Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) on Thursday outlined a set of updates to Copilot in Excel that are explicitly aimed at people and teams working in finance. The package includes reusable skills tailored to routine finance tasks, an expanded roster of third-party financial data connectors, and enhanced transparency around what Copilot will change before edits are applied.
At the center of the update is a skills capability that allows teams to define how Copilot should execute repeatable finance processes. Microsoft described sample finance skills for tasks such as building a discounted cash flow, closing the books, refreshing monthly reporting models, and preparing variance analyses. A library of example skills is available, and users can author custom skills using an open-standard markdown file stored in OneDrive.
Microsoft said developers and partners will be able to build and distribute skills through Microsoft Marketplace and the Microsoft 365 Admin Center. The company listed partners it is working with on skills development, naming LSEG, Ramp, Rogo, samaya.ai, Velixo, and Vena. Custom skills are available initially via the Insiders channel for Windows and Mac and are scheduled to roll out to general availability next month. Partner-built skills are planned for release in Q3 2026.
The product update also expands the set of financial data connectors beyond LSEG and Moody's, which Microsoft introduced in May. Newly added connectors include CB Insights for private company intelligence, Daloopa for SEC filing data, FactSet for institutional financial content, Morningstar for investment research, PitchBook for private capital markets data, and S&P Global Deterministic Retrieval to enable structured API access to S&P Global content. Microsoft noted that the FactSet connector is currently in preview and is expected to reach general availability in July.
To improve traceability and control, Microsoft added a Plan with Copilot feature that outlines which ranges, worksheets, formulas, and assumptions Copilot intends to change before it makes edits. Every edit remains traceable with links back to the affected cells. Changes made by Copilot are attributed in the Show Changes pane so they appear alongside edits by human collaborators.
Microsoft said a set of features - personalization, workbook rules, pre-built skills, federated Copilot connectors, Plan with Copilot, and Copilot attribution within Show Changes - are generally available for Microsoft 365 Copilot customers across Excel for Web, Windows, and Mac. The staged availability means some capabilities are already broadly accessible while custom skills and partner-built skills follow in phased releases as noted above.
Note on availability - Custom skills are currently available through the Insiders channel for Windows and Mac and are slated for general availability next month. Partner-built skills are expected in Q3 2026. FactSet's connector is in preview with general availability planned for July.