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Propose November accruals with the math for approval

  • For Accountants
  • You practice Catching mistakes and made-up facts
  • Time about 5 minutes
  • Level Intermediate

About this exercise

It's Dec 7 and you're preparing November accruals for the controller to approve. Write a prompt for one line per item, each with the label "Proposed: Accrue $X" or "Proposed: Don't accrue" and a reason based on when the service happened, then a last line starting "Total proposed accrual:" that adds the amounts as math and says it's for controller approval. Watch for anything already accrued. Plain text, under 140 words.

Common mistakes when you ask AI for this

  • Accruing the whole Bayview bill. The AI accrues $6,000 because the invoice arrived after month-end, ignoring October's share. Try: Say: "Subtract anything already accrued in an earlier month."
  • Accruing by invoice date. The AI accrues the software renewal because it was invoiced Dec 1. Try: Add: "Base it on when the service happened, not the invoice date."
  • No fixed labels. The AI writes 'probably accrue' or 'consider', which can't be approved line by line. Try: Give the labels: "Proposed: Accrue $X or Proposed: Don't accrue."
  • Total without working. The AI gives a total with no math, or none at all. Try: Ask: "Last line: Total proposed accrual: with the amounts added as math, for controller approval."
  • Trusting the AI to count words. Accrual memos sprawl into explanations of accrual accounting. Try: Say: "Each line under 25 words. Plain text, no intro."

What a strong prompt includes

  • Gives the labels
  • Uses service dates
  • Checks prior accruals
  • Asks for the total as math
  • Leaves approval to the controller

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