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Reconcile three revenue forecasts after known adjustments

  • For FP&A and financial analysts
  • You practice Catching mistakes and made-up facts
  • Time about 5 minutes
  • Level Advanced

About this exercise

You're preparing a memo for the CFO on three different full-year revenue forecasts. Write a prompt for plain text with headings on their own lines, in order: Raw, Adjusted, Spread, Open items. Apply only the adjustments stated in the material, show each adjusted figure, and do not pick a forecast or average them. Spread is the highest minus the lowest adjusted forecast, as a dollar amount and a percent of the lowest. Open items lists what to confirm. Under 150 words.

Common mistakes when you ask AI for this

  • Averaging the forecasts. The AI gives a blended number. Try: Add: "Do not pick a forecast or average them."
  • Skipping an adjustment. The AI removes the 0.4 but forgets to add the 0.5. Try: Add: "Apply every stated adjustment and show each one."
  • Wrong spread base. The AI uses the raw figures or divides by the highest. Try: Add: "Spread = highest adjusted minus lowest adjusted, percent of the lowest."
  • No open items. The AI ends with a conclusion. Try: Add: "Open items: what to confirm."
  • 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 headings
  • Asks for each adjustment
  • Bans picking or averaging
  • Defines spread
  • Caps length

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