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Pick planning assumptions from conflicting sources by sign-off

  • For FP&A and financial analysts
  • You practice Keeping the AI to your sources
  • Time about 5 minutes
  • Level Advanced

About this exercise

You're building an assumption register for the FY27 plan. Write a prompt for a markdown table with columns Assumption, Used, Source and Flag, one row per assumption in the listed order. Rule: use the value from the most recent source that the CFO has signed off; if a newer source is not signed off, use the latest signed-off value and flag the newer one in the Flag column. Flag is a dash when there is no conflict to flag. After the table add one line starting "CFO to confirm:" naming the flagged assumptions. Under 140 words.

Common mistakes when you ask AI for this

  • Using the draft model. The AI picks the newest values even though they are unsigned. Try: Say: "Use the latest signed-off value; flag newer unsigned ones."
  • Forgetting churn is unchanged. The AI has no churn value from the CFO email. Try: Add: "A source that doesn't mention an assumption doesn't change it."
  • Missing the closing line. The AI ends with the table. Try: Add: "Last line: CFO to confirm and the flagged assumptions."
  • Wrong table shape. The AI changes the columns or rows. Try: Add: "Columns Assumption, Used, Source, Flag; the three listed rows."
  • 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 columns
  • States the sign-off rule
  • Flags unsigned values
  • Asks for the closing line
  • Caps length

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