"I know that QB does work with excel...."
Quickbooks will export TO Excel, slightly different to "...working
with..."...
Only way I have found is to set up a Memorised report in Quickbooks,
export it to Excel, name the file, have a second spreadsheet that
takes the information from that file. Every time you export the
Memorised Report from Excel you can change the scope i.e. dates or
Transaction type etc but not the formatting. Save this file with the
name of the original exported file ("Yes" to replace the file that
already exists). It has serious limitations! It needs careful setting
up. And of course will, according to Murphys Law, not work just at the
time you need it to!!!