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Route three write-off requests to the right approver
- For Accountants
- You practice Setting limits and rules
- Time about 5 minutes
- Level Advanced
About this exercise
You're preparing write-off requests for approval. Write a prompt for a markdown table with columns Customer | Balance | Net of pending cash | Approver, one row per customer, then a line starting "Totals by approver:" with the sums. Approver follows the policy on the net amount. These are requests for approval only; whether a balance is collectible is the approver's judgment. No commentary. Under 100 words.
Common mistakes when you ask AI for this
- Routing on the gross balance. The AI sends Pine Ridge to the CFO because $2,700 is over $2,500. Try: Say: "Route by the net-of-pending-cash amount."
- Commenting on collectibility. The AI says Pine Ridge will never pay. Try: Add: "Do not say any balance is uncollectible."
- Missing totals. The AI skips the totals line or the CFO zero. Try: Add: "Totals by approver: AR manager, Controller and CFO sums."
- Wrong table columns. The AI drops the net column. Try: Say: "Columns exactly: Customer | Balance | Net of pending cash | Approver."
- 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 line short.
What a strong prompt includes
- Names the columns
- Gives the approver ranges
- Asks for totals by approver
- Bans collectibility comments
- Limits output
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