The Shape
of a Skill

Anthropic shipped a skills library for finance.
Read it slowly.

anthropics/financial-services on GitHub.

The frame

Most published work on AI agent skills is by builders, for builders. Heavy on syntax. Light on visual mental models.

The Shape of a Skill is an attempt to lower the barrier. The reader knows the shape of the territory before any single skill enters the picture.

This is a translation experiment. Use it as a map. Cartu is the method behind it.

Because trust and control sit downstream of comprehension.

The "I don't know" reaction to a new AI artifact is the barrier underneath every other adoption barrier. Naming the shape of the skill lowers the barrier to adoption and increases comprehension.

Layer 3 - the full library

Every skill, every shape

The wide-angle view. 213 skill.md files mapped to the eighteen archetypes. The heatmap shows where each skill lands — scroll through all 213 rows. Filled squares mark the primary archetype; half-filled squares mark a secondary. Use the lookup further down to find a specific skill by name. The rest of the page zooms in: the system, the anatomy of a single skill, the seventeen shapes.

	Foundation	Navigators					Gatherers				Analyzers					Makers
skill - sub-group	Foundation	Front desk	Orchestrator	Gatekeeper	Vendor pipeline	Setup	Researcher	Monitor	Ledger	Catalog	Modeler	Reconciler	Rater	Triager	Diligence	Drafter	Redliner	Production
audit-xls earnings reviewer
earnings analysis earnings reviewer
earnings-preview earnings reviewer
earnings-reviewer earnings reviewer
model-update earnings reviewer
morning-note earnings reviewer
xlsx-author earnings reviewer
audit-xls gl reconciler
break-trace gl reconciler
gl-recon gl reconciler
gl-reconciler gl reconciler
xlsx-author gl reconciler
kyc-doc-parse kyc screener
kyc-rules kyc screener
kyc-screener kyc screener
xlsx-author kyc screener
competitive-analysis market researcher
comps-analysis market researcher
idea-generation market researcher
market-researcher market researcher
pptx-author market researcher
sector-overview market researcher
client-report meeting prep agent
client-review meeting prep agent
investment-proposal meeting prep agent
meeting-prep-agent meeting prep agent
pptx-author meeting prep agent
3-statement-model model builder
audit-xls model builder
comps-analysis model builder
dcf-model model builder
lbo-model model builder
model-builder model builder
xlsx-author model builder
accrual-schedule month end closer
audit-xls month end closer
month-end-closer month end closer
roll-forward month end closer
variance-commentary month end closer
xlsx-author month end closer
3-statement-model pitch agent
3-statement-model_reference_formatting pitch agent
3-statement-model_reference_formulas pitch agent
3-statement-model_reference_sec-filings pitch agent
audit-xls pitch agent
comps-analysis pitch agent
dcf-model pitch agent
deck-refresh pitch agent
investment bank check deck pitch agent
investment bank check deck_reference_ib-report format pitch agent
investment bank check deck_reference_ib-terminology pitch agent
lbo-model pitch agent
pitch deck pitch agent
pitch deck_reference_calculation-standards pitch agent
pitch deck_reference_formatting-standards pitch agent
pitch deck_reference_slide-templates pitch agent
pitch deck_reference_xml-reference pitch agent
pitch-agent pitch agent
pptx-author pitch agent
sector-overview pitch agent
xlsx-author pitch agent
audit-xls statement auditor
nav-tieout statement auditor
statement-auditor statement auditor
xlsx-author statement auditor
ic-memo valuation reviewer
portfolio-monitoring valuation reviewer
returns-analysis valuation reviewer
valuation-reviewer valuation reviewer
xlsx-author valuation reviewer
bond-futures-basis lseg
bond-relative-value lseg
commands_analyze-bond-basis lseg
commands_analyze-bond-rv lseg
commands_analyze-fx-carry lseg
commands_analyze-option-vol lseg
commands_analyze-swap-curve lseg
commands_macro-rates lseg
commands_research-equity lseg
commands_review-fi-portfolio lseg
equity-research lseg
fixed-income-portfolio lseg
fx-carry-trade lseg
macro-rates-monitor lseg
option-vol-analysis lseg
swap-curve-strategy lseg
earnings-preview-beta spglobal
earnings-preview-beta_reference_report-template spglobal
funding-digest spglobal
funding-digest_reference_sector-seeds spglobal
tear-sheet spglobal
tear-sheet_reference_corp-dev spglobal
tear-sheet_reference_equity-research spglobal
tear-sheet_reference_investment bank-ma spglobal
tear-sheet_reference_sales-broker dealer spglobal
catalyst-calendar equity research
commands_catalysts equity research
commands_earning equity research
commands_earnings-preview equity research
commands_initiate equity research
commands_model update equity research
commands_morning note equity research
commands_screen equity research
commands_sector equity research
commands_thesis equity research
earnings-analysis equity research
earnings-analysis_reference_best-practices equity research
earnings-analysis_reference_report-structure equity research
earnings-analysis_reference_workflow equity research
earnings-preview equity research
idea-generation equity research
initiating-coverage equity research
initiating-coverage_asset_quality-checklist equity research
initiating-coverage_asset_report-template equity research
initiating-coverage_reference_task1-company-research equity research
initiating-coverage_reference_task2-financial-modeling equity research
initiating-coverage_reference_task3-valuation equity research
initiating-coverage_reference_task4-chart-generation equity research
initiating-coverage_reference_task5-report-assembly equity research
initiating-coverage_reference_valuation-methodologies equity research
model-update equity research
morning-note equity research
sector-overview equity research
thesis-tracker equity research
3-statement-model financial analysis
3-statement-model_reference_formatting financial analysis
3-statement-model_reference_formulas financial analysis
3-statement-model_reference_sec-filings financial analysis
audit-xls financial analysis
clean-data-xls financial analysis
command_3-statement-model financial analysis
command_competitive-analysis financial analysis
command_comps financial analysis
command_dcf financial analysis
command_debug-model financial analysis
command_lbo financial analysis
command_ppt-template financial analysis
competitive-analysis financial analysis
competitive-analysis_reference_frameworks financial analysis
competitive-analysis_reference_schemas financial analysis
comps-analysis financial analysis
dcf-model financial analysis
deck-refresh financial analysis
investment bank-check-deck financial analysis
investment bank-check-deck_reference_ib-terminology financial analysis
investment bank-check-deck_reference_report-format. financial analysis
lbo-model financial analysis
ppt-template-creator financial analysis
pptx-author financial analysis
skill-creator financial analysis
skill-creator_reference_output-patterns financial analysis
skill-creator_reference_workflows financial analysis
xlsx-author financial analysis
accrual-schedule fund admin
break-trace fund admin
gl-recon fund admin
nav-tieout fund admin
roll-forward fund admin
variance-commentary fund admin
buyer-list investment banking
command_buyer-list investment banking
command_confidential infor memorandum investment banking
command_deal-tracker investment banking
command_merger-model investment banking
command_one-pager investment banking
command_process-letter investment banking
command_teaser investment banking
confidential info memorandum builder investment banking
datapack-builder investment banking
deal-tracker investment banking
merger-model investment banking
pitch-deck investment banking
pitch-deck_reference_calculation-standards investment banking
pitch-deck_reference_formatting-standards investment banking
pitch-deck_reference_slide-templates investment banking
pitch-deck_reference_xml-reference investment banking
process-letter investment banking
strip-profile investment banking
teaser investment banking
kyc-doc-parse operations
kyc-rules operations
ai-readiness private equity
command_ai-readiness private equity
command_dd-checklist private equity
command_dd-prep private equity
command_ic-memo private equity
command_portfolio private equity
command_returns private equity
command_screen-deal private equity
command_source private equity
command_unit-economics private equity
command_value-creation private equity
dd-checklist private equity
dd-meeting-prep private equity
deal-screening private equity
deal-sourcing private equity
ic-memo private equity
portfolio-monitoring private equity
returns-analysis private equity
unit-economics private equity
value-creation-plan private equity
client-report wealth management
client-review wealth management
command_client-report wealth management
command_client-review wealth management
command_financial-plan wealth management
command_proposal wealth management
command_rebalance wealth management
command_tax-loss-harvesting wealth management
financial-plan wealth management
investment-proposal wealth management
portfolio-rebalance wealth management
tax-loss-harvesting wealth management

