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Audit Xls

AnthropicOfficialPublished by Anthropic

  • Skill
  • Review and audit
  • Business and productivity
  • Apache-2.0
  • No issues found

From the author

Audit a spreadsheet for formula accuracy, errors, and common mistakes. Scopes to a selected range, a single sheet, or the entire model (including financial-model integrity checks like BS balance, cash tie-out, and logic sanity). Triggers on "audit this sheet", "check my formulas", "find formula errors", "QA this spreadsheet", "sanity check this", "debug model", "model check", "model won't balance", "something's off in my model", "model review".
— the description by Anthropic

AutoGineer summary

Written by AutoGineer from the skill’s own files, not by the author

This skill provides a structured approach to auditing spreadsheets, ranging from quick formula checks on a selection to comprehensive integrity audits of complex financial models like DCF, LBO, or 3-statement models. It systematically identifies common spreadsheet pitfalls, such as hardcoded values, inconsistent formulas, and circular references, while also performing high-level logic and reasonableness checks specific to financial modeling. The skill reports findings in a prioritized table, categorizing issues by severity without modifying the spreadsheet unless explicitly requested.

What it does

  • Detects common formula errors like #REF!, #VALUE!, and #DIV/0!
  • Identifies hardcoded values hidden within formulas
  • Validates financial model integrity, including Balance Sheet balancing and Cash Flow tie-outs
  • Checks for logical consistency and reasonableness in growth rates and margins
  • Flags structural issues like inconsistent color coding or tab flow
  • Generates a detailed report of findings categorized by severity

When to use it

  • Before sharing a financial model with a client or investment committee
  • When a financial model fails to balance or cash flows do not tie out
  • To perform a routine QA check on complex spreadsheet calculations
  • When debugging unexpected results in a model
  • To ensure consistency in formatting and logic across a large workbook

Advantages

  • Provides a standardized, rigorous audit process for financial models
  • Distinguishes between critical errors and stylistic best practices
  • Helps prevent silent bugs caused by hardcoded overrides
  • Offers specific audit paths for different model types like DCF or LBO
  • Maintains user control by reporting findings before applying any fixes

Usage examples

“Audit this sheet”
The agent will perform a formula-level check on the active sheet and report any errors, hardcodes, or inconsistencies found.
“My model won't balance, can you check it?”
The agent will initiate a full model audit, specifically focusing on Balance Sheet integrity and Cash Flow tie-outs to identify the source of the imbalance.
“QA this LBO model”
The agent will perform a deep-dive audit of the LBO model, checking for debt paydown mechanics, management rollover, and exit multiple calculations.
“Find formula errors in this range”
The agent will scan the selected range for broken references, inconsistent formulas, and common Excel error codes.

Install

  1. Download the skill as a ZIP:

    https://autogineer.com/agent-skills/anthropics/audit-xls/download
  2. Unzip it into the cross-client skills folder of your project:

    mkdir -p .agents/skills && unzip audit-xls.zip -d .agents/skills

Documentation by Anthropic

Audit Spreadsheet

Audit formulas and data for accuracy and mistakes. Scope determines depth — from quick formula checks on a selection up to full financial-model integrity audits.

Step 1: Determine scope

If the user already gave a scope, use it. Otherwise ask them:

What scope do you want me to audit?

  • selection — just the currently selected range

  • sheet — the current active sheet only

  • model — the whole workbook, including financial-model integrity checks (BS balance, cash tie-out, roll-forwards, logic sanity)

The model scope is the deepest — use it for DCF, LBO, 3-statement, merger, comps, or any integrated financial model before sending to a client or IC.


Step 2: Formula-level checks (ALL scopes)

Run these regardless of scope:

CheckWhat to look for
Formula errors#REF!, #VALUE!, #N/A, #DIV/0!, #NAME?
Hardcodes inside formulas=A1*1.05 — the 1.05 should be a cell reference
Inconsistent formulasA formula that breaks the pattern of its neighbors in a row/column
Off-by-one rangesSUM/AVERAGE that misses the first or last row
Pasted-over formulasCell that looks like a formula but is actually a hardcoded value
Circular referencesIntentional or accidental
Broken cross-sheet linksReferences to cells that moved or were deleted
Unit/scale mismatchesThousands mixed with millions, % stored as whole numbers
Hidden rows/tabsCould contain overrides or stale calculations

Step 3: Model-integrity checks (MODEL scope only)

If scope is model, identify the model type (DCF / LBO / 3-statement / merger / comps / custom) and run the appropriate integrity checks below.

