explain-my-variance

Name: explain-my-variance
Availability: InStock
Author: akiotanaka847

Decompose P&L line variances into price, volume, mix, and one-time drivers.

2|Updated May 8, 2026

Search Tags:#bookkeeping #p&l #journal entries #variance analysis #budget vs actual #residuals #driver decomposition

Ready to run

npx skills add https://github.com/akiotanaka847/qaio-desktop --skill explain-my-variance

💬 Prompt for ChatGPT / Claude Chat▼

Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: explain-my-variance
Source: https://github.com/akiotanaka847/qaio-desktop/tree/main/store/agents/bookkeeping/.agents/skills/explain-my-variance
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/akiotanaka847/qaio-desktop --skill explain-my-variance

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

What problem does it solve?

This Skill explains why a Profit & Loss (P&L) line moved by decomposing material changes into price, volume, mix, and one-time drivers grounded in your bookkeeping evidence.

Core Features & Use Cases

Variance decomposition with evidence: Breaks each material line change into price, volume, mix, and one-time drivers tied to specific journal entry IDs and transaction sets.
Multi-baseline comparison: Compares actuals against budget (if available), prior period, and same period prior year.
Residuals, not guesses: Surfaces unexplained residuals explicitly instead of quietly inventing causes.
Narrative report for decision-making: Produces a 3–5 paragraph story highlighting the biggest movers rather than only a spreadsheet.

Quick Start

Use the explain-my-variance skill to analyze the P&L for March 2025 using your existing journal entries and any available budget file, and write a driver-backed 3–5 paragraph explanation of the largest swings.

Frequently Asked Questions about explain-my-variance

High-intent search queries and answers about installing and using this skill.

FAQPage Schema

How do I explain P&L variance using journal entry drivers?▼

P&L variance analysis decomposes material line movements into price, volume, mix, and one-time drivers grounded in specific journal entry IDs to explain why actuals differ from budget or prior periods.

How do I perform month-end variance analysis against budget and prior year baselines?▼

Month-end variance analysis compares actuals against budget, prior period, and same period prior year, applying materiality filters to isolate significant swings and producing a narrative report explaining the largest movers.

What is the best way to decompose budget vs actual variances into drivers?▼

Decomposing budget vs actual variances breaks down material changes into price, volume, mix, and one-time drivers tied to transaction sets, surfacing unexplained residuals explicitly rather than guessing causes.

Can I generate a narrative report for variance analysis instead of just a spreadsheet?▼

Yes, variance analysis can produce a 3–5 paragraph narrative report highlighting the biggest P&L movers with driver attribution, providing a decision-ready story rather than only spreadsheet data.

Do I need bookkeeping data and budget files to run a profit and loss variance analysis?▼

Yes, running P&L variance analysis requires loading bookkeeping context alongside journal entries and any available budget file to compute materiality-filtered variances and attribute drivers accurately.

Why does my variance analysis leave unexplained residuals on the P&L?▼

Unexplained residuals surface when P&L line movements cannot be substantiated by journal-backed drivers, ensuring variance analysis reports explicit residuals instead of quietly inventing causes for unsupported swings.