Every week I have around 7 one-on-one coaching calls with finance pros. And most of them are under the same pressure right now: do more, with less.
They've been given initiatives like reduce headcount. And on top, when they ask for budget for a new AI tool, they often get denied. So the question I get, again and again, is: how do I get better results out of the tools I already have?
I give them 2 things.
Number one, use a better model. E.g 'Think Deeper' mode in Copilot will really improve your results.
Number two, use my CSI prompting technique. Context, Specific, Instruction.
So today, let me show you both at once. Here are 5 AI dashboards every finance pro should have live by Friday. I've tagged [C], [S], and [I] inside each one
Let’s go.
1. The board KPI scorecard
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This is the dashboard you prepare for your board meeting, built from an Excel file that isn't even formatted.
The one question it needs to answer: are we on track for the quarter?
A board dashboard that needs scrolling is not a board dashboard, because people don't have time and people often never go under the fold (past what they see straight away on screen). So keep it simple. Everything on one page.
And of course, always verify your numbers. Ask AI to audit your dashboard against your Excel file before you screen-share this live in a board meeting.
2. The cash runway tracker
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This one is for your own team, watching one number every single week: how much runway do we actually have?
The trick here is that I'm not just asking for a chart of past data. I'm asking AI to calculate something that doesn't exist in the raw export yet, a projection.
But you have to give it the logic yourself. Explain your own logic, and it will show you exactly when you'd hit your threshold.
3. The budget variance dashboard
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This one flags overspend on its own, so you're not trying to look for it every month.
The trick to name here is simple. Give it the exact sort order and the exact flag threshold in your instruction. Don't leave "overspend" for it to guess.
4. The AR aging dashboard
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Use case number four is about money that is owed to you, not money you've spent.
Tip – Your specific has to name the decision. Say "I want to know who to call first," not "sort by days overdue."
5. The scenario and sensitivity dashboard
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This is the most advanced one, and my favorite. A live tool where you drag a slider and watch your forecast change in real time.
I added that dotted line on purpose, because without it, people lose track of what they've changed once the conversation gets going.
And did you notice what I'm doing here? I'm not asking for a static view of data that already exists. I'm asking AI to build a small calculation engine with adjustable inputs. This is a very different prompt than "make me a chart."
The One Thing To Remember
As models become more intelligent, it’s more important that you become specific with your instructions.
Now, the question I always get after something like this: "Nicolas, my data is a mess, this won't work on my files."
Good news. The board scorecard prompt above was built on a trial balance that wasn't even formatted. So you can get going straight away without spending hours on data cleaning.
But on top, always review what comes out before it goes anywhere near a real meeting. AI prepares the work. You're still the one who checks it and owns it.
None of these five dashboards needed you to code. You didn't need a BI team. You didn't even need a bigger AI budget, just a better model and a better prompt.
Best,
Your AI Finance Expert
Nicolas
P.S – The best way to learn from me directly is to join my weekly masterclasses. 60-mins + Q&A where I’ll get all your AI in Finance questions answered. Join me here.
P.P.S – Want to see a live financial dashboard built from scratch? Here's the full build → How to Build INSANE Live Financial Dashboards with Claude