Excel Monthly Report Refresh Playbook for a Non-Expert
Document the routine so anyone can update the report.
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[VERIFY] is an editorial flag, not a blank to fill. Wherever the prompt shows [VERIFY], check that item against a reliable source before you use it.
Write a playbook for refreshing a monthly Excel report. Where the data comes from and how it arrives: [DATA_SOURCES]. Steps I take now: [CURRENT_STEPS]. Who reviews it: [REVIEWER]. Deadline each month: [DEADLINE]. Write a numbered procedure, with the screen or cell for each step, what to paste where, and which formulas update automatically, so a new colleague can follow it without asking. Estimate the time of each step, adding to a total (about 90 minutes in this example), and describe in words the screenshots to take. Add a checks table with expected versus actual: source rows 1,250 and rows pasted 1,250 (difference 0); amount total in source 482,300.00 and in the report 482,300.00 (difference 0.00); errors in the sheet 0; months present 12 of 12. Add a decision tree for failed checks: if row counts differ, look for blank rows or repeated headers; if totals differ but counts match, look for text numbers or filtered rows; if dates look odd, check the regional format; if errors appear, find the first one with the error checking tool [VERIFY]. Include a monthly log (Month, Date, Prepared by, Checked by, Issues), a sign-off block, a list of mistakes to avoid, a template email to send the report with its checks and caveats, and questions to ask the data supplier if the file layout changes. Tag version-dependent features [VERIFY].
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