3a. Structural review
CheckWhat to look for
Input/formula separationAre inputs clearly separated from calculations?
Color conventionBlue=input, black=formula, green=link — or whatever the model uses, applied consistently?
Tab flowLogical order (Assumptions → IS → BS → CF → Valuation)?
Date headersConsistent across all tabs?
UnitsConsistent (thousands vs millions vs actuals)?
3b. Balance Sheet
CheckTest
BS balancesTotal Assets = Total Liabilities + Equity (every period)
RE rollforwardPrior RE + Net Income − Dividends = Current RE
Goodwill/intangiblesFlow from acquisition assumptions (if M&A)

If BS doesn't balance, quantify the gap per period and trace where it breaks — nothing else matters until this is fixed.

3c. Cash Flow Statement
CheckTest
Cash tie-outCF Ending Cash = BS Cash (every period)
CF sumsCFO + CFI + CFF = Δ Cash
D&A matchD&A on CF = D&A on IS
CapEx matchCapEx on CF matches PP&E rollforward on BS
WC changesSigns match BS movements (ΔAR, ΔAP, ΔInventory)
3d. Income Statement
CheckTest
Revenue buildTies to segment/product detail
TaxTax expense = Pre-tax income × tax rate (allow for deferred tax adj)
Share countTies to dilution schedule (options, converts, buybacks)
3e. Circular references
  • Interest → debt balance → cash → interest is a common intentional circ in LBO/3-stmt models

  • If intentional: verify iteration toggle exists and works

  • If unintentional: trace the loop and flag how to break it

3f. Logic & reasonableness
CheckFlag if
Growth rates>100% revenue growth without explanation
MarginsOutside industry norms
Terminal value dominanceTV > ~75% of DCF EV (yellow flag)
Hockey-stickProjections ramp unrealistically in out-years
CompoundingEBITDA compounds to absurd $ by Year 10
Edge casesModel breaks at 0% or negative growth, negative EBITDA, leverage goes negative
3g. Model-type-specific bugs

DCF:

  • Discount rate applied to wrong period (mid-year vs end-of-year)

  • Terminal value not discounted back

  • WACC uses book values instead of market values

  • FCF includes interest expense (should be unlevered)

  • Tax shield double-counted

LBO:

  • Debt paydown doesn't match cash sweep mechanics

  • PIK interest not accruing to principal

  • Management rollover not reflected in returns

  • Exit multiple applied to wrong EBITDA (LTM vs NTM)

  • Fees/expenses not deducted from Day 1 equity

Merger:

  • Accretion/dilution uses wrong share count (pre- vs post-deal)

  • Synergies not phased in

  • Purchase price allocation doesn't balance

  • Foregone interest on cash not included

  • Transaction fees not in sources & uses

3-statement:

  • Working capital changes have wrong sign

  • Depreciation doesn't match PP&E schedule

  • Debt maturity schedule doesn't match principal payments

  • Dividends exceed net income without explanation


Step 4: Report

Output a findings table:

#SheetCell/RangeSeverityCategoryIssueSuggested Fix

Severity:

  • Critical — wrong output (BS doesn't balance, formula broken, cash doesn't tie)

  • Warning — risky (hardcodes, inconsistent formulas, edge-case failures)

  • Info — style/best-practice (color coding, layout, naming)

For model scope, prepend a summary line:

Model type: [DCF/LBO/3-stmt/...] — Overall: [Clean / Minor Issues / Major Issues] — [N] critical, [N] warnings, [N] info

Don't change anything without asking — report first, fix on request.


Notes

  • BS balance first — if it doesn't balance, everything downstream is suspect

  • Hardcoded overrides are the #1 source of silent bugs — search aggressively

  • Sign convention errors (positive vs negative for cash outflows) are extremely common

  • If the model uses VBA macros, note any macro-driven calculations that can't be audited from formulas alone

Files

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Requirements and compatibility

Written for: Claude Code, Claude apps

Works with: Claude Code, Claude apps, OpenAI Codex, GitHub Copilot, Cursor, Gemini CLI, Kiro, OpenCode, Goose, Amp, Roo Code, JetBrains Junie, Factory Droid, Devin (ex-Windsurf), Mistral Vibe, OpenHands, Letta

“Works with” means the tool reads the open Agent Skills format; a skill written for one tool may use features others lack.

Security

No issues found by our static scan· No issues found

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Attribution and licence

Published by
Anthropic
Publisher
Anthropic (Official)
Source
anthropics/financial-services · plugins/agent-plugins/pitch-agent/skills/audit-xls · commit 6056506
Licence
Apache License 2.0 (redistribution allowed)
  • LICENSE (added by AutoGineer from LICENSE)
  • ATTRIBUTION.md (written by AutoGineer)
Synced
Also distributed in
anthropics/financial-services, anthropics/financial-services, anthropics/financial-services, anthropics/financial-services, anthropics/financial-services, anthropics/financial-services

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