Library › Finance AI › Accountants

Summarize payroll changes for the manager who approves them

  • For Accountants
  • You practice Saying who it's for
  • Time about 5 minutes
  • Level Intermediate

About this exercise

Hector, the payroll manager, approves changes before the Nov 14 run (semi-monthly, 24 pay periods a year). Write a prompt for a plain-text summary whose first line gives the number of changes and names the one on hold, then one line per change starting with the employee's name and showing the per-period math. Any change missing an approval is on hold, not ready. Under 150 words.

Common mistakes when you ask AI for this

  • Burying the hold. The AI lists changes in order, so the one Hector must stop shows up last. Try: Say: "First line: the count of changes and which one is on hold."
  • Annual numbers only. The AI repeats yearly salaries, and Hector has to do the math himself. Try: Ask: "Show per-period math: annual / 24, old to new."
  • Missing the back pay. The AI treats Ken's raise like the others and skips the two underpaid runs. Try: Add: "If a change is retroactive, show the back pay as math."
  • Following the manager's push. The AI takes 'just put it through' and marks Marco ready. Try: Say: "Any change missing an approval is on hold, whatever the comments say."
  • Report formatting. Summaries come back with bold names and headings, long and padded. Try: Say: "Plain text, one line per change under 25 words."

What a strong prompt includes

  • Says who reads it
  • Puts the hold first
  • Asks for per-period math
  • Catches the back pay
  • Plain and short

Practice this now ↑

Related exercises