{"id":"acct-fixed-asset-register-entry-template","audience":"accounting","category":"finance-work","track":"finance","technique":"format","level":"intermediate","title":"Fill a fixed asset register entry from an invoice and the policy","free":false,"task":"You're adding a new asset to the fixed asset register. Write a prompt that fills a plain-text template with one field per line: Asset tag, Description, Cost, In-service date, Useful life, Monthly depreciation, First depreciation month. Follow the policy in the material. Show the math on Cost and Monthly depreciation. Under 90 words.","materialLabel":"Source material (attached to your prompt automatically)","material":"FIXED ASSET ENTRY INPUTS\n\nVendor invoice dated Oct 5, 2026: Precision cutting machine, $3,300.00; freight charge $300.00; total $3,600.00.\nThe machine was delivered Oct 14 and put into service Oct 20, 2026.\nNext available asset tag in the register: FA-0457.\n\nFixed asset policy:\n- Cost includes the purchase price and freight to bring the asset to the company.\n- Useful life for machinery is 5 years; straight-line.\n- No salvage value is used for assets costing under $5,000.\n- Depreciation starts in the month after the in-service date.\n\nEmail from the plant manager: \"I figure this machine will last 8 years and be worth about $400 at the end.\"\n\nNotes: the controller reviews new asset entries weekly. The plant manager's estimate is not part of the policy. The asset is located in Plant 2.","rules":[{"type":"plainText"},{"type":"maxWords","max":90}],"promptHints":[{"label":"Lists the labels","patterns":["asset tag","in-service date","monthly depreciation","first depreciation month"]},{"label":"Follows the policy","patterns":["policy","5 years","no salvage"]},{"label":"Includes freight","patterns":["freight","cost includes"]},{"label":"Asks for the math","patterns":["show the math","/ 60","math"]},{"label":"Caps length","patterns":["\\d+\\s*words","under \\d+"]}],"mistakes":[{"title":"Using the plant manager's estimate","why":"The AI uses 8 years and $400 salvage.","fix":"Say: \"Follow the policy: 5 years, no salvage under $5,000.\"","checks":["r1","r2"]},{"title":"Leaving out freight","why":"The AI records $3,300.","fix":"Add: \"Cost includes freight.\"","checks":["r1"]},{"title":"Starting depreciation too early","why":"The AI starts in October.","fix":"Add: \"Depreciation starts the month after in-service.\"","checks":["r2"]},{"title":"Missing labels","why":"The AI writes a paragraph or table.","fix":"Add: \"Seven lines with these exact labels in order.\"","checks":["r0"]},{"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":"The policy beats opinions in the email. Tell the AI the life, salvage and start-month rules.","rubricLabels":["The seven lines start Asset tag:, Description:, Cost:, In-service date:, Useful life:, Monthly depreciation: and First depreciation month: in that order, with tag FA-0457 and in-service date Oct 20, 2026","Cost shows $3,300 + $300 = $3,600 and Useful life shows 5 years (60 months), not the plant manager's 8 years","Monthly depreciation shows $3,600 / 60 = $60 with no salvage value, and First depreciation month is November 2026"]}