Forensic and investigative work is as much about clear writing as it is about tracing money: a neutral summary of what the records show, a careful request for missing documents, a plain-language explanation of a complicated transaction chain. That is where AI can help — drafting the words around the facts you have already established, so you spend less time phrasing and more time on the analysis.
The short version: pick a prompt below, paste it into any capable AI assistant (ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini or Claude — the free tiers are fine), swap the [bracketed] bits for the case-specific details, read what comes back and edit it before it is used. That's the whole workflow — no new software, no setup.
One rule runs through all of these: AI drafts the words, you own the findings. It never draws conclusions, forms opinions or decides what happened — those are yours. Be careful pasting sensitive, privileged or evidential material into any AI tool; use placeholders and check your firm's rules first.
01
Documenting findings clearly
When you already know what the records show, the next job is to say it cleanly and neutrally. These prompts help turn your traced facts into a write-up that is readable, restrained and easy to verify against the source material.
AI is drafting the narrative, not making the case. It cannot decide what happened, infer intent or form an opinion from the evidence. Give it only the facts you are comfortable sharing, and keep privileged, sensitive or evidential material out of the prompt unless your firm's rules and controls allow it.
Turn findings into a neutral write-up
Write a neutral findings summary from these facts I have already established: [paste your factual bullet points]. Keep it strictly descriptive, avoid speculation, and do not draw conclusions or assign intent. Use clear headings for the key points, and make the language suitable for a working paper or draft report section. If something is unclear from the facts, leave it open rather than guessing.
Tip: feed it only the facts you can support, not the whole evidence trail.
Plain-English summary of a traced money flow
Turn this traced money flow into a plain-English summary for a non-specialist reader: [describe the accounts, dates, amounts and transfers you have traced]. Keep the explanation factual and chronological, explain where the money moved in simple terms, and avoid any opinion about why it moved. Do not add numbers or links I have not given you.
Describe what a document shows
Help me describe this document objectively: [type of document and the key features you want noted]. Write 3–5 concise sentences saying what the document contains, what dates or amounts appear on it, and any visible inconsistencies or absences. Keep it evidential and neutral — no assumptions, no conclusions, no speculation.
Draft a findings paragraph for a report
Using the facts below, draft one careful report paragraph that states the finding without overreaching: [paste the established facts]. Write in a formal but readable tone, use precise dates and amounts where provided, and leave a clear gap if the evidence does not support a stronger statement. Do not mention causes, motive or responsibility unless I have explicitly given that in the facts.
02
Information & document requests
Good requests are specific, polite and easy to action. They tell the recipient exactly what is needed, why it matters, and how to send it — without sounding accusatory or giving away more than necessary.
Request records or information
Draft a professional request for records to [person / organisation]. We need [list the records or information] for [matter / period]. Ask for them in a clear, numbered list, state why they are needed in one sentence, and tell