primary archetype secondary archetype

Skill catalog by domain

Every file in the library, grouped by practice domain and sub-group. Each skill carries its archetype tags.

agent plugins 70 skills organized around 10 named agents - each agent has an orchestrator + sub-skills

earnings reviewer 7

audit-xls Foundation scope-tiered spreadsheet audit; reports first, fixes on request
earnings analysis Drafter 8-12 page DOCX equity update; date-verification; refuses distribution
earnings-preview Drafter 1-page pre-earnings preview with bull/base/bear + catalyst checklist
earnings-reviewer Orchestrator routes to 5 sub-skills; treats transcripts as untrusted; never publishes
model-update Redliner plug new actuals into existing model; old-vs-new delta; reconcile first
morning-note Drafter 1-page time-stamped morning meeting note; no view = useless
xlsx-author Foundation headless .xlsx file emitter (shared sub-skill)

gl reconciler 5

audit-xls Foundation shared spreadsheet audit
break-trace Reconciler root-cause a single break; JSON with owner + clear-date; diagnostic-only
gl-recon Reconciler full-outer-join match into 6 buckets with tolerance; hypothesis only
gl-reconciler Orchestrator per-asset-class reader dispatch; orchestrator never writes
xlsx-author Foundation shared headless authoring

kyc screener 4

kyc-doc-parse Catalog Triager structured JSON extraction from onboarding packet; null for missing
kyc-rules Rater apply firm's rules grid; per-rule outcome with citation; routes for approval
kyc-screener Orchestrator doc-reader has Read/Grep only; length-capped JSON; never approves
xlsx-author Foundation shared headless authoring

market researcher 6

competitive-analysis Drafter 2-phase competitive deck; refuses slides until outline approved
comps-analysis Production institutional-grade comps spreadsheet; MCP-data-source hierarchy
idea-generation Triager 5 named screen playbooks; screens surface candidates, not conclusions
market-researcher Orchestrator multi-step pipeline with 2 stop-and-surface checkpoints
pptx-author Foundation headless .pptx emitter (shared sub-skill)
sector-overview Researcher Drafter industry landscape report with TAM/competitive/thematic sections

meeting prep agent 5

client-report Drafter Production 9-section performance report; compliance gate
client-review Drafter one-page summary + agenda + action items
investment-proposal Drafter Production 6-section prospect deck; personalized, not templated
meeting-prep-agent Orchestrator calendar-event-bound; news-reader worker has no MCP access
pptx-author Foundation shared headless authoring

model builder 7

3-statement-model Modeler IS/BS/CF template population; 6 verification checkpoints; BS balance
audit-xls Foundation shared audit
comps-analysis Production shared comps
dcf-model Modeler WACC, terminal value, 75-cell sensitivity; recalc.py before delivery
lbo-model Modeler template-required; 5-section gated workflow; 4-color font convention
model-builder Orchestrator routes to 4 model-type sub-skills; every output is a formula
xlsx-author Foundation shared headless authoring

month end closer 6

accrual-schedule Modeler Drafter per-accrual derivation table + draft JE; refuses to post
audit-xls Foundation shared audit
month-end-closer Orchestrator per-schedule worker dispatch; no GL posting
roll-forward Reconciler 7-line roll-forward template; must foot or surface unexplained item
variance-commentary Drafter Triager flux commentary for material lines; flag unclear drivers
xlsx-author Foundation shared headless authoring

