FinanceTier 215 minintermediate

Flag Overspending with Conditional Formatting

Highlight any cost centre whose actual spend has gone over budget, using a formula-based rule.

What you will learn

• Write a formula-based conditional formatting rule that compares two columns row by row
• Explain why locking a row reference with $ breaks the rule for every row but one
• Recognise a formula rule as distinct from a fixed-value highlight

Excel skills

Conditional Formatting - Formula Rule · Conditional Formatting

The task

Each cost centre has a budget and an actual spend. Highlight any cost centre whose Actual column exceeds its own Budget - using a formula rule that compares each row to itself, not one fixed row.

You work in a real spreadsheet in your browser, and your answer is checked against hidden traps the moment you submit.

Try this lesson free