Choose one of three approaches. The steps for that option appear below.
Choose an option above. On a phone, swipe the tabs left or right to see all options →
ChatGPT runs a code-backed batch calculation on the approved export. You inspect the code and recalculate samples before keeping anything.
Prepare the inputs
Produce the draft
Check and save
Use: You
Have ready: the schedule CSV (columns in the prompt) and owner-approved rules.
Stop if upload permission is absent. Verify date, currency, completeness and the supplied rules; do not replace missing rules with guesses.
Inputs to have ready
Inputs needed: a prepaid-cost CSV with item ID, original amount, currency, coverage start/end, balance brought forward and prior releases; an owner-approved reporting month, allocation rule, rounding rule and cut-off convention.
Use: ChatGPT
Ask ChatGPT's data analysis for the monthly release schedule, closing balances and the clarify list, with Python code and row counts.
What to paste into the tool
Task: Produce a draft per-item monthly release schedule, closing prepaid balances and a list of items needing policy or source clarification. Inputs: [ATTACH: the approved prepaid-cost CSV from step 1] [PASTE: reporting month] [PASTE: allocation rule] [PASTE: rounding rule] [PASTE: cut-off convention]. Use only these inputs. Show the Python used and a row-level audit trail with source IDs. Use the supplied allocation rule only; do not choose an accounting policy. Keep currencies separate. Flag missing service dates, overlapping coverage and releases already recorded. Do not infer tax treatment or post journals. Leave the monthly amount not stated where the policy cannot be applied. Never silently drop or repair rows. Report missing facts as not stated. Do not access accounts or external sources, send messages, post entries, change the master ledger, sign, publish or pay. Produce a draft for human review only.
Use: You
Check the output against the originals and correct or reject it; save only the checked pack locally, marked draft. No external or accounting-system action.
Recalculate full month, partial month, year-crossing, leap-day period, fully released items, rounding. Opening balance minus release equals closing balance, by currency. Lifetime releases never exceed the approved amount. Do not send, sign, pay, publish, post journals or update master records.
Only synthetic sample rows go to Copilot in Excel chat mode. You test the formulas and build the real worksheet.
Prepare synthetic samples
Suggest formulas
Build and check
Use: You
Have ready: the schedule CSV (columns in the prompt) and owner-approved rules.
Stop if upload permission is absent.
Inputs to have ready
Inputs needed: a prepaid-cost CSV with item ID, original amount, currency, coverage start/end, balance brought forward and prior releases; an owner-approved reporting month, allocation rule, rounding rule and cut-off convention.
Use: Copilot in Excel
Ask Copilot in Excel chat mode for formula text, explanations and synthetic test cases; it must not edit the workbook.
What to paste into the tool
Task: Suggest spreadsheet formulas and test cases for a private draft worksheet, not a finance decision. Inputs: [PASTE: 5-10 synthetic example rows, no real costs or amounts] [PASTE: column names] [PASTE: approved allocation, rounding and cut-off rules] [PASTE: synthetic reporting month, including year]. Use only these inputs. Use the supplied allocation rule only; do not choose an accounting policy. Keep currencies separate. Flag missing service dates, overlapping coverage and releases already recorded. Do not infer tax treatment or post journals. Leave the monthly amount not stated where the policy cannot be applied. Explain references, date boundaries, sign handling and error conditions. Give formulas as text, with sample expected results; do not edit files. Missing inputs must produce not stated or an explicit exception. Do not choose accounting policy or recommend action. Do not send, post, sign, publish or pay.
Use: You
Test each formula on synthetic edge cases; build the local worksheet with checked formulas, reconcile it and save as draft. No external or accounting-system action.
Do not send, sign, pay, publish, post journals or update master records.
All matching and arithmetic stay manual. Claude only summarises a small, checked text note and lists open questions.
Calculate by hand
Summarise the note
Compare and save
Use: You
Have ready: schedule CSV (columns in the prompt) and approved rules. Build the schedule manually; write a TXT note with item IDs and totals.
Stop if upload permission is absent.
Inputs to have ready
Inputs needed: a prepaid-cost CSV with item ID, original amount, currency, coverage start/end, balance brought forward and prior releases; an owner-approved reporting month, allocation rule, rounding rule and cut-off convention.
Use: Claude
Ask Claude for a plain-language review note of the checked releases and open questions, without recalculating; give Claude the note, not the data file.
What to paste into the tool
Task: Write a plain-language review note explaining the human-calculated monthly releases and items awaiting dates or policy clarification. Input: [PASTE: the human-checked note from step 1]. Use only this note. Preserve every amount, unit, date, label and source ID exactly. Do not recalculate, infer missing facts or add a judgement. Use the supplied allocation rule only; do not choose an accounting policy. Keep currencies separate. Flag missing service dates, overlapping coverage and releases already recorded. Do not infer tax treatment or post journals. Leave the monthly amount not stated where the policy cannot be applied. Say not stated for missing information. Separate facts from open questions. Do not draft an external message or instruct anyone to act. Do not access accounts, send, post, sign, publish or pay. Return internal draft text only.
Use: You
Compare every sentence and number with the checked note, remove unsupported interpretations, then save the checked pack locally, marked draft. No external or accounting-system action.
Do not send, sign, pay, publish, post journals or update master records.
Best when: You need repeatable batch calculations and can check code
What it does: ChatGPT calculates; code and row counts stay visible
Strong at: The code and row-level audit trail are exposed for you to check
Limit: You must read the code and recheck calculations yourself
Free plan: Yes, limited (uploads, images, voice, data analysis)
Best when: You want formula help but keep real figures local
What it does: Copilot in Excel suggests formulas on synthetic samples only
Strong at: Real figures never leave your hands
Limit: Formulas still need testing and manual application
Free plan: Paid plan needed
Best when: You already have checked numbers and need clear wording
What it does: Claude summarises your checked note; arithmetic stays manual
Strong at: Arithmetic and policy stay fully human-led
Limit: You must calculate first and check the summary kept facts
Free plan: Yes
Before you paste into any AI tool, remove any confidential information. Put it back at the end.
Deciding between ChatGPT and Claude for this? See the comparison.
Never paste credentials or full payment details.
Confirm authorised inputs and rules before use.
Independently recalculate a full-month item, a partial month, a year-crossing period, a leap-day period when present, a fully released item and any rounding residual. Reconcile opening and closing totals by currency.
Reconcile completeness and totals, preserve open questions, and save only a draft.
Check the result against your original inputs. Approve it before sharing or acting.
Based on official product documentation checked on 2026-10-29.