{"id":"acct-bank-rec-item-labels","audience":"accounting","category":"finance-work","track":"finance","technique":"examples","level":"intermediate","title":"Label six bank reconciliation items by side and direction","free":false,"task":"You're teaching a new clerk how to classify reconciling items. Write a prompt for exactly 6 numbered lines in plain text formatted \"1. Bank side: subtract - reason\", where the label is exactly one of \"Bank side: add\", \"Bank side: subtract\", \"Book side: add\" or \"Book side: subtract\". Each reason is under 12 words and names the item and amount. No journal entries. Under 120 words.","materialLabel":"Six reconciling items (attached to your prompt automatically)","material":"RECONCILING ITEMS FOUND - operating account, Oct 31, 2026, Maple Row Hardware\n\n1. Check #2041 to Tallis Freight, $350, issued Oct 28, not yet cleared the bank.\n2. Oct 31 deposit of $1,200 (weekend sales) not yet shown on the bank statement.\n3. Monthly bank service fee of $25 on the statement; not yet recorded in our books.\n4. A customer's check for $180 was returned unpaid (NSF) by the bank; our books still show it as deposited.\n5. Interest of $12 credited on the statement; not yet recorded in our books.\n6. Bank error: check #2036 was written for $540 but the bank deducted only $450.\n\nMethod: the bank side starts from the statement balance; the book side starts from the ledger balance. Items already in the books but not yet at the bank adjust the bank side. Items on the statement but not in the books adjust the book side.","rules":[{"type":"plainText"},{"type":"numberedItems","count":6},{"type":"maxWords","max":120}],"promptHints":[{"label":"Shows the line format","patterns":["1\\. bank side","numbered","format"]},{"label":"Restricts the labels","patterns":["bank side: add.*book side"]},{"label":"Explains the sides","patterns":["bank side =","book side ="]},{"label":"Asks for amounts","patterns":["amount"]},{"label":"Bans entries","patterns":["no journal"]}],"mistakes":[{"title":"Mixing the sides","why":"The AI puts the NSF check or fee on the bank side.","fix":"Say: \"Items on the statement not yet in the books go on the Book side.\"","checks":["r1"]},{"title":"Wrong sign on the bank error","why":"The AI adds $90 to the bank side.","fix":"Add: \"For item 6, the bank deducted $90 too little, so Bank side: subtract.\"","checks":["r0"]},{"title":"Free-form labels","why":"The AI writes 'adjust bank' or 'journal entry needed'.","fix":"Say: \"Label must be exactly one of the four.\"","checks":["r2"]},{"title":"Wrong list shape","why":"The AI writes a table with a debit and credit column.","fix":"Say: \"Exactly 6 numbered lines starting with 1.\"","checks":["numberedItems","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 line short.","checks":["maxWords"]}],"hint":"Bank rec items go on the side where they are missing. Give the four exact labels and the rule for each side.","rubricLabels":["Items 1, 2 and 6 are Bank side labels: #1 subtract (outstanding check), #2 add (deposit in transit), #6 subtract (bank under-deducted by $90)","Items 3, 4 and 5 are Book side labels: #3 subtract (fee), #4 subtract (NSF check), #5 add (interest)","Every line starts with its number and exactly one of the four labels and names the item and amount in the reason"]}