AI prompt writing: the basics for professional accountants
Technology
August 21, 2025In this recorded presentation to the International Federation of Accountants’ (IFAC) Small and Medium-Sized Practices Advisory Group (SMPAG), Danielle Supkis Cheek shares proven strategies for writing more effective AI prompts. Here Danielle introduces the S.T.A.R. method (Situation, Task, Appearance, Refine) and offers practical tips and best practices to help accountants harness AI with confidence.
Other key topics covered include:
- Ethical frameworks for reliance on AI
- Retrieval automated generation (RAG)
- Chain-of-thought (COT) reasoning
- Prompt libraries
AI is a huge opportunity for the accountancy profession, and a potential equalizer for small and medium-sized practices, in particular. But with such a rapidly evolving technology, it’s crucial for individual professionals to keep pace.
In addition to Danielle’s presentation, below, there are many more resources for SMPs on technology and other important topics at IFAC's Practice Transformation Hub.
