Reducing Spreadsheet Risk

International Validation

Spreadsheet Safe™ has been developed in conjunction with some of the world’s leading experts in the area of spreadsheets.

Q-Validus has worked closely with partners BPP learning Media and BTL and Subject Matter Expert (SME) Groups comprising of professionals and researchers with expertise in the areas of tax, revenue, auditing, accounting and spreadsheet engineering. Q-Validus has also worked with EuSpRIG SME’s to validate the Syllabus content, EuSpRIG is the European Spreadsheet Risks Interest Group which is an interest group of academia and industry promoting research regarding the extent and nature of spreadsheet risks, methods of prevention and detection of errors and methods of limiting damage.

Syllabus Outline

The Spreadsheet Safe™ Syllabus is designed to cover key practical concepts of using spreadsheets. The Spreadsheet Safe™ Programme helps Candidates demonstrate their skill and awareness in working carefully and productively with spreadsheets. Spreadsheet Safe™ helps organisations assure end-user spreadsheets over their lifecycle of development, evolution and use in the organisation for moderate to high stakes environments.

The Syllabus covers core essentials tasks such as:

Setup

Spreadsheet Safe™ Candidates shall be able to setup, arrange and present their spreadsheet based on standard spreadsheet best practices. Spreadsheet Safe™ Candidates shall achieve well set out, error-free spreadsheets, which show a clear origination path and ownership.

Inputs

Spreadsheet Safe™ Candidates shall be able check their work for input accuracy, break down formulas into smaller more auditable parts, as well as making units of measure explicit for ease of update.

Calculations

Spreadsheet Safe™ Candidates shall routinely check their work for calculation and output accuracy, as well creating and validating formulas. Spreadsheet Safe™ Candidates shall recognise common spreadsheet errors.

Outputs

Spreadsheet Safe™ Candidates shall also be able to create charts, and choose the most suitable chart types, in order to illustrate data accurately and to enhance the meaning of the data illustrations.

Audit

Spreadsheet Safe™ Candidates are required to work in an informed and responsible way, and to appreciate the importance of spreadsheet review, audit and validation. Spreadsheet Safe™ Candidates shall also be aware that spreadsheets may be controlled as part of regulatory requirements.