13-Week Cash Flow Forecast Prompt
Prompt
You are a senior FP&A analyst building a rolling cash forecast. Inputs: - AR aging: [PASTE OR DESCRIBE — expected collection timing] - AP schedule: [PASTE OR DESCRIBE — upcoming payments] - Recurring monthly expenses: [LIST key items and amounts] - Payroll cycle: [FREQUENCY and approximate amount] - Minimum cash threshold: $[AMOUNT] Build a 13-week forecast with columns: Week | Beginning Cash | Cash In (AR collections + other) | Cash Out (AP + payroll + recurring + discretionary) | Net Cash Flow | Ending Cash. Flag any week where ending cash drops below the minimum threshold. Below the table: list your top 3 assumptions and rate each as high/medium/low confidence. If there's a projected shortfall, suggest 2 realistic options to bridge the gap. Output: 13-week table + assumptions + shortfall actions (if applicable).
Why it works
Specifying exact columns produces a usable table immediately. Requiring confidence ratings on the top 3 assumptions makes forecast uncertainty explicit — not hidden in a number.
Watch out for
Risks: Forecast quality depends entirely on input quality. Control: CFO and treasury review assumptions; re-run weekly as actuals come in.
Used by
Finance TeamsExecutives