pitch agent 21

3-statement-model Production explicit template-completion mode (slot-filler)
3-statement-model_reference_formatting Foundation reference asset
3-statement-model_reference_formulas Foundation reference asset
3-statement-model_reference_sec-filings Foundation reference asset
audit-xls Foundation shared audit
comps-analysis Production shared comps
dcf-model Modeler with correct_patterns / common_mistakes blocks
deck-refresh Redliner 4-phase number swap with Phase 3 approval gate
investment bank check deck Diligence 4-dimension parallel sweep; severity-graded; refuses to fix
investment bank check deck_reference_ib-report format Foundation reference asset; report template
investment bank check deck_reference_ib-terminology Foundation reference asset; casual->professional replacements
lbo-model Production slot-filler mode (template-completion)
pitch deck Production template-first; 5-phase progress with LibreOffice validate-fix loop
pitch deck_reference_calculation-standards Foundation reference asset
pitch deck_reference_formatting-standards Foundation reference asset
pitch deck_reference_slide-templates Foundation reference asset; data-template mismatch playbook
pitch deck_reference_xml-reference Foundation reference asset; OOXML patterns + anti-XML guardrails
pitch-agent Orchestrator top-level routing; checkpoints after Excel + after deck
pptx-author Foundation headless emitter (shared sub-skill)
sector-overview Researcher TAM with hype-vs-realistic; staleness flagging
xlsx-author Foundation headless emitter (shared sub-skill)

statement auditor 4

audit-xls Foundation shared audit
nav-tieout Reconciler independent recompute of LP capital account; pass/fail per line
statement-auditor Orchestrator sub-agent has Read/Grep only; pass/hold; refuses to send
xlsx-author Foundation headless emitter (shared sub-skill)

valuation reviewer 5

ic-memo Drafter 9-section memo with page budgets; ask for missing inputs
portfolio-monitoring Triager Monitor GREEN/YELLOW/RED variance triage + covenant status
returns-analysis Modeler 2-way IRR/MOIC sensitivities; Bull/Base/Bear; firm tolerances
valuation-reviewer Orchestrator untrusted-input boundary; no external distribution
xlsx-author Foundation headless emitter (shared sub-skill)

partner built 25 skills integrations from LSEG (financial data) and S&P Global (markets data)

lseg 16

bond-futures-basis Vendor pipeline prices bond future, CTD, basis/repo; long/short recommendation
bond-relative-value Vendor pipeline spread decomposition; rich/cheap call
commands_analyze-bond-basis Front desk slash-command wrapper; delegates to bond-futures-basis
commands_analyze-bond-rv Front desk slash-command wrapper; delegates to bond-relative-value
commands_analyze-fx-carry Front desk slash-command wrapper; delegates to fx-carry-trade
commands_analyze-option-vol Front desk slash-command wrapper; delegates to option-vol-analysis
commands_analyze-swap-curve Front desk slash-command wrapper; delegates to swap-curve-strategy
commands_macro-rates Front desk slash-command wrapper; delegates to macro-rates-monitor
commands_research-equity Front desk slash-command wrapper; delegates to equity-research
commands_review-fi-portfolio Front desk slash-command wrapper; delegates to fixed-income-portfolio
equity-research Vendor pipeline IBES consensus + fundamentals + macro -> buy/hold/sell
fixed-income-portfolio Vendor pipeline prices bond basket; scenarios; portfolio review
fx-carry-trade Vendor pipeline spot + forwards + vol -> carry-to-vol + tenor recommendation
macro-rates-monitor Vendor pipeline macro + curves + breakevens -> rates dashboard
option-vol-analysis Vendor pipeline vol surface + realized vol -> IV-RV premium
swap-curve-strategy Vendor pipeline curve build + metrics -> DV01-neutral trade recommendation

spglobal 9

earnings-preview-beta Researcher Drafter 8-phase research-to-HTML; hyperlink-every-claim; allowlist
earnings-preview-beta_reference_report-template Foundation reference asset; frozen HTML+CSS+JS template
funding-digest Researcher Production universe-building + PPTX slide; 6 entity-resolution rules
funding-digest_reference_sector-seeds Foundation reference asset; vendor dictionary
tear-sheet Orchestrator Production audience-routed DOCX generator (ER / IB-M&A / Corp Dev / Sales-BD)
tear-sheet_reference_corp-dev Foundation reference asset; audience plan
tear-sheet_reference_equity-research Foundation reference asset; audience plan
tear-sheet_reference_investment bank-ma Foundation reference asset; audience plan
tear-sheet_reference_sales-broker dealer Foundation reference asset; audience plan

vertical plugins 118 skills organized around 7 practice verticals - each carries domain-specific shapes

equity research 29

financial analysis 29

fund admin 6

accrual-schedule Drafter Modeler per-accrual derivation + JE; refuse-to-post
break-trace Reconciler root-cause subtype; single-break trace
gl-recon Reconciler match-and-classify subtype
nav-tieout Reconciler independent-recompute subtype
roll-forward Reconciler foot-check subtype
variance-commentary Drafter Triager flux commentary with threshold filter

investment banking 20

buyer-list Diligence Triager parallel scan + tiering
command_buyer-list Front desk slash-command wrapper; delegates to buyer-list
command_confidential infor memorandum Front desk slash-command wrapper; delegates to cim builder
command_deal-tracker Front desk slash-command wrapper; delegates to deal-tracker
command_merger-model Front desk slash-command wrapper; delegates to merger-model
command_one-pager Front desk slash-command wrapper; delegates to strip-profile
command_process-letter Front desk slash-command wrapper; delegates to process-letter
command_teaser Front desk slash-command wrapper; delegates to teaser
confidential info memorandum builder Drafter Production CIM builder; narrative + structured artifact
datapack-builder Production 8-tab xlsx with strict format laws
deal-tracker Ledger multi-deal pipeline; weekly review mode
merger-model Modeler accretion/dilution; sources=uses; pro forma EPS bridge
pitch-deck Production template-first deck with 4 reference sub-skills
pitch-deck_reference_calculation-standards Foundation reference asset
pitch-deck_reference_formatting-standards Foundation reference asset
pitch-deck_reference_slide-templates Foundation reference asset
pitch-deck_reference_xml-reference Foundation reference asset
process-letter Drafter IOI / final bid / management meeting invite
strip-profile Production 1-4 slide quadrant profile; stop-and-confirm per slide
teaser Drafter anonymous 1-page sell-side teaser; anonymization gate

