Starter pack
For a Finance lead at the YMCA.
Management accounts commentary, reserves policy, cost of service — plain-English versions your board can act on.
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Essential prompts for a Finance lead
Monthly management accounts commentary
When to use: at month-end, once the numbers are in but before the finance meeting. How to use: paste the variance columns anonymised of any personal information, and ask AI to write plain-English commentary that a non-finance trustee can follow.
13-week cashflow scenario
When to use: when a large grant is delayed, a new cost has appeared, or you're heading into a lean season. How to use: give AI your opening cash position, expected receipts, and unavoidable payments — ask for base, downside and upside scenarios.
Simple cost-of-service breakdown
When to use: to answer "what does one hour of this service actually cost?" for a funder, a trustee, or a service redesign. How to use: give AI staff time, facility use and materials — ask for a per-participant and per-hour breakdown, with assumptions stated.
Reserves policy draft
When to use: when your reserves policy is over 3 years old or auditors have flagged it as thin. How to use: give AI your current risk profile and cost base — ask for a policy that names a target range and the reasoning.
Restricted fund position explainer
When to use: quarterly, when explaining restricted vs unrestricted balances to a board that isn't finance-fluent. How to use: paste the fund balances with purpose and end date — AI turns them into a plain-English update.
Pair these with…
Techniques + a projectTechnique
Reasoning over a small table
Get honest analysis from a small CSV or table without the model inventing rows or trends.
Read techniqueTechnique
Structured output (JSON / Markdown)
Force the response into a schema so it can be parsed, filed, or reused in another tool.
Read techniqueTechnique
Three-scenario planner
Draft best-case, most-likely, and worst-case scenarios for a strategic question with early signals and pre-decided responses.
Read techniqueProject
Quarterly board report pack
Turn a quarter of programme, finance and safeguarding data into a board-ready pack with an honest narrative and clear asks.
Open projectMore prompts for this role
15 promptsReserves policy review
Review and update the reserves policy.
Board finance pack summary
Summarise the finance pack for time-poor trustees.
Budget narrative draft
Turn a spreadsheet into a readable budget story.
Compliance calendar for the year
Map regulatory and reporting deadlines.
Cross-service cost share
Design a fair cost-sharing rule across programmes.
Expense policy reminder email
Nudge staff on expense claims without lecturing.
Grant spend report outline
Structure a report to a funder on how their money was spent.
Invoice chase email
Chase an overdue invoice professionally.
Partial VAT recovery explainer
When to use: before a finance committee where charitable VAT recovery is a topic. How to use: paste your partial exemption approach and ask AI to explain it in plain terms — never as tax advice.
Petty cash guidance note
One-page rules for handling petty cash.
Supplier due diligence
Check a new supplier against values and law.
Three-scenario finance model
Model best/base/worst for the year.
Variance commentary
Explain the gap between budget and actuals.
Year-end finance checklist
A month-by-month countdown to year end.
Green procurement policy
Set procurement rules that lower carbon and support local.
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