{"id":"acct-bank-confirmation-open-difference-qa","audience":"accounting","category":"finance-work","track":"finance","technique":"verification","level":"advanced","title":"Answer three auditor bank questions without guessing a cause","free":false,"task":"You're preparing notes before replying to the auditors' bank confirmation. Write a prompt for a plain-text Q&A with exactly these three questions, each followed by an answer line: \"Q1: What is the adjusted bank balance?\", \"Q2: Does it agree to the books?\", \"Q3: What is still unexplained?\" Show the math. Do not state a cause for any unexplained amount as fact; a lead is fine if labeled as unverified. Under 110 words.","materialLabel":"Source material (attached to your prompt automatically)","material":"BANK CONFIRMATION RECONCILIATION - Oct 31, 2026\n\nBalance per bank confirmation: $412,300\nBalance per general ledger (cash account 1010): $398,800\n\nReconciling items listed by the staff accountant:\n- Deposit in transit (deposited Oct 30, cleared Nov 2): +$4,100\n- Outstanding checks (listed as of Oct 31): -$15,200 (seven checks)\n\nNo bank fees or interest are outstanding. The accountant did not find other items.\n\nAP note, Nov 3: check #4471 for $2,400 was voided in the AP system on Oct 29, but it still appears on the outstanding check list prepared from the old register.\n\nThe audit manager asked for the response by Nov 10. The audit senior is Neil Barrow. The staff accountant prepared the reconciliation on Nov 2 from the old check register, and the controller has not yet reviewed it.","rules":[{"type":"plainText"},{"type":"maxWords","max":110}],"promptHints":[{"label":"Quotes the questions","patterns":["q1","q2","q3"]},{"label":"Asks for the math","patterns":["show","math","\\+"]},{"label":"Bans stated causes","patterns":["unverified","do not state","cause"]},{"label":"Gives the format","patterns":["plain text","answer line","q&a"]},{"label":"Caps length","patterns":["\\d+\\s*words","under \\d+"]}],"mistakes":[{"title":"Skipping the reconciling items","why":"The AI compares $412,300 to $398,800 directly.","fix":"Say: \"Adjust the bank balance for the deposit in transit and outstanding checks.\"","checks":["r0"]},{"title":"Declaring the cause","why":"The AI says the voided check explains the gap.","fix":"Add: \"Label any lead as unverified; do not state a cause as fact.\"","checks":["r2"]},{"title":"Forcing agreement","why":"The AI says the balances reconcile.","fix":"Add: \"Say plainly whether it agrees and by how much it differs.\"","checks":["r1"]},{"title":"Changing the questions","why":"The AI rewords or adds questions.","fix":"Add: \"Use exactly these three questions, in this order.\"","checks":["r0","r1","r2"]},{"title":"Markdown extras","why":"The AI adds bold labels, headings and a closing note.","fix":"Say: \"Plain text, no bold. Output only the lines asked for.\"","checks":["plainText"]},{"title":"Trusting the AI to count words","why":"AI is bad at counting and runs past word limits.","fix":"Ask for fewer words than the real cap and keep each part short.","checks":["maxWords"]}],"hint":"Reconcile first, then report the leftover. A lead is fine; a conclusion isn't until someone verifies it.","rubricLabels":["The answer line under \"Q1: What is the adjusted bank balance?\" shows $412,300 + $4,100 - $15,200 = $401,200","The answer line under \"Q2: Does it agree to the books?\" says no: $401,200 vs the ledger $398,800, a difference of $2,400","The answer line under \"Q3: What is still unexplained?\" says $2,400 is unexplained, and if it mentions voided check #4471 ($2,400) it labels it an unverified lead to confirm and does not say it is the cause"]}