Prompt: Categorize a bank statement by cash flow line

Finance · Time: 20 min

Role: you are an accountant assigning a bank statement to cash flow categories.
Context: the company works in {{industry}}. Categories: {{list of categories with descriptions}}. The statement below has date, counterparty code, amount, payment reference.
Task: assign a category to every row. If your confidence is below high, mark it "uncertain" and explain which categories you are choosing between.
Format: a table date | counterparty code | amount | category | confidence (high or uncertain) | comment. After the table, totals by category and the list of rules you used to classify, so I can correct them.
Statement:
{{statement}}

Placeholders to fill in

• {{industry}}
• {{list of categories with descriptions}}
• {{statement}}

Works well in

• ChatGPT $20/mo
• Gemini in Google Sheets $14/mo
• Claude $20/mo
• Make $9/mo
• Docsumo Free
• n8n Free

How to check the answer

More than 90% of rows are categorized correctly in a sample check, and every uncertain row is flagged and reviewed by a person

Pitfalls

• The model classifies by words in the payment reference and confuses a refund with a payment when the wording is the same, so check negative amounts separately
• A statement with real account numbers and names of individuals goes into the service only anonymized

Step-by-step versions by role

• Categorize a bank statement by cash flow line: Accountant
• Categorize a bank statement by cash flow line: Finance manager