operations 2

kyc-doc-parse Triager Catalog parse-and-inventory; structured JSON
kyc-rules Rater per-rule outcome with citation; routes for human approval

private equity 20

ai-readiness Diligence Rater cross-portfolio AI scan with go/wait gate
command_ai-readiness Front desk slash-command wrapper; delegates to ai-readiness
command_dd-checklist Front desk slash-command wrapper; delegates to dd-checklist
command_dd-prep Front desk slash-command wrapper; delegates to dd-meeting-prep
command_ic-memo Front desk slash-command wrapper; delegates to ic-memo
command_portfolio Front desk slash-command wrapper; delegates to portfolio-monitoring
command_returns Front desk slash-command wrapper; delegates to returns-analysis
command_screen-deal Front desk slash-command wrapper; delegates to deal-screening
command_source Front desk slash-command wrapper; delegates to deal-sourcing
command_unit-economics Front desk slash-command wrapper; delegates to unit-economics
command_value-creation Front desk slash-command wrapper; delegates to value-creation-plan
dd-checklist Diligence Ledger multi-workstream parallel framework with status states
dd-meeting-prep Setup Socratic question scaffolding
deal-screening Triager pass / further diligence / hard pass
deal-sourcing Researcher external discovery -> CRM lookup -> personalized email
ic-memo Drafter 9-section investment committee memo
portfolio-monitoring Monitor Rater variance + covenant compliance
returns-analysis Modeler IRR/MOIC sensitivities
unit-economics Diligence Rater ARR cohorts, LTV/CAC, retention with quality score
value-creation-plan Drafter Setup EBITDA bridge, 100-day plan, KPI dashboard

wealth management 12

client-report Drafter 9-section quarterly performance report
client-review Drafter review meeting prep
command_client-report Front desk slash-command wrapper; delegates to client-report
command_client-review Front desk slash-command wrapper; delegates to client-review
command_financial-plan Front desk slash-command wrapper; delegates to financial-plan
command_proposal Front desk slash-command wrapper; delegates to investment-proposal
command_rebalance Front desk slash-command wrapper; delegates to portfolio-rebalance
command_tax-loss-harvesting Front desk slash-command wrapper; delegates to tax-loss-harvesting
financial-plan Drafter Modeler 15-25 page plan with Monte Carlo retirement, scenarios
investment-proposal Drafter 6-section prospect pitch deck
portfolio-rebalance Modeler drift vs IPS, tax-aware trades; recommends, doesn't execute
tax-loss-harvesting Modeler Diligence TLH candidates with wash-sale-safe replacements

Layer 1 — system view

The Shape of Claude Finance

A map of the system, before any single skill enters the picture.

The Lifecycle

a deal moves through these eight stages · the dominant archetype at each

Source

researcher

Screen

triager

Diligence

diligence + rater

Model

modeler

IC Memo

drafter

ledger

Value-Create

drafter + setup

Monitor

monitor + rater

Eight stages, one library. The work changes with the stage — each carries a dominant archetype, most carry a second.

The Foundation

52 skills · copied into many agents

Foundation skills are the shared library. Active skills load them as dependencies, the way an analyst reaches for a reference book on the shelf.

For example:

audit-xls

× 6+

agents that mount it

spreadsheet audit · reports first, fixes on request

xlsx-author

× 8+

agents that mount it

writes the Excel outputs in headless sessions

pptx-author

× 3+

agents that mount it

writes the PowerPoint outputs in headless sessions

The Practice Domains

3 domains · 20+ sub-groupings · the shapes inside each one

agent plugins

70 skills · 10 agents

orchestratorfoundationmodelerproductiondiligencereconcilerraterdrafter

partner built

25 skills · LSEG · S&P Global

vendor pipelinefront deskresearcherproductionfoundation

vertical plugins

118 skills · 7 verticals

front deskmodelerdrafterproductiondiligencereconcilerledgertriagerresearchersetup

The seven verticals: equity research · financial analysis · investment banking · private equity · wealth management · fund admin · operations.

The 17 Active Archetypes

the family vocabulary — every active skill maps to one or two of these

Navigators

01front desk

02orchestrator

03gatekeeper

04vendor pipeline

05setup

Gatherers

06researcher

07monitor

08ledger

09catalog

Analyzers

10modeler / calculator

11reconciler

12rater / scorer

13triager

14diligence

Makers

15drafter

16redliner

17production

Layer 2 — the skeleton

What's inside a single skill

Ten architectural moves a skill.md can make, in conceptual order. Not every skill makes all ten — some embed refusals inside workflow gates, some skip the matter-context check entirely. The vocabulary stays consistent across the ones that do. Read this once and you have the lens for reading any skill file in the library.

Header

name · description · argument-hint · user-invocable — how the skill is identified and invoked. Some skills also declare a tools list to grant MCP access.

Purpose

What the skill does, and why, in one paragraph.

Matter context

The data trust boundary — trusted firm sources (rules grids, NAV packs, accounting policy) vs. untrusted external docs (subledger extracts, vendor statements, transcripts).

Hard gates

Conditions the skill checks before doing anything. If a precondition isn't met — wrong context, missing config, untrusted-source content treated as instructions, or the work already started — the skill stops before any further work.

Load playbook

Read the firm's CLAUDE.md, rules grid, or accounting policy for team-specific positions. The skill compares; the firm's playbook decides.

Workflow

Numbered steps. The body. Four to six typical; each with branching or output rules. Finance workflows often gate at every step ("stop and surface for review" between sections of a model).

