The verdict in three sentences
In Thiès, most accounting, stock management or administration job ads list Excel among required skills, often in six ads out of ten (2026 estimate). Typing numbers into a grid is no longer enough: employers expect formulas, data lookups and pivot tables. A 14-hour online course at 75,000 FCFA covers that foundation with a certificate, for less than a local center.
Learning Excel in Thiès: options and prices
| Option | 2026 price (order of magnitude) | Length | Target level | Certificate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kolonell Practical Excel course | 75,000 FCFA | 14 h online | Intermediate: formulas, XLOOKUP, pivot tables | Yes |
| Training center in Thiès (Escale, Randoulène) | 100,000 to 200,000 FCFA | 20 to 30 h | Beginner to intermediate | Center certificate |
| Private lessons | 7,500 to 12,000 FCFA per hour | 10 h = 75,000 to 120,000 FCFA | Depends on the trainer | No |
| University module (office skills option) | Included in tuition | One semester | Basics | Exam grade |
| YouTube tutorials | 0 FCFA, excluding data | Unlimited | Varies, often scattered | No |
| Vendor online certification | 50,000 to 120,000 FCFA per exam | Self-prepared | Intermediate to advanced | Yes, international |
The course Practical Excel: tables, formulas and analysis for work, taught in French, is level 3 Intermediate of the Office and productivity track. It also works with Google Sheets, useful if you have no Microsoft license.
What you learn, module by module
| Module | Concrete skill | Workplace example |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Build a clean table | Structure, format, freeze panes | Sales log for a hardware store |
| 2. Essential formulas | SUM, AVERAGE, absolute references | Cash totals without a calculator |
| 3. Logical and lookup functions | IF, COUNTIF, SUMIF, XLOOKUP | Find a price or stock level in one second |
| 4. Sort, filter and make data talk | Filters, sorting, conditional formatting | Spot out-of-stock products |
| 5. Pivot tables and charts | Pivot tables, slicers, charts | Sales by month and by sales rep |
| 6. Ready-to-use management tools | Stock tracking, budget, dashboard | The workbook that answers the boss in 30 seconds |
Before this level, the Office and productivity track offers computer, files and professional email (25,000 FCFA) then Word (50,000 FCFA). After it come the complete Office suite (100,000 FCFA) and executive assistant (200,000 FCFA). The full track costs 350,000 FCFA instead of 450,000 FCFA.
What Excel does to a salary in Thiès
| Job in Thiès | 2026 monthly salary (order of magnitude) | Role of Excel |
|---|---|---|
| Accounting assistant | 150,000 to 250,000 FCFA | Reconciliations, balances, invoice tracking |
| Stock manager (warehouse, plant) | 140,000 to 230,000 FCFA | Inflows, outflows, stock-out alerts |
| Administrative assistant | 120,000 to 200,000 FCFA | Tracking sheets, reporting |
| Data entry clerk or head cashier | 90,000 to 150,000 FCFA | Cash closings, checks |
| Monitoring and evaluation officer (NGO, project) | 200,000 to 350,000 FCFA | Indicators, pivot tables |
| Freelance bookkeeper for small shops | 30,000 to 60,000 FCFA per client per month | Management spreadsheets |
These ranges are estimates: they vary by employer and experience. But in a management job, the person who builds a pivot table in ten minutes has a concrete argument in interviews and when asking for a raise.
Mini case study
Mamadou, 27, an accounting clerk at a building materials company in Thiès, earns 160,000 FCFA a month. Every month-end, he redoes sales totals by hand for about two days.
- He takes the Practical Excel course: 75,000 FCFA, 14 hours over five weeks.
- He builds a sales tracking workbook with XLOOKUP and a pivot table by customer.
- The monthly closing drops from two days to half a day.
Learn this skill with Kolonell Academy
Short, practical online courses (taught in French), graded exercises, certificate. Pay with Wave or Orange Money.
Six months later, he gets an accounting assistant job at 200,000 FCFA. The 40,000 FCFA monthly gain pays back the course in under two months. This scenario is a worked example: the promotion also depends on the employer.
FAQ
Do I need Microsoft Excel installed?
No. The exercises also work on free Google Sheets. A Microsoft 365 license costs about 45,000 to 70,000 FCFA per year if you want Excel.
I am a complete beginner, is this level for me?
This level assumes you can use a computer and open a file. If not, start with level 1 at 25,000 FCFA in the same track.
Do Thiès employers value the certificate?
It is a Kolonell Academy course certificate to attach to your CV. What convinces most is showing a workbook built during the course in the interview.
How much time per week?
Three hours a week is enough to finish the 14 hours in five weeks, exercises included.
How do I pay?
By Wave or Orange Money, 75,000 FCFA (115 EUR) in one go.
Take the next step. Enroll in Practical Excel: tables, formulas and analysis for work: 14 hours, level 3 Intermediate, 75,000 FCFA, certificate included. Pay with Wave or Orange Money. Questions? WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
