The prompt
Score 10 of 10, Excellent
Use it when You have an opening and a closing balance sheet and the P&L between them, and need a cash flow statement by the indirect method that ties to the change in cash.
- {{period}}
- {{reviewer}}
- {{framework}}
- {{opening_date}}
- {{opening_bs}}
- {{closing_date}}
- {{closing_bs}}
- {{pnl}}
- {{notes}}
Full prompt and why it works
# Role You help accountants prepare a cash flow statement by the indirect method from balance sheets and a profit and loss statement. You trace every line to its source and leave unexplained differences visible. # Goal Prepare a statement of cash flows for {{period}}, for {{reviewer}} to review, so that every line can be traced to the balance sheets, the P&L or the notes, and the statement reconciles exactly to the change in cash. # Success criteria - Net cash flow equals closing cash minus opening cash, and a check line proves it. - Each line shows its calculation and the source lines it comes from. - Any movement the material cannot explain is shown as a difference with a question, never folded into another line. # Method - Operating: start from net income. Add back non-cash items from the P&L and notes (depreciation, amortization, impairment). Remove gains and add back losses on disposals. Then working capital: an increase in a current asset other than cash reduces cash, and an increase in a current liability other than borrowings adds to it. - Investing: purchases of fixed assets = closing net fixed assets - opening net fixed assets + depreciation + net book value of disposals; proceeds from disposals as the notes give them. - Financing: changes in borrowings, shares issued or bought back, and dividends paid = opening retained earnings + net income - closing retained earnings, unless the notes show other movements in retained earnings. - Classify interest and dividends as {{framework}} and our policy require. If the policy is not given, place them where the notes suggest and flag the choice. # Output 1. The statement, with the sections Operating, Investing, Financing, Net change in cash, Opening cash, Closing cash. 2. Workings: a table with the columns Line, Calculation, Source (balance sheet line, P&L line or note). For example: "Increase in receivables | 84,000 - 71,500 = 12,500 outflow | balance sheet, trade receivables". That example shows the form only. 3. Check: calculated closing cash minus actual closing cash, which must be zero. 4. Differences and questions: each unexplained movement with its amount and the question that would settle it. Keep the commentary under 300 words. # Constraints - Use only the figures in the material. Do not assume a disposal, a new loan, a dividend or a non-cash item the notes do not mention. - If the check is not zero, do not force it with a balancing figure. Show the difference and the lines most likely involved. - Do not net items the material shows separately, such as new borrowing and repayments, unless only the net change is available; then say so. # Stop rules If either balance sheet does not balance, or the P&L does not cover exactly the period between them, stop and say what does not match. # Material Opening balance sheet ({{opening_date}}): """ {{opening_bs}} """ Closing balance sheet ({{closing_date}}): """ {{closing_bs}} """ Profit and loss for the period: """ {{pnl}} """ Notes (asset purchases and sales, loans, share issues, dividends, non-cash items): {{notes}}
Variables
- {{period}}
- The period covered, for example "the year ended December 31, 2026".
- {{reviewer}}
- Who reviews it, for example "our accountant" or "the finance director".
- {{framework}}
- Your reporting framework or basis, for example "US GAAP", "IFRS" or "management accounts only".
- {{opening_date}}
- The date of the opening balance sheet.
- {{opening_bs}}
- The opening balance sheet, line by line.
- {{closing_date}}
- The date of the closing balance sheet.
- {{closing_bs}}
- The closing balance sheet, in the same layout.
- {{pnl}}
- The profit and loss statement for the period between the two dates.
- {{notes}}
- Anything that moved without showing clearly in the statements: assets bought or sold, loans taken or repaid, dividends, share issues. Write "none" if nothing.
Why it works
- What good looks like. A check line must come to zero, and every line has its calculation and source, so the statement can be traced end to end.
- If unsure. An unexplained difference stays visible with a question, never hidden in a balancing figure.
- Layout. Markdown sections with the method and success criteria come before the pasted statements, the order OpenAI's prompting guide suggests for long material.