Output formats

Memo · slack · tracked-change docx · xlsx workbook · pptx deck · structured JSON disposition. Varies by role and by destination.

Consequential-action gate

Pause before high-stakes commits — posting (journal entries), sending (client deliverables), executing (trades), publishing (research), approving (KYC), distributing (Limited Partner reports). Requires explicit yes to proceed.

What it does NOT do

The refusals. Some skills name explicit boundaries as a labeled section — what they won't try (approve, post the journal entry, execute the trade, decide the rating, distribute the report). Many skills embed the same boundaries within workflow gates or critical-warning blocks instead. The placement varies; the refusal is still part of the architecture.

Closing action

Next-steps decision tree. The skill ends by handing the user choices.

Layer 3 — the seventeen archetypes

Four families of work, seventeen shapes

Seventeen active archetypes group into four families. Together they account for the work-doing skills in the library — the Foundation layer carries the rest. Each shape lights up a different combination of skeleton rows. The skeleton view shows which rows belong to this archetype; the drawn view shows the architectural move that gives the shape its name.

+ Click on an archetype to see which skeleton rows it lights up.

Family 1 of 4

Navigators

Traffic and boundaries. Manage the flow of intent — route requests, gate access, coordinate over time, scaffold the user's own work. They never do the substantive analysis or production themselves.

Front desk

A thin slash-command at the front of the room. `argument-hint` frontmatter; takes the order, runs small adapter logic, hands the job to a named domain skill.

Examples command_dcf · command_ic-memo · command_screen-deal · commands_thesis · /analyze-bond-basis · /analyze-fx-carry

Count ~46 · 22% of the library

Often pairs with Every domain skill in verticals + partner integrations

Header (argument-hint + name only)

Purpose

Matter context

Hard gates

Load playbook

Workflow

Output formats

Consequential-action gate

What it does NOT do

Closing action (delegates to named skill)

Separates UI/intake from logic. The least anatomically complete shape — most rows are unused. Might fold into a thin-Orchestrator sub-shape in a later iteration.

Slash command

name: dcf

argument-hint:

description: DCF with comps-informed terminals

gather ticker · cross-check at end

~80 lines · mostly delegation

→

delegates

Step 1

comps-analysis

Peer multiples · median EV/EBITDA

~240 lines · the substantive work

↓

Step 2

dcf-model

Bear · Base · Bull · sensitivities

~310 lines · the substantive work

thin shell · UI/intake separated from logic · the work happens in the named skill.

example: command_dcf · financial analysis · vertical plugins · anthropics/financial-services

Orchestrator

Routes input to other skills based on characterization. The skill that calls other skills.

Examples earnings-reviewer · gl-reconciler · kyc-screener · pitch-agent · model-builder · statement-auditor · valuation-reviewer · tear-sheet

Count ~10 · one per agent plugin

Often pairs with Foundation · Production (tear-sheet)

Header

Purpose

Matter context

Hard gates (routing signal check)

Load playbook

Workflow (route → call → integrate)

Output formats (integrated memo)

Consequential-action gate

What it does NOT do

Closing action

Input

Target company + strategic situation

▼

Characterize · route

/pitch-agent

▼

specialist

sector-overview

specialist

comps-analysis

specialist

dcf · lbo · 3-stmt

specialist

pitch-deck

▼▼▼▼

Integrate

Excel workbook + branded deck · checkpointed for review

the orchestrator is a router · the valuation lives in the specialists · the banker approves at each gate.

example: agents · pitch agent · agent plugins · anthropics/financial-services

Gatekeeper

A hard gate that runs BEFORE intake; refuses the skill entirely when conditions aren't right.

Examples initiating-coverage (gate-per-task)

Count ~1

Often pairs with Tracker

Header

Purpose

Matter context

Hard gates (gatekeeping check)

Load playbook

Workflow

Output formats

Consequential-action gate

What it does NOT do

Closing action

The pre-intake hard gate appears in just one skill — initiating-coverage, which uses one gate per task in its 5-task sequence. More often, finance compresses pre-intake checks into the regular Hard gates row rather than promoting them to a separate architectural move.

Inbound

Coverage task request (Task 3 · Valuation)

▼

Hard gate — runs before intake

Is the prerequisite task complete?

If no

STOP

Cannot proceed.
Complete Task 2 first.
Refuses to skip ahead.

If yes

Verification checklist · every input named · every artifact found

Model file

exists · readable

Projected FCF

5-year horizon

Rev · EBITDA

comps inputs

Terminal year

DCF tail

five sequential tasks · each gates on the prior · skill executes one task per request

Verification states

🔴 missing · 🟡 partial · ✅ verified

example: initiating-coverage · equity research · vertical plugins · anthropics/financial-services

Vendor pipeline

Vendor-MCP tool chain with mandated output tables and directional call (long/short, rich/cheap, buy/hold/sell). Lists MCP tools, defines a fixed N-step chain, ends with mandated synthesis.

Examples bond-futures-basis · bond-relative-value · equity-research (LSEG) · fx-carry-trade · macro-rates-monitor · option-vol-analysis · swap-curve-strategy · fixed-income-portfolio

Count 8 · all LSEG

Often pairs with Command shim · Researcher

Header (lists MCP tools)

Purpose

Matter context

Hard gates

Load playbook

Workflow (fixed N-step tool chain)

Output formats (mandated tables)

Consequential-action gate

What it does NOT do (fabricate when vendor lacks data)

Closing action (directional call)

A vendor-integration shape. "Let the tools compute, you interpret" — the discipline rule.

MCP tools — let the tools compute

lseg__bond_future_price lseg__bond_price lseg__interest_rate_curve lseg__tscc_historical

▼

1Price the future→ CTD · CF · DV01

2Price the CTD bond→ yield · duration

3Compute gross / net basis→ ticks

4Compute implied repo→ % rate

5Overlay historical basis→ 3M / 6M / percentile

6Recommend direction→ rich / cheap / fair

▼

Mandated output tables

Future summary

5 fields

CTD analytics

4 fields

Basis calculation

6 fields

Historical context

3M · 6M · pct

▼

Directional call

SHORT BASIS

implied repo 4.85% vs market 4.40% · 92nd percentile · futures rich vs CTD

let the tools compute, you interpret · fixed chain · mandated tables · directional call.

example: bond-futures-basis · lseg · partner built · anthropics/financial-services

Setup

Guides work; refuses to substitute. Hard "no rewriting" rule. Includes meta-creators (skill-creator, template-creator) that set up by withholding the artifact.

Examples skill-creator · ppt-template-creator · dd-meeting-prep · value-creation-plan

Count ~3-4

Often pairs with Drafter (value-creation-plan)

Header

Purpose

Matter context

Hard gates

Load playbook

Workflow (guide the user)

Output formats

Consequential-action gate

What it does NOT do (rewrite)

Closing action

interviewer

Draft questions

Meeting on the calendar · partial thesis · open concerns.

setup

Socratic prompts

Question lists · benchmarks · red flags · the catch-all close.

refuse

Don't lead the witness

No leading framings · no answers supplied · the room is the investor's.

the questions are the work — the answers belong to them

example: dd-meeting-prep · private equity · vertical plugins · anthropics/financial-services

Family 2 of 4

Gatherers

Ingestion and memory. Bring the outside world into the agent's context — external data, ongoing state, reference inventory. The eyes and ears.

Researcher

Gathers from external sources (web · vendor data · filings) and synthesizes with mandatory source attribution.

Examples sector-overview · deal-sourcing · market-researcher · equity-research (LSEG)

Count ~7

Often pairs with Drafter · Vendor pipeline · Diligence

Header

Purpose

Matter context (source allowlist)

Hard gates

Load playbook (research playbook)

Workflow (gather → cite → synthesize)

Output formats (cited report)

Consequential-action gate

What it does NOT do (fabricate / paraphrase as quote)

Closing action

Primary value is the gathering. The prose comes second. Date-freshness gates ("training data is outdated, search for latest") are a Researcher signature.

External sources

web

SEC filings

CapIQ · Bloomberg

trade press

internal CRM

↘↘↓↙↙

Synthesize

Reconcile · cite · narrate

▼

sector-overview.docx + appendix.xlsx

Market sizing

TAM $84B · 11% CAGR through 2028¹

Realistic addressable mkt: $32B²

data as of Q1 2026 · re-pull before client sendstale flag

Competitive landscape

Top 5 hold 47% share³

Median EV/EBITDA 12.5x (range 10.2–15.8x)⁴

M&A transaction multiples

[NEEDS SOURCE] — refuse to fabricate · ask user for vendor access or skip section

every claim cites · staleness flagged · "training data is outdated, search for latest" is a Researcher signature.

example: sector-overview · market researcher · agent plugins · anthropics/financial-services

Monitor

Sweeps state for drift, or surfaces upcoming-action items. Event-driven instead of request-driven. Includes a Calendar variant that maintains a forward-looking event schedule rather than reacting to changes.

Examples morning-note · portfolio-monitoring · catalyst-calendar

Count ~4

Often pairs with Rater · Drafter

Header

Purpose

Matter context

Hard gates

Load playbook

Workflow (event-driven sweep)

Output formats (digest / report)

Consequential-action gate

What it does NOT do

Closing action (decision tree)

Calendar variant (e.g., catalyst-calendar) maintains a persistent forward-looking event schedule and weekly preview — proactive rather than reactive. Folded into Monitor; same event-driven backbone.

Trigger

Monthly · quarterly · financial package received

▼

Sweep

Extract KPIs · diff against budget + IPS + covenants

▼

COVENANT BREACH

Leverage above ceiling.

VARIANCE > 15%

EBITDA below plan.

WITHIN BAND

Tracking on plan.

event-driven · the sweep runs on the close calendar.

example: portfolio-monitoring · private equity · vertical plugins · anthropics/financial-services

Ledger

Manages structured state across modes (init / update / status / close). Multi-mode CRUD on a ledger.

Examples deal-tracker · thesis-tracker · initiating-coverage · portfolio-monitoring

Count ~5

Often pairs with Diligence · Gatekeeper · Monitor

Header

Purpose

Matter context

Hard gates

Load playbook

Workflow (branching modes)

Output formats (state file + status)

Consequential-action gate

What it does NOT do

Closing action

init

ingest

update

status

pipeline/active-deals.md

Project Eaglesell-side · IOI deadline Q1update

Project Falconbuy-side · diligence · Q2 closeupdate

Project Heronsell-side · final bids receivedstatus

Project Ospreypre-mandate · pitch Tuesdayingest

one skill · five modes · the pipeline file is the spine.

example: deal-tracker · investment banking · vertical plugins · anthropics/financial-services

Catalog

Tabular output with every cell cited; no confidence scores; refuses paraphrase-as-quote.

Examples kyc-doc-parse · variance-commentary · datapack-builder · sec-filings references

Count ~3

Often pairs with Production · Triager

Header

Purpose

Matter context

Hard gates

Load playbook

Workflow (extract → cite → tabulate)

Output formats (cited catalog)

Consequential-action gate

What it does NOT do (paraphrase)

Closing action

Metric	Source	Value	Note
Revenue FY2024	10-Kp.42	$1,284.6Mp.42	Reported, audited.p.42
Adj. EBITDA FY2024	10-K MD&Ap.58	$312.0Mp.58	Mgmt add-back schedule cited.p.59
Q2'25 ARR	10-Q Q2p.8	$894.2Mp.8	Disclosed in supplemental.p.12
Net Retention FY2024	[needs source]	[needs source]	[needs source — not paraphrased]

The data pack refuses

Paraphrasing source text into a quote-shaped numeric cell.
Calculated values without a live formula — no hardcoded subtotals or derived metrics.
Cells without provenance — every number traces to filing, page, and table.

example: datapack-builder · investment banking · vertical plugins · anthropics/financial-services

Family 3 of 4

Analyzers

Logic and rules. Apply strict computational or evaluative frameworks. They calculate and recommend; they defer the final decision to a human.

