Library › Finance AI › Accountants

Sort an AR aging list into buckets with next actions

  • For Accountants
  • You practice Asking for a format you can use
  • Time about 5 minutes
  • Level Intermediate

About this exercise

You're the AR clerk preparing the Monday collections list as of October 31, 2026. Write a prompt for a markdown table with columns Invoice | Customer | Amount | Days past due | Action, one row per invoice, most days past due first. Terms are net 30 from the invoice date, so work out each due date. Actions: Reminder for 1-30 days past due, Call for 31-60, Escalate for 61 or more, None if not yet due, and Hold if the notes say a payment is already on its way. End with a line starting "Over 60 days:" and the total dollars past due more than 60 days. Under 170 words.

Common mistakes when you ask AI for this

  • Counting from invoice date. The AI reports days since invoice, not days past the net 30 due date. Try: Say: "Due date = invoice date + 30. Days past due = Oct 31 minus due date."
  • Chasing a payment in the mail. The AI gives Oak & Ivy a Reminder even though a check was mailed. Try: Add: "Use Hold if the notes say a payment is already on its way."
  • No total line. The AI ends with commentary and no over-60 total. Try: Add: 'Last line: "Over 60 days:" and the dollar total.'
  • Trusting the AI to count words. AI is bad at counting and runs past word limits. Try: Say "output only the table and that line" and cap it at 150 words.

What a strong prompt includes

  • Says what the table columns are
  • Gives the aging rule
  • Maps days to actions
  • Asks for the over-60 total line
  • Caps length

Practice this now ↑

Related exercises