What it does
Pulls financial data from your ERP or spreadsheets, calculates variances, and uses AI to write narrative explanations and risk flags.
Why I recommend it
Finance teams spend days turning numbers into stories. Automation shortens close cycles and improves decision-making.
Expected benefits
- Faster monthly financial reviews
- Consistent variance commentary for leadership decks
- Early detection of overspend trends
- Time saved for FP&A teams
How it works
Monthly close triggers data export -> Python/Sheets calculates budget vs actual -> Claude analyzes drivers (volume, price, timing) -> generates narrative + recommended actions -> outputs to deck/email.
Quick start
Feed last month’s P&L and budget into Claude with a prompt to describe major variances. Validate accuracy before connecting live data.
Level-up version
Drill down by department, integrate headcount forecasts, include charts automatically, and push insights into PowerPoint/Google Slides templates.
Tools you can use
Finance: NetSuite, QuickBooks, Float
Data: Google Sheets, Causal, Mosaic
AI: Claude, Datarails narratives
Automation: Zapier, Workato
Also works with
Marketing spend reports, inventory variances, KPI dashboards.
Technical implementation solution
- No-code: Export CSV -> Google Sheet -> Apps Script -> Claude -> email summary.
- API-based: ERP data warehouse -> dbt -> Claude -> slide deck generation via Google Slides API.
Where it gets tricky
Ensuring numbers tie to official books, keeping sensitive data secure, and teaching AI enough context about your business drivers.