Modeler / Calculator

Quantitative computation against templates with formulas-over-hardcodes discipline, section-by-section verification gates, integrity checks (BS balance, cash tie-out, sensitivity discipline). The artifact is a live workbook.

Examples dcf-model · lbo-model · 3-statement-model · merger-model · returns-analysis · accrual-schedule · financial-plan · portfolio-rebalance · tax-loss-harvesting

Count ~20

Often pairs with Production · Redliner · Drafter (financial-plan)

Header

Purpose

Matter context (data trust)

Hard gates (data pre-flight)

Load playbook (firm policy + tolerances)

Workflow (multi-section build + verify)

Output formats (live workbook)

Consequential-action gate (publish)

What it does NOT do (post / execute / hardcode)

Closing action

Lights up nearly every row — the heaviest-discipline shape in the library.

inputs

Ticker · assumption drivers · case selector (1 / 2 / 3)

1 Historicals 3–5 yr · revenue, margins, FCF

▼ verify: BS balances · ratios reconcile

2 Operating model Revenue projection · OpEx %-of-revenue · NOPAT

▼ verify: OpEx % declines as company scales

3 WACC & projection CAPM · capital structure · mid-year convention

▼ verify: g < WACC

4 Terminal value Perpetuity growth · EV bridge · per-share

▼ verify: TV = 50–70% of EV

5 Sensitivity 3 tables · 75 cells · full DCF recalc per cell

▼ recalc.py until status = success

sensitivity · WACC × terminal g

8.0%

8.5%

9.0%

9.5%

10.0%

8.0%

8.5%

9.0%

9.5%

10.0%

8.0%

8.5%

★ base

9.5%

10.0%

8.0%

8.5%

9.0%

9.5%

10.0%

8.0%

8.5%

9.0%

9.5%

10.0%

Bear · Base · Bull — centered on the base case

formulas-over-hardcodes · every section verified before the next can run · recalc.py until status = success.

example: dcf-model · model builder · agent plugins · anthropics/financial-services

Reconciler

Match two-sided data, classify mismatches into fixed buckets with tolerance, refuse to post adjustments. Diagnostic-only.

Examples gl-recon · break-trace · nav-tieout · roll-forward

Count ~4 unique

Often pairs with Modeler (roll-forward) · Diligence (break-trace)

Header

Purpose

Matter context (data trust boundary)

Hard gates (tolerance + grain check)

Load playbook

Workflow (normalize → match → classify)

Output formats (break table + citations)

Consequential-action gate

What it does NOT do (post / adjust / decide cause)

Closing action (route to resolver)

Four observed subtypes: match-and-classify (gl-recon), root-cause (break-trace), independent-recompute (nav-tieout), foot-check (roll-forward).

left side

GL extract

general ledger · trusted source

↻

match

right side

subledger extract

custodian / fund admin · untrusted

▼ full-outer-join · trade-date · security · account grain

matched

within tolerance

amount break

amount differs

quantity break

quantity differs

timing break

dates differ · amounts agree

GL only

left side · no match

subledger only

right side · no match

likely cause:

timing FX mapping duplicate fee / accrual data quality

tolerance: $0.01 amounts · 0 quantities · the skill diagnoses; the resolver posts. Never both.

example: gl-recon · gl reconciler · agent plugins · anthropics/financial-services

Rater / Scorer

Quantitative classification with mandatory rule citation. Refuses to be the decision authority — recommends a disposition for human approval.

Examples kyc-rules

Count ~2 · pairs frequently as secondary

Often pairs with Triager · Monitor · Diligence

Header

Purpose

Matter context

Hard gates

Load playbook (rules grid)

Workflow (apply each rule + cite)

Output formats (per-rule outcomes + disposition)

Consequential-action gate (route to human)

What it does NOT do (decide)

Closing action

"Everything has a number attached." Often surfaces as a secondary archetype on Diligence skills (unit-economics, ai-readiness, portfolio-monitoring).

Input

Applicant record · structured JSON from kyc-doc-parse

▼

Firm's KYC/AML rules grid — apply every applicable rule

Rule ID	Outcome	Citation
`R-001`	Jurisdiction risk — PASS	`grid §2.1`
`R-007`	Applicant type (trust) — MEDIUM	`grid §3.2`
`R-014`	UBO ownership opacity — ESCALATE	`grid §4.3 — depth > 3`
`R-022`	Sanctions screening — PASS	`screening MCP · 2026-05-19`
`R-031`	Source-of-funds clarity — FAIL	`grid §5.1 — unsupported`

▼

CLEAR

Recommend route to relationship manager.

REQUEST DOCS

Name what's missing.
Re-run after.

ESCALATE EDD

Enhanced due diligence.
Compliance owns.

DECLINE-RECOMMEND

Recommend decline.
Human signs.

▼

Decision authority

Human compliance officer

the skill scores and routes · the human approves or declines

every outcome carries its rule · this skill never approves · the compliance officer decides.

example: kyc-rules · kyc screener · agent plugins · anthropics/financial-services

Triager

Multi-bucket classification using a written playbook (e.g., pass / further diligence / hard pass). Includes a Screener variant that selects a subset against criteria rather than classifying all inputs.

Examples deal-screening · portfolio-monitoring · idea-generation · kyc-doc-parse

Count ~6

Often pairs with Monitor · Catalog

Header

Purpose

Matter context

Hard gates (scope check)

Load playbook (bucket criteria)

Workflow (categorize)

Output formats (multi-bucket)

Consequential-action gate

What it does NOT do

Closing action

Screener variant (e.g., idea-generation) selects a subset that passes a threshold and produces a ranked shortlist — distinct from classification because it filters rather than buckets. Folded into Triager; the underlying skeleton signature is the same.

