Audit Xls
AnthropicOfficialPublished by Anthropic
- Skill
- Review and audit
- Business and productivity
- Apache-2.0
- No issues found
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
Download the skill as a ZIP:
https://autogineer.com/agent-skills/anthropics/audit-xls/downloadUnzip 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:
| Check | What 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 formulas | A formula that breaks the pattern of its neighbors in a row/column |
| Off-by-one ranges | SUM/AVERAGE that misses the first or last row |
| Pasted-over formulas | Cell that looks like a formula but is actually a hardcoded value |
| Circular references | Intentional or accidental |
| Broken cross-sheet links | References to cells that moved or were deleted |
| Unit/scale mismatches | Thousands mixed with millions, % stored as whole numbers |
| Hidden rows/tabs | Could 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
| Check | What to look for |
|---|---|
| Input/formula separation | Are inputs clearly separated from calculations? |
| Color convention | Blue=input, black=formula, green=link — or whatever the model uses, applied consistently? |
| Tab flow | Logical order (Assumptions → IS → BS → CF → Valuation)? |
| Date headers | Consistent across all tabs? |
| Units | Consistent (thousands vs millions vs actuals)? |
3b. Balance Sheet
| Check | Test |
|---|---|
| BS balances | Total Assets = Total Liabilities + Equity (every period) |
| RE rollforward | Prior RE + Net Income − Dividends = Current RE |
| Goodwill/intangibles | Flow 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
| Check | Test |
|---|---|
| Cash tie-out | CF Ending Cash = BS Cash (every period) |
| CF sums | CFO + CFI + CFF = Δ Cash |
| D&A match | D&A on CF = D&A on IS |
| CapEx match | CapEx on CF matches PP&E rollforward on BS |
| WC changes | Signs match BS movements (ΔAR, ΔAP, ΔInventory) |
3d. Income Statement
| Check | Test |
|---|---|
| Revenue build | Ties to segment/product detail |
| Tax | Tax expense = Pre-tax income × tax rate (allow for deferred tax adj) |
| Share count | Ties 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
| Check | Flag if |
|---|---|
| Growth rates | >100% revenue growth without explanation |
| Margins | Outside industry norms |
| Terminal value dominance | TV > ~75% of DCF EV (yellow flag) |
| Hockey-stick | Projections ramp unrealistically in out-years |
| Compounding | EBITDA compounds to absurd $ by Year 10 |
| Edge cases | Model 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:
| # | Sheet | Cell/Range | Severity | Category | Issue | Suggested 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
- ATTRIBUTION.mdAdded by AutoGineer910 B
- LICENSELicence file added by AutoGineer11.1 KiB
- SKILL.md6.2 KiB
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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.
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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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