excel-variance-analyzer

Original：🇺🇸 English

Translated

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'.

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Sourcejeremylongshore/claude-code-plugins-plus-skills

Added on2026-02-18

NPX Install

npx skill4agent add jeremylongshore/claude-code-plugins-plus-skills excel-variance-analyzer

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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

Import budget and actual data into comparison template
Calculate absolute and percentage variances
Apply materiality thresholds for flagging
Create drill-down by category, period, or cost center
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

{baseDir}/references/variance-formulas.md

for calculation templates