Best AI prompts for accounting and bookkeeping

Untested prompts. These are starting points, not rated results. We have not scored them, and AI output can be wrong. Check every figure and claim yourself.

Prompts to try alongside our accounting tool ratings. Use fictional or anonymised data, and treat any tax point as a question for your accountant or Inland Revenue.

1. Check a bank export for errors (ours)

This mirrors the trap test we use in our ratings.

You are a careful bookkeeper. Below is a CSV bank export for a small business. 1) List any likely duplicates, sign errors (refunds recorded as spending or the reverse) and personal or owner drawings mixed in with business costs. 2) For each, quote the row and explain why. 3) Give the net total as recorded and as corrected, showing your working. Do not give tax advice. If you are unsure about a row, say so instead of guessing.

[paste CSV]

2. Explain a report in plain English (ours)

Explain this profit and loss summary to a business owner with no accounting background, in under 200 words. Point out the three numbers that changed most versus last period and suggest one question they should ask their accountant about each. Do not invent figures that are not in the data.

[paste summary]

3. Accountant role prompt (prompts.chat)

Our note: a broad starting role. Replace the request at the end with your real situation, and remove the "maximise profits" tax angle if you only want budgeting help.

I want you to act as an accountant and come up with creative ways to manage finances. You'll need to consider budgeting, investment strategies and risk management when creating a financial plan for your client. In some cases, you may also need to provide advice on taxation laws and regulations in order to help them maximize their profits. My first suggestion request is Create a financial plan for a small business that focuses on cost savings and long-term investments""."