Inbound

CIM / teaser arrives

▼

Gate 1

Fund-criteria check

sector · size · stage · EBITDA · geography → quick pass/fail per row

▼

Gate 2

Bull case vs. bear case

▼

PASS

Take the first call.
Move to early diligence.

FURTHER DILIGENCE

Specific questions to answer
before committing partner time.

HARD PASS

Decline with reason.
No partner time burned.

verdict before depth — the bucket is cheap, the diligence follows the bucket.

example: deal-screening · private equity · vertical plugins · anthropics/financial-services

Diligence

Runs multiple frameworks in parallel; flags gaps with source attribution. The deepest workflow shape — includes auditors and reviewers as variants.

Examples audit-xls · ib-check-deck · dd-checklist · buyer-list · unit-economics · ai-readiness

Count ~12

Often pairs with Rater · Tracker · Modeler

Header

Purpose

Matter context

Hard gates (research pre-flight)

Load playbook

Workflow (multi-test, parallel)

Output formats (structured + cited)

Consequential-action gate

What it does NOT do

Closing action

Target company package (in)

▼

Multi-workstream diligence · run in parallel · sector-tailored

Financial

QoE · NWC · debt

Commercial

market · customers

Legal

contracts · litigation

Operational

mgmt · systems

workstreams run independently · sector pack adds items (SaaS · healthcare · industrial) · every item carries an owner.

🔴Customer concentration · top 1 = 32% revComm. · P0

🟡QoE: $4.2M recurring add-back unresolvedFin. · P0

🟡SOC2 report — Requested, not ReceivedIT · P1

✅Working capital normalization alignedFin. · §3.2

status ladder: Not Started → Requested → Received → In Review → Complete → Red Flag · gaps surface as findings.

example: dd-checklist · private equity · vertical plugins · anthropics/financial-services

Family 4 of 4

Makers

Artifact generation. Produce the actual deliverables — memos, models, edits, decks. Bound by the law of layout; they do the typing, the human does the sending.

Drafter

Produces a complete narrative artifact, refuses to deliver it. Press-send is a human.

Examples earnings-analysis · ic-memo · morning-note · teaser · cim-builder · process-letter

Count ~15

Often pairs with Researcher · Modeler · Production

Header

Purpose

Matter context

Hard gates

Load playbook

Workflow (creates the artifact)

Output formats (drafted message)

Consequential-action gate

What it does NOT do (transmit)

Closing action

Miss a risk

Committee approves blind

Capital deployed on an incomplete thesis. Years of LP letters explaining what the memo didn't say. There is no version of the deal that wasn't funded.

Surface the bear case

5 minutes

IC reads §VIII. Debates. Decides with eyes open. The record shows the risk was named.

When in doubt, surface the bear case

the costs are not symmetric — the workflow lands on the cheap side.

example: ic-memo · private equity · vertical plugins · anthropics/financial-services

Redliner

Guarded one-section edits to an existing artifact (config · model · deck). Refuses to delete sections or weaken guardrails.

Examples model-update · clean-data-xls · deck-refresh · customize

Count ~5

Often pairs with Modeler · Production

Header

Purpose

Matter context

Hard gates

Load playbook (reads existing)

Workflow (mutates one section)

Output formats (config / file write)

Consequential-action gate

What it does NOT do (no deletes)

Closing action

model.xlsx · coverage_model

## Historical periods · FY22–FY24A locked

## Q2 actuals · plug new print editing now

## Forward estimates · FY25E–FY26E unchanged

## Estimate revision history append-only

✓plug new actuals

✗alter historical

✗silently revise prior estimates

example: model-update · equity research · vertical plugins · anthropics/financial-services

Production

Slot-filler for structured artifacts (xlsx · pptx · docx). Layout law dominates; the artifact IS the deliverable.

Examples pitch-deck · comps-analysis · lbo-model · datapack-builder · strip-profile · client-report · xlsx-author · pptx-author

Count ~18

Often pairs with Drafter · Modeler · Foundation

Header

Purpose

Matter context

Hard gates (template required)

Load playbook (format laws)

Workflow (slot-fill + verify)

Output formats (final file)

Consequential-action gate

What it does NOT do (rebuild layout / invent slots)

Closing action

Distinct from Drafter. A Drafter refuses to transmit. A Production skill refuses to invent layout. Both gate on review; they gate on different things.

sources

source/Q2-earnings.pdf

source/comps-data.xlsx

source/dcf-output.xlsx

source/precedents.csv

▶

slot-fill

template · pitch_deck.pptx

title filled

comps grid filled

football field filled

trading multiples filling

margin trajectory empty

precedents empty

✓ fill slots from source

✗ rebuild layout

✗ invent slots not in template

the deck is the source of truth for shape · this skill fills it · the artifact is the deliverable.

example: pitch-deck · investment banking · vertical plugins · anthropics/financial-services

Take this with you

Three questions every reliable skill answers

Read the catalog long enough and three questions surface. They sit underneath every skill.md in the library — and underneath every reliable AI workflow you'll meet. Read with them; write with them.

What does the skill refuse to do?
Every skill.md carries a What this does NOT do block, explicitly and sometimes implicitly. The refusals name where the skill's authority ends.
What conditions are checked before any work begins?
Every reliable skill tests its preconditions first. If the conditions fail, the skill halts — a Reconciler that exits when totals don't tie, a Modeler that exits without a template, an Orchestrator that exits when sources can't be trusted. The gate names the universe this skill lives in, and the universe where it's the wrong tool.
Where does the skill hand the call back to a human?
Every reliable skill ends with a deference move. The verb varies — post a journal entry, send a client deliverable, execute a trade, publish a research note, approve a KYC packet, distribute a Limited Partner report. Spot the verb and you spot the trust boundary. The skill's authority ends there; yours begins.

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