AI Prompts for Accountants and CPAs

"Draft a professional email to a small business client (an S-Corp) outlining 3 key end-of-year tax planning strategies they should consider before December 31st. Cover: maximizing QBI deductions, timing equipment purchases for Section 179 depreciation, and setting up a Solo 401(k) or SEP IRA. Specifically advise them not to make major capital expenditures solely for the tax deduction if it hurts cash flow. Keep it easy to understand and provide a clear deadline for a planning call."

"I have a hypothetical P&L statement showing Q3 revenue increased by 15% but net income dropped by 5% compared to Q2. The primary drivers were a 25% increase in Cost of Goods Sold (COGS) and a 10% increase in marketing spend. Draft a 3-paragraph executive summary of this variance for the business owner. Explain the "why" behind the margin compression in plain English, and suggest 2 immediate operational metrics they should investigate to correct the trend."

"Create a comprehensive "Client PBC (Provided by Client) Audit Prep Checklist" for a mid-sized manufacturing company undergoing an annual financial review. Categorize the list logically: Cash & Equivalents (bank recs), Accounts Receivable (aging reports), Inventory (count sheets, valuation methods), Fixed Assets (depreciation schedules), Accounts Payable, and Payroll/Benefits. Highlight the top 3 items that usually cause delays if not prepared early."

"Draft a reassuring email to a client who just received a standard CP2000 notice (Proposed Changes to Tax Return) from the IRS because of a missed 1099 form. Calm their anxiety, explain exactly what the notice means (it is a proposal, not a final bill), and outline the 3 steps we will take to evaluate the discrepancy and respond on their behalf. Request they upload the specific missing document to the secure portal."

"Draft an "Onboarding & Expectations Guide" for a new monthly bookkeeping and advisory client. Clearly define what the firm will do (reconcile accounts by the 10th, provide monthly financials, handle payroll processing) and exactly what the client must do (upload receipts to the app, respond to uncategorized transaction queries within 48 hours). Emphasize how this partnership requires their participation to be successful."

"Write a persuasive, 1-page memo explaining to a rapidly growing but cash-strapped startup CEO why they need to implement a rolling 13-week cash flow forecast immediately. Explain the difference between "profitability" on the P&L and actual liquidity. Detail what inputs are needed for the forecast (A/R aging, A/P aging, payroll runs, debt service) and how it will prevent them from accidentally missing a critical vendor payment next month."

"Draft a comparative analysis for a high-earning freelance consultant (netting $120k/year) who is debating whether to remain a single-member LLC (Schedule C) or elect S-Corp taxation. Compare the self-employment tax burden of both options. Clearly explain the requirement for "reasonable compensation" (W-2 payroll) in an S-Corp, the additional administrative costs (payroll fees, separate tax return), and calculate the estimated net tax savings to show if the switch is worth it."

"Define 5 critical financial KPIs for a SaaS business and 5 distinct KPIs for an E-commerce business. For SaaS, include metrics like CAC Payback Period and Net Revenue Retention. For E-commerce, include AOV and Inventory Turnover. For each KPI, provide the exact formula, explain what a "healthy" benchmark looks like, and describe what operational lever the CEO should pull if the metric is underperforming."

"Draft an email to a long-time tax preparation client (a successful local dental practice) proposing an upgrade to our Fractional CFO/Advisory tier. The tone should be consultative, not salesy. Mention that we are currently only looking in the "rearview mirror" once a year at tax time, and propose moving to quarterly strategic meetings to look through the "windshield" to focus on cash flow optimization, equipment financing strategy, and partner buyout planning."

"Outline a standard 5-day Month-End Close Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for a junior staff accountant. Day 1: Bank Reconciliations. Day 2: A/R and A/P tying to subledgers. Day 3: Prepaid expenses and fixed asset depreciation entries. Day 4: Accruals and deferred revenue. Day 5: Final review and financial statement generation. Include specific checks and balances they must perform before handing the file to the manager for review."