How to Compare Actual vs Budget in Excel Using Power Query & Pivot Tables
Comparing Actual vs Budget is one of the most common tasks in financial analysis, sales reporting, and business performance tracking.
But if your Actuals and Budget data are stored in separate Excel files, updating this report every month can be a time-consuming headache.
In this tutorial, we’ll show you how to automate the process using Power Query and Pivot Tables — so your report updates instantly with just one click.
Why This Method Works
Instead of copying and pasting new data every month, we’ll set up a dynamic link between your source files and your report. This way:
- You only replace the source files each month.
- The report updates automatically when you hit Refresh All.
- Variance calculations are done instantly in your Pivot Table.