Class 2

Data Analytics Workflows in Accounting and Finance

Thursday, April 9, 2026

Class Overview

What will we do?

This class introduces the Alteryx SparkEd Cases for the accounting & Finance function. Alteryx is a self-service analytics platform that visualizes data analytic workflows on a canvas using tools. Our goal is to use this tool to help us visualize analytic workflows. Analytical workflows allow us to identify the logical steps in completing an analytical task and help us prepare for identifying opportunities for automation.

Materials and Preparation

Class Materials
  • Case: SparkEd_GL_Cleanup
  • Case: SparkEd_International_group_taxes
  • Case: SparkEd_Sales_and_use_tax_allocation
  • Link: Helpful online regular expressions tool
  • Link: Chat GPT (or use another LLM) for help with regular expressions
  • Link: Husky OnNet VPN Instructions (required for off-campus access to labs)
  • Slides: PowerPoint or PDF
  • Data: Data for these cases can be downloaded your U-Drive using git clone and/or git pull commands on the Foster Remote Labs. You can access the Foster Remote Labs on campus if on UW wifi, if you are using a VPN, switch to UW wifi or use off campus access using Husky OnNet VPN. you can find the data for these cases in the U-drive. The data is organized by case and includes all necessary files to complete the exercises in class.
  • Analytics Tools: Alteryx Designer
  • Suggested Pre-Class Preparation
    1. There is no formal required preparation for this class
    2. The Alteryx SparkEd Cases are largely written as reference cases with brief overviews. Feel free to review these cases in advance.
    3. We will be working with git on virtual machines (the Foster Remote Labs) for this course, Alteryx is pre-installed on these machines, and data for the cases can be saved to the U-drive. Please note that the Foster Remote Labs can only be accessed from outside of Foster if you are using Husky On net. See the FAQs for this course regarding some of these issues if you want to access the lab environment in advance.
  • Class Plan
    1. We will work on Analytics workflows, an important step towards automation of accounting & finance analytics
    2. We will Demo Alteryx using a case about corporate taxes. How much tax as a percentage of profit do you think public companies pay, on average?
    3. We will complete a warm up exercise and a workflow using Alteryx, and have another demo, before you will each undertake your own workflow.
    4. This is a lab heavy class, with a large amount of attention being paid to the logic of an analytical workflow.

Required Deliverables

Deliverable Due Date Canvas Submission Portal
Professionalism (individual): Alteryx Submission During Class Upload to Canvas