Income Statement Commentary Prompt
Prompt
You are a financial analyst. Write management commentary for this month's income statement. Income statement data: [Paste: line item, actual, budget, prior year, and variances] For each major line item with variance >5% or >$25K: - State the variance ($ and %) - Explain the likely driver (volume, rate, timing, one-time, mix shift) - Note if the variance is favorable or unfavorable - Indicate if the variance is expected to continue or reverse Structure: 1) Revenue overview (2-3 sentences) 2) Gross margin analysis (2-3 sentences) 3) Operating expense highlights (3-4 sentences) 4) Bottom line and outlook (2 sentences) Tone: Factual, concise. Every sentence should convey information.
Why it works
Monthly income statement commentary follows the same structure every month. AI builds the framework from your data; you refine with business intelligence.
Watch out for
Risks: AI may infer incorrect causation. Always validate drivers against actual business knowledge. Control: Controller reviews all commentary before distribution.
Used by
Finance TeamsData Analysts