Excel has long been the gold standard in finance. But with the rise of automation and data science, Python is gaining ground. So, what should you learn first? Let’s break it down based on your role, goals, and the industry’s direction in 2025.
Why Excel Is Still Essential
- 90%+ of finance teams still rely heavily on Excel
- It’s flexible, easy to audit, and compatible with most systems
- You can use it for: forecasting, modeling, dashboards, variance analysis
Best Excel Features to Master:
- Power Query
- XLOOKUP
- INDEX/MATCH
- PivotTables
- VBA macros (for automation)
When Python Becomes Useful
Python is perfect for those working in:
- Financial data analytics
- Automation-heavy environments
- Risk modeling
- Investment firms and fintech
With Python you can:
- Pull data from APIs
- Automate reporting
- Create dashboards (e.g., Plotly, Dash)
- Run advanced simulations (Monte Carlo, regressions)
So… Which Should You Learn First?
If you’re early-career or in corporate finance → Learn Excel first
If you’re in data/analytics or fintech → Learn Python alongside Excel
Conclusion
Don’t think of it as either/or — think in terms of progression. Start with Excel to master fundamentals, then transition into Python to unlock higher-level efficiency.
💡 Want a side-by-side learning path? Download our free Excel-to-Python roadmap at FinancialImpulses.com/roadmap