Of course! Here is a comprehensive collection of accounting AI prompt templates, designed to be used with AI assistants like ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, or specialized accounting AI tools.

These templates are structured to help you get precise, actionable, and reliable outputs by providing the AI with the necessary context and a clear instruction.

How to Use These Templates

• Copy the template that fits your need.


• Fill in the brackets [ ] with your specific information.


• Paste it into your AI assistant.


• Review and verify the output. AI is a powerful assistant, but professional judgment and verification are essential in accounting.

Category 1: Financial Reporting & Analysis

These prompts help you create, explain, and analyze financial statements.

1.1 Income Statement Analysis

Role: You are an expert financial analyst.

Context: I have an income statement for [Company Name] for the period [e.g., Q3 2023 vs. Q3 2024].

Data:

* Revenue (Current Period): [$X]

* Revenue (Prior Period): [$Y]

* COGS (Current Period): [$A]

* COGS (Prior Period): [$B]

* Operating Expenses (Current Period): [$C]

* Operating Expenses (Prior Period): [$D]

* Net Income (Current Period): [$E]

* Net Income (Prior Period): [$F]

Task: Perform a horizontal (year-over-year) analysis. Calculate key margins (Gross Profit Margin, Operating Margin, Net Profit Margin) for both periods. Explain the primary drivers behind the change in net income and highlight any potential areas of concern or improvement.

1.2 Financial Ratio Calculation & Benchmarking

Role: You are a senior accountant.

Context: I need to calculate key financial ratios for [Company Name] to assess its liquidity, profitability, and efficiency.

Data:

* Current Assets: [$X]

* Current Liabilities: [$Y]

* Total Assets: [$A]

* Total Liabilities: [$B]

* Net Income: [$C]

* Revenue: [$D]

* Average Accounts Receivable: [$E]

* Cost of Goods Sold: [$F]

* Average Inventory: [$G]

Task: Calculate the Current Ratio, Debt-to-Equity Ratio, Return on Assets (ROA), Net Profit Margin, Accounts Receivable Turnover, and Inventory Turnover. For each ratio, provide a one-sentence explanation of what it means for the business's health.

1.3 Drafting Financial Statement Notes

Role: You are a CPA preparing audit-ready financial statements.

Context: I need to draft the "Significant Accounting Policies" note for the financial statements of [Company Name], a [e.g., SaaS business / manufacturing company / retail store].

Task: Provide a comprehensive draft that covers policies for revenue recognition, accounts receivable, inventory valuation ([e.g., FIFO, LIFO]), depreciation methods ([e.g., Straight-line]), and software development costs. Use a formal and standard accounting tone.

Category 2: Journal Entries & Transaction Coding

These prompts help with the fundamental task of recording transactions correctly.

2.1 Complex Journal Entry Creation

Role: You are a knowledgeable bookkeeper.

Context: My company, [Company Name], just [describe the transaction in detail, e.g., purchased a new delivery van for $35,000, paying $10,000 cash and financing the remaining $25,000].

Task: Provide the correct compound journal entry to record this transaction. Debits and credits must be equal. List the accounts that would be debited and credited.

2.2 Expense Categorization

Role: You are an AI trained on standard chart of accounts.

Context: I have the following transaction descriptions from my company's bank feed. My company is a [e.g., consulting firm].

Data:

[List 5-10 transaction descriptions, e.g., "Payment to Amazon Web Services", "Stripe fee for May", "Office Depot purchase", "Payroll - Gusto"]

Task: Categorize each transaction into the most appropriate expense account (e.g., "Software & Subscriptions," "Bank Fees," "Office Supplies," "Salaries & Wages"). Present the results in a clean table.

Category 3: Management Accounting & Decision Support

These prompts aid in internal decision-making, budgeting, and cost analysis.

3.1 Break-Even Analysis

Role: You are a management accountant.

Context: I am analyzing the profitability of a new product for [Company Name].

Data:

* Fixed Costs: [$X]

* Variable Cost per Unit: [$Y]

* Selling Price per Unit: [$Z]

Task: Calculate the break-even point in units and sales dollars. Create a simple data table showing profit/loss at [e.g., 1000, 2000, 3000, 4000] units sold. Explain how a 10% increase in fixed costs would affect the break-even point.

3.2 Budget vs. Actual Variance Analysis

Role: You are a cost controller.

Context: I need to analyze the variance between the budget and actuals for [Department, e.g., Marketing] for [Month/Quarter].

Data:

* Category: [e.g., Advertising] | Budget: [$X] | Actual: [$Y]

* Category: [e.g., Software] | Budget: [$A] | Actual: [$B]

* Category: [e.g., Travel] | Budget: [$C] | Actual: [$D]

Task: Calculate the dollar and percentage variance for each category. Flag any variances that exceed [e.g., 10% or $5,000] and suggest potential reasons for the largest unfavorable variance.

Category 4: Tax Preparation & Planning

Always consult a human tax professional for final advice.

4.1 Tax Deduction Checklist

Role: You are a tax advisor specializing in [Country, e.g., US] tax law for [Type of Business, e.g., sole proprietorship / S-Corp].

Context: I am preparing for tax season and want to ensure I'm capturing all eligible business deductions for my [Industry, e.g., freelance graphic design] business.

Task: Generate a comprehensive checklist of common and industry-specific tax-deductible expenses I should review. Organize them by category (e.g., Home Office, Vehicle, Meals & Entertainment, Professional Development).

4.2 Explaining a Tax Concept

Role: You are a patient tax accountant explaining concepts to a small business owner.

Context: I am a new business owner and I don't understand [Specific Tax Concept, e.g., the difference between a tax credit and a tax deduction, or how quarterly estimated tax payments work].

Task: Explain this concept in simple, easy-to-understand terms. Use a concrete example with numbers to illustrate the impact on a final tax bill.

Category 5: Process Explanation & Training

Use these to create internal documentation or train junior staff.

5.1 Creating a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)

Role: You are a senior accounting manager.

Context: I need to create a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the [Specific Process, e.g., "Month-End Close"] at my company.

Task: Outline a step-by-step checklist for this process. Include key tasks like reconciling bank accounts, reviewing AR/AG, posting adjusting entries, and generating financial reports. For each step, note the responsible role and the deadline.

5.2 Simplifying an Accounting Standard

Role: You are a university professor who excels at simplifying complex topics.

Context: I need to explain the core principles of [Accounting Standard, e.g., ASC 606 Revenue from Contracts with Customers] to a team of salespeople who have no accounting background.

Task: Explain the standard's 5-step model using a simple analogy related to [e.g., selling a subscription box]. Avoid technical jargon and focus on the practical impact on how we recognize revenue.

Pro-Tips for Better Accounting Prompts

• Assign a Role: Telling the AI to act as a "CPA," "financial analyst," or "auditor" primes it to use the correct tone and level of detail.


• Provide Ample Context: The more the AI knows about your company, industry, and the specific problem, the better its output will be.


• Use Structured Data: When possible, provide data in clear lists or tables. This reduces errors in interpretation.


• Iterate and Refine: