excel-variance-analyzer
Analyze budget vs actual variances in Excel with drill-down and root cause analysis. Use when performing variance analysis or explaining budget differences. Trigger with phrases like 'excel variance', 'analyze budget variance', 'actual vs budget'.
Best use case
excel-variance-analyzer is best used when you need a repeatable AI agent workflow instead of a one-off prompt.
Analyze budget vs actual variances in Excel with drill-down and root cause analysis. Use when performing variance analysis or explaining budget differences. Trigger with phrases like 'excel variance', 'analyze budget variance', 'actual vs budget'.
Teams using excel-variance-analyzer should expect a more consistent output, faster repeated execution, less prompt rewriting.
When to use this skill
- You want a reusable workflow that can be run more than once with consistent structure.
When not to use this skill
- You only need a quick one-off answer and do not need a reusable workflow.
- You cannot install or maintain the underlying files, dependencies, or repository context.
Installation
Claude Code / Cursor / Codex
Manual Installation
- Download SKILL.md from GitHub
- Place it in
.claude/skills/excel-variance-analyzer/SKILL.mdinside your project - Restart your AI agent — it will auto-discover the skill
How excel-variance-analyzer Compares
| Feature / Agent | excel-variance-analyzer | Standard Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Platform Support | Not specified | Limited / Varies |
| Context Awareness | High | Baseline |
| Installation Complexity | Unknown | N/A |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does this skill do?
Analyze budget vs actual variances in Excel with drill-down and root cause analysis. Use when performing variance analysis or explaining budget differences. Trigger with phrases like 'excel variance', 'analyze budget variance', 'actual vs budget'.
Where can I find the source code?
You can find the source code on GitHub using the link provided at the top of the page.
SKILL.md Source
# Excel Variance Analyzer
## Overview
Performs comprehensive budget vs actual variance analysis with automated drill-down, root cause identification, and executive reporting.
## Prerequisites
- Excel or compatible spreadsheet software
- Budget data by period and category
- Actual results for comparison
- Cost center or department structure
## Instructions
1. Import budget and actual data into comparison template
2. Calculate absolute and percentage variances
3. Apply materiality thresholds for flagging
4. Create drill-down by category, period, or cost center
5. Generate variance waterfall chart for executive reporting
## Output
- Variance summary with favorable/unfavorable indicators
- Materiality-filtered exception report
- Waterfall chart showing budget-to-actual bridge
- Drill-down by category or cost center
## Error Handling
| Error | Cause | Solution |
|-------|-------|----------|
| Missing periods | Data gaps | Fill with zeros or interpolate |
| Percentage calc error | Zero budget | Use IF to handle div/0 |
| Misaligned categories | Changed chart of accounts | Create mapping table |
## Examples
**Example: Monthly P&L Variance**
Request: "Analyze why we missed budget by $500K this month"
Result: Variance waterfall showing revenue shortfall offset by OPEX savings
**Example: Department Budget Review**
Request: "Which departments are over budget YTD?"
Result: Ranked list by variance magnitude with drill-down to line items
## Resources
- [FP&A Best Practices](https://www.fpanda.org/)
- `{baseDir}/references/variance-formulas.md` for calculation templatesRelated Skills
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