Summarize a policy exceptions log for the audit committee chair

About this exercise

You're summarizing Q3 expense policy exceptions for the audit committee chair. Write a prompt for plain text with lines starting "Total exceptions:", "Self-approved:", "Over $5,000 without CFO:" and "Follow-up:". Policy: exceptions over $5,000 need CFO approval. Show counts and dollar totals with the math. State facts as flags for review, not conclusions about anyone's conduct. The Follow-up line lists exception IDs only. Under 110 words.

Common mistakes when you ask AI for this

• Counting the $5,000 item. The AI flags E5 as over $5,000. Try: Say: "Exactly $5,000 does not need CFO approval."
• Accepting the Controller's explanation. The AI drops E1 from the self-approved count. Try: Add: "The role-change explanation is unconfirmed; keep E1 flagged."
• Accusing language. The AI calls the exceptions violations. Try: Add: "Flags for review, not conclusions about conduct."
• Wrong follow-up list. The AI adds explanations to the Follow-up line. Try: Add: "Follow-up: IDs only."
• Markdown extras. The AI adds bold labels, headings and a closing note. Try: Say: "Plain text, no bold. Output only the lines asked for."
• Trusting the AI to count words. AI is bad at counting and runs past word limits. Try: Ask for fewer words than the real cap and keep each part short.

What a strong prompt includes

• Names the four lines
• States the CFO threshold
• Frames as flags
• Asks for the math
• Caps length

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