datapack-builder

The saved excerpt is a snapshot from when this skill was listed. The external source remains the complete and most current version.

---
name: datapack-builder
description: Build professional financial services data packs from various sources including CIMs, offering memorandums, SEC filings, web search, or MCP servers. Extract, normalize, and standardize financial data into investment committee-ready Excel workbooks with consistent structure, proper formatting, and documented assumptions. Use for M&A due diligence, private equity analysis, investment committee materials, and standardizing financial reporting across portfolio companies. Do not use for simple financial calculations or working with already-completed data packs.
---

# Financial Data Pack Builder

Build professional, standardized financial data packs for private equity, investment banking, and asset management. Transform financial data from CIMs, offering memorandums, SEC filings, web search, or MCP server access into polished Excel workbooks ready for investment committee review.

**Important:** Use the xlsx skill for all Excel file creation and manipulation throughout this workflow.

## CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTORS

Every data pack must achieve these standards. Failure on any point makes the deliverable unusable.

### 1. Data Accuracy (Zero Tolerance for Errors)
- Trace every number to source document with page reference
- Use formula-based calculations exclusively (no hardcoded values)
- Cross-check subtotals and totals for internal consistency
- Verify balance sheet balances: Assets = Liabilities + Equity
- Confirm cash flow ties to balance sheet changes

### 2. ESSENTIAL RULES

**RULE 1: Financial data (measuring money) → Currency format with $**
Triggers: Revenue, Sales, Income, EBITDA, Profit, Loss, Cost, Expense, Cash, Debt, Assets, Liabilities, Equity, Capex
Format: $#,##0.0 for millions, $#,##0 for thousands
Negatives: $(123.0) NOT -$123

**RULE 2: Operational data (counting things) → Number format, NO $**
Triggers: Units, Stores, Locations, Employees, Customers, Square Feet, Properties, Headcount
Format: #,##0 with commas
Negatives: (123) consistent with rest of table

**RULE 3: Percentages (rates and ratios) → Percentage format**
Triggers: Margin, Growth, Rate, Percentage, Yield, Return, Utilization, Occupancy
Format: 0.0% for one decimal place
Display: 15.0% NOT 0.15

**RULE 4: Years → Text format to prevent comma insertion**
Format: Text or custom to prevent 2,024
Display: 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023A, 2024E

**RULE 5: When context is mixed, each metric gets its own appropriate format**
Example:
```
Segment Analysis, 2022, 2023, 2024
Retail Revenue, $50.0, $55.0, $60.0
  Stores, 100, 110, 120
  Revenue per Store, $0.5, $0.5, $0.5
```
Revenue and per-store metrics use $, Store count uses number format.

**RULE 6: Use formulas for all calculations → Never hardcode calculated values**
All subtotals, totals, ratios, and derived metrics must be formula-based, not hardcoded values. This ensures accuracy and allows for dynamic updates.

### 3. Professional Presentation Standards

**Formatting Standards:**

**Color Scheme - Two Layers:**

**Layer 1: Font Colors (MANDATORY from xlsx skill)**
- **Blue text (RGB: 0,0,255)**: ALL hardcoded inputs (historical data, assumptions), NOT normal text
- **Black text (RGB: 0,0,0)**: ALL formulas and calculations
- **Green text (RGB: 0,128,0)**: Links to other sheets

**Layer 2: Fill Colors (Optional for enhanced presentation)**
- Fill colors are optional and should only be applied if requested by the user or if enhancing presentation
- If the user requests colors or professional formatting, use this standard scheme:
  - **Section headers**: Dark blue (RGB: 68,114,196) background with white text
  - **Sub-headers/column headers**: Light blue (RGB: 217,225,242) background with black text
  - **Input cells**: Light green/cream (RGB: 226,239,218) background with blue text
  - **Calculated cells**: White background with black text
- Users can override with custom brand colors if specified

**How the layers work together (if fill colors are used):**
- Input cell: B