The verdict in three sentences
In Thiès, SMEs, cement plants, freight forwarders and wholesalers hire accountants who can produce a sales, stock or cash report in Excel on their own. Mastering XLOOKUP, pivot tables and charts is often the criterion separating a 150,000 FCFA job from a 250,000 FCFA job. A 14-hour practical course at 75,000 FCFA costs less than half a month of that salary gap.
What accounting profiles earn in Thiès in 2026
| Position in Thiès | Gross monthly salary 2026 (order of magnitude) | Expected Excel level |
|---|---|---|
| Junior accounting assistant | 120,000 to 150,000 FCFA | Data entry, SUM, formatting |
| Experienced accounting assistant | 150,000 to 180,000 FCFA | IF, filters, sorting |
| Stock manager | 140,000 to 200,000 FCFA | XLOOKUP, conditional formatting |
| Accountant (SME, freight, construction) | 250,000 to 320,000 FCFA | Pivot tables, reconciliations, charts |
| Senior accountant or deputy chief accountant | 320,000 to 400,000 FCFA | Dashboards, margin analysis |
| Freelance accountant for micro-businesses | 30,000 to 60,000 FCFA per client per month | Reusable templates, monthly reports |
These ranges are 2026 estimates for Thiès, often 10 to 20% below Dakar. Excel replaces neither experience nor knowledge of SYSCOHADA, but it makes your value visible in interviews: a practical pivot table test is common.
Comparison of Excel training options
| Option | 2026 price | Duration | Limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free YouTube tutorials | 0 FCFA | Scattered | No structure, few accounting cases |
| Free online certificates | 0 FCFA | 5 to 10 h | Often in English, out-of-context examples |
| In-person evening classes in Thiès | 90,000 to 150,000 FCFA | 6 to 10 weeks | Fixed hours, group pace |
| Kolonell Practical Excel course | 75,000 FCFA (about 115 EUR) | 14 h at your own pace | Sales, stock, budget, certificate |
| Full Office productivity track (5 levels) | 350,000 FCFA instead of 450,000 | About 90 h | Up to executive assistant role |
The Excel course is level 3 of the Office and productivity track. It is taught in French, also works with Google Sheets (handy if you have no Microsoft 365 licence), and can be paid with Wave or Orange Money.
The skills that make the difference in interviews
- XLOOKUP: link the sales journal to the customer file without copy errors.
- Pivot tables: sales by month, salesperson or item in 30 seconds.
- SUMIFS: totals by expense category, useful for budgeting.
- Conditional formatting: spot stock below the alert threshold or invoices overdue by more than 60 days.
- Charts: present revenue trends to the manager on one page.
Mini case study
Ibrahima, 27, an accounting assistant at a building materials distributor in Thiès, earns 150,000 FCFA a month. He takes the Excel course (75,000 FCFA) in three weeks, then automates receivables tracking: the monthly report that took him 6 hours now takes 1. Six months later, he lands an accountant position at 260,000 FCFA with a freight forwarding company. Calculation: a 110,000 FCFA monthly gap, so the course is paid back in under three weeks of the new salary, about 1.3 million FCFA gained over twelve months (order of magnitude, no promotion guaranteed).
Learn this skill with Kolonell Academy
Short, practical online courses (taught in French), graded exercises, certificate. Pay with Wave or Orange Money.
FAQ
Do I need to know Excel already?
You need to be able to enter data and open a file. If you start from zero, begin with level 1 of the track (about 5 h) before level 3.
Can I follow the course on Google Sheets?
Yes, the key functions (XLOOKUP, pivot tables, SUMIFS) exist in Google Sheets, free with a Gmail account. About 90% of the exercises work identically.
How much time per week should I plan?
With 4 to 5 hours a week, the 14 hours are done in three weeks. Many learners progress in the evenings after work.
Does the certificate really help me get hired?
It proves a training effort, but what matters most is passing a 20 to 30 minute practical test. The course prepares you with sales and stock cases.
How do I pay?
The 75,000 FCFA is paid with Wave or Orange Money. The full 5-level track costs 350,000 FCFA instead of 450,000.
Take the next step. Enroll in Practical Excel: tables, formulas and analysis: 14 h at your own pace, 75,000 FCFA, Kolonell Academy certificate. 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.
