---
title: "Variance Analysis"
type: skill
id: "knowledge-work-plugins/finance/variance-analysis"
category: "Finance"
publisher: "Anthropic"
license: "Apache-2.0"
source: "https://github.com/anthropics/knowledge-work-plugins/tree/d900840"
canonical: "https://labs.pho.chat/en/skills/knowledge-work-plugins/finance/variance-analysis"
open_in_pho: "https://pho.chat/customize?item=knowledge-work-plugins%2Ffinance%2Fvariance-analysis&utm_source=labs&utm_medium=skill-page&utm_campaign=skills-library"
---

# Variance Analysis

Decompose financial variances into drivers with narrative explanations and waterfall analysis. Use when analyzing budget vs. actual, period-over-period changes, revenue or expense variances, or preparing variance commentary for leadership.

Source: Anthropic (Apache 2.0), copied at a pinned commit. Free to use. Part of the Phở Skills library (https://labs.pho.chat/en/skills).
Skill set: Finance (https://labs.pho.chat/en/skills/knowledge-work-plugins/finance.md).

## What it covers
- Variance Decomposition Techniques
  - Price / Volume Decomposition
  - Rate / Mix Decomposition
  - Headcount / Compensation Decomposition
  - Spend Category Decomposition
- Materiality Thresholds and Investigation Triggers
  - Setting Thresholds
  - Recommended Threshold Framework
  - Investigation Priority
- Narrative Generation for Variance Explanations
  - Structure for Each Variance Narrative
  - Narrative Quality Checklist
  - Common Narrative Anti-Patterns to Avoid
- Waterfall Chart Methodology
  - Concept
  - Data Structure
  - Text-Based Waterfall Format
  - Bridge Reconciliation Table
  - Waterfall Best Practices
- Budget vs Actual vs Forecast Comparisons

## Other skills in this set
- [Audit Support](https://labs.pho.chat/en/skills/knowledge-work-plugins/finance/audit-support.md): Support SOX 404 compliance with control testing methodology, sample selection, and documentation standards. Use when generating testing workpapers, selecting audit samples, classifying control…
- [Close Management](https://labs.pho.chat/en/skills/knowledge-work-plugins/finance/close-management.md): Manage the month-end close process with task sequencing, dependencies, and status tracking. Use when planning the close calendar, tracking close progress, identifying blockers, or sequencing close…
- [Financial statements](https://labs.pho.chat/en/skills/knowledge-work-plugins/finance/financial-statements.md): Generate financial statements (income statement, balance sheet, cash flow) with period-over-period comparison and variance analysis. Use when preparing a monthly or quarterly P&L, closing the books…
- [Journal Entry Preparation](https://labs.pho.chat/en/skills/knowledge-work-plugins/finance/journal-entry.md): Prepare journal entries with proper debits, credits, and supporting detail. Use when booking month-end accruals (AP, payroll, prepaid), recording depreciation or amortization, posting revenue…
- [Journal Entry Preparation](https://labs.pho.chat/en/skills/knowledge-work-plugins/finance/journal-entry-prep.md): Prepare journal entries with proper debits, credits, and supporting documentation for month-end close. Use when booking accruals, prepaid amortization, fixed asset depreciation, payroll entries…
- [Reconciliation](https://labs.pho.chat/en/skills/knowledge-work-plugins/finance/reconciliation.md): Reconcile accounts by comparing GL balances to subledgers, bank statements, or third-party data. Use when performing bank reconciliations, GL-to-subledger recs, intercompany reconciliations, or…
- [SOX Compliance Testing](https://labs.pho.chat/en/skills/knowledge-work-plugins/finance/sox-testing.md): Generate SOX sample selections, testing workpapers, and control assessments. Use when planning quarterly or annual SOX 404 testing, pulling a sample for a control (revenue, P2P, ITGC, close)…

## Use it
- In Phở: open https://pho.chat/customize?item=knowledge-work-plugins%2Ffinance%2Fvariance-analysis&utm_source=labs&utm_medium=skill-page&utm_campaign=skills-library and press Try, or add it so Phở loads it whenever a request matches. Phở works with your own API key (OpenAI, Anthropic, Google and others).
- Full instructions (original SKILL.md, unchanged): https://labs.pho.chat/skills/raw/knowledge-work-plugins/finance/skills/variance-analysis/SKILL.md
- Original files: https://github.com/anthropics/knowledge-work-plugins/tree/d900840 (Apache 2.0).
- Full machine-readable index: https://labs.pho.chat/skills.json