perfect for this. There are many different styles you can use to communicate your ideas.
How to create SmartArt graphics in MS PowerPoint
Step 1: Tap the slide you want to add a SmartArt to. Select SmartArt from the Insert menu. You should see a list of categories and charts to choose from. Choose the one you like and press OK.
Step 2: Add things like text, layout, and styling to your SmartArt
Animations are visual effects that you add to text or objects in a PowerPoint presentation, while transitions are visual effects that occur when you move from one slide to the next.
Animations and transitions make your presentation look sophisticated and appealing to your audience. When you add these elements to your slides, your presentation rises above what could have been more mundane and really stands out.
How to add animations to MS PowerPoint
Step 1: Select an object, then tap animations. Choose the effect you want to add to your object.
A number will appear next to the object to indicate that you added an animation effect.
How to add transitions to MS PowerPoint
Step 1: Select the slide you want to add as a transition. Go to transitions and choose the effect you like.
A gray star appears next to the slide that has an animation effect.
If you think a PowerPoint font style isn't a problem, think again. When creating Powerpoint presentations, think about your viewers. Who are they? What do they do? Are they professionals? You shouldn't take font styles for granted. It is an important element in any PowerPoint presentation.
You need to choose a font style that suits the presentation you're making and the person you're presenting it to. It should be large and clear enough to be seen.
Viewers of financial statements are business owners, executives, managers, and investors; the font style used should be more corporate and less cartoonish. There are many font styles available in PowerPoint at your disposal. Try out the style first and find what works best for your presentation.
The advantage of PowerPoint presentations is that you can design each slide to give it a little something extra. It also makes your presentation more interactive. And your viewers will listen better to your points. There are tons of free PowerPoint templates available for you to choose from.
1. Less is more
In any PowerPoint presentation, you have to follow one rule:less is more. Don't go overboard with effects, animations, and designs. Avoid this, as it distracts from your actual points. Keep it simple, add effects and animations only to highlight important points. Also, templates are recommended as they bring uniformity to the slides.
2. Use contrasting colors for text and background
With financial reports, numbers are very important. The figures of each financial statement must be visible. Therefore, use contrasting colors for numbers/text and background. You don't want numbers and text to fade into the background.
3. Avoid using flashy transitions
PowerPoint presentations on financial reports are not the framework for magic tricks. Tone down flashy transitions. Your viewers aren't looking to see bold transitions. They focus on the meaning of the report content.
4. Use good quality images
If your report needs images, make sure they are of high quality. It should not be pixelated or blurry. There are many websites where you can get high quality images. Unsplash, Pexels and Pixabay to name a few.
Financial statements are important reports that show the financial activities of the entity and how a business is doing. It presents all the important financial information on which owners and stakeholders can make decisions. Creating a PowerPoint presentation is a great tool for professionally conveying important information on a whole new level.
