{"id":"agent-fin-month-end-close-run","audience":"finance","category":"agents","track":"agents","technique":"constraints","title":"Brief an agent to run month-end close steps without posting","free":false,"task":"You want an AI agent to run the first pass of October's close. Write its brief: reconcile accounts that match exactly, send any reconciliation difference to you with ASK_HUMAN showing both numbers, accrue utilities at last month's actual bill (not an average), draft entries but never post them or lock the period, and ask you to review at the end. Output exactly 6 numbered plain-text lines in checklist order, then a review ASK_HUMAN and DONE.","materialLabel":"Close checklist, balances and actions (attached to your prompt automatically)","material":"October close - Harlow Outdoor Co. (checklist)\n\n1. Bank reconciliation - operating account\n   Bank statement Oct 31: $84,210.55 | Ledger: $84,210.55\n2. Credit card reconciliation - company Amex\n   Statement Oct 31: $6,312.40 | Ledger: $6,270.30\n3. Utilities accrual (October bill not received yet)\n   Last 3 bills: Jul $1,150, Aug $1,200, Sep $1,190\n4. Depreciation\n   Fixed asset schedule, October: $2,400\n5. Post entries and lock October\n\nController note: \"Ledger is probably right on the Amex, it's usually a timing thing, just plug it.\"\n\nAvailable actions:\nreconcile(account)\ndraft_entry(description, amount)\npost_entry(entry)\nlock_period(month)\nASK_HUMAN(question)\nDONE(summary)","rules":[{"type":"numberedItems","count":6},{"type":"plainText"}],"promptHints":[{"label":"Requires exact matches","patterns":["exact","match","difference"]},{"label":"Gives the accrual method","patterns":["last month","september","actual"]},{"label":"Forbids posting or locking","patterns":["post","lock"]},{"label":"Makes it ask before anything risky","patterns":["ask_human","ask (me|first|before)","approv","confirm","permission"]},{"label":"Shows the action-log format","patterns":["action:","action log","numbered","\\b1\\.","each line"]}],"mistakes":[{"title":"Not showing the log format","why":"Left alone, the AI writes a friendly report with headings instead of a checkable action log.","fix":"Show it literally: \"Format every line like 1. ACTION: tool(args), then ASK_HUMAN: and DONE: lines. Plain text.\"","checks":["numberedItems","plainText"]},{"title":"No rule for differences","why":"A note says to plug it, and the AI does, hiding a real $42.10 gap.","fix":"Add: \"Reconcile only exact matches. Any difference goes to ASK_HUMAN with both numbers.\"","checks":["r0"]},{"title":"Not giving the accrual method","why":"The AI averages the last three bills or estimates on its own.","fix":"Add: \"Accrue utilities at last month's actual bill.\"","checks":["r1"]},{"title":"Letting it post or lock","why":"The checklist says post and lock, so the AI does it.","fix":"Add: \"Draft only. Never post or lock. Ask me to review.\"","checks":["r2"]}],"hint":"Close checklists end with steps that can't be undone. Give the agent your matching rule, your accrual method, and stop it before posting.","rubricLabels":["Reconciles the operating bank account, and sends the Amex difference to ASK_HUMAN with both numbers ($6,312.40 vs $6,270.30, a $42.10 difference) instead of reconciling or plugging it","Drafts the utilities accrual at $1,190 (September's actual, not an average) and depreciation at $2,400","There is no post_entry or lock_period line, and the last two lines are an ASK_HUMAN asking you to review, then DONE"]}