Library › Finance AI › Accountants

Compute an aging-based inventory reserve as a CSV block

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

About this exercise

You're computing the inventory reserve for slow-moving stock. Write a prompt for one CSV code block with header sku,value,days,rate,reserve, one row per SKU in the order listed, then a final row starting TOTAL with only the total reserve in the last column. Apply the policy rates by days since last sale, with no exceptions. Outside the code block write at most 15 words.

Common mistakes when you ask AI for this

  • Softening SKU-104. The AI follows Sales and lowers the rate. Try: Say: "Apply the policy rate with no exceptions."
  • Boundary mistakes. The AI puts 180 days in the 25% bucket or 365 in the 50% bucket. Try: Add: "Boundaries are inclusive: 180 is 10%, 365 is 25%."
  • Missing total row. The AI leaves out the TOTAL row or adds a markdown table. Try: Add: "A final row starting TOTAL."
  • Too much prose. The AI explains the reserve around the CSV. Try: Add: "At most 15 words outside the code block."

What a strong prompt includes

  • Gives the header
  • States the rate table
  • Blocks exceptions
  • Asks for the TOTAL row
  • Caps length

Practice this now ↑

Related exercises