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Perspectives

Transforming finance with Generative AI

Prompt engineering tips for financial insights

Generative AI has the potential to transform the finance function. As finance professionals seek to extract valuable insights using artificial intelligence, the art of prompt engineering (e.g., how to ask good questions) is emerging as a new skill set.

Terms to know

Three primary enterprise service delivery goals

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Generative AI

Creates new content (text, images, videos, etc.) from a dataset (PDF, XLS, integration to systems like ERP, etc.)

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Large language models (LLMs)

GenAI models that understand and generate text like humans

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Prompt

“Instructions” users give to a LLM (written in plain English)

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Prompting categories

Prompt: Summarize the quarterly financial performance during FY2023 for our company, highlighting key revenue drivers.

Example output: Based on P&L data, overall revenue increased by X%. Top-selling categories were Electronics & Apparel, contributing to Y% and Z% of revenue ...

Prompt: How will a 5% decrease in COGS impact gross margin for next quarter, given no change in pricing strategy or sales volumes or any other cost fluctuations?

Example output: Based on the P&L data of the retail chain, a 5% decrease in COGS is expected to have a X% increase on gross margin for the upcoming quarter …

Prompt: Identify the largest variance between budgeted and forecasted net income figures for June 2023

Example output: The largest variance between the budgeted and forecasted net income for June is $Z, primarily due to X and Y drivers …

Prompt: Using the last two years of historical actual data, suggest some potential actions to improve our working capital

Example output: Consider a data-driven approach to inventory management. By reducing inventory levels by X% and expediting collections by Y%, working capital would improve by Z% …

Prompt: Write a variance analysis report for June 2023 comparing the actual revenue, expenses, and net income against the budgeted and forecasted figures

Example output: The largest variance between the budgeted and forecasted net income for June is $Z, primarily due to X and Y drivers …

Prompt: Take the transcript from our latest budget review meeting and summarize key takeaways and action items as bullet points

Example output: Summarized bullet points highlighting budget review takeaways and action items

Many organizations are launching ‘sandbox’ LLMs for use inside your company. You may have one already. Play around. Get familiar. These tools will be part of your every day sooner than you think.

Ready to discuss generative AI in finance? Contact us to learn more.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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