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Write questions that test a vendor's financial claims

  • For Finance and accounting
  • You practice Catching mistakes and made-up facts
  • Time about 5 minutes

About this exercise

A deep-research tool summarized Ledgerlight, an accounts-payable software vendor you might sign a 3-year deal with. Write exactly 4 numbered questions to send the vendor, one per claim in order, each starting with What, Which or How and asking for a specific document (like audited financials, a SOC 2 report or a customer list). The question about claim 4 must point out its only source is a 2021 press release. Plain text, under 110 words.

Common mistakes when you ask AI for this

  • Asking "are you stable?". The vendor says yes and you've proved nothing. Try: Say: "Each question asks for a specific document."
  • One question for everything. The AI asks one broad due-diligence question, so the weakest claims hide. Try: Add: "One question per claim, in order."
  • Missing the old source. The AI doesn't notice the money claim rests on a 2021 press release. Try: Add: "Point out claim 4's source is from 2021."
  • Trusting the AI to count words. AI is bad at counting. Ask for a total word limit and it often lands over it. Try: Cap each question: "each under 25 words."
  • Getting markdown back. AI defaults to bold labels and headings, which look messy when you paste them. Try: Ask for "plain text, no bold."

What a strong prompt includes

  • Asks for documents
  • One per claim
  • Flags the 2021 source
  • Bans yes/no questions
  • Asks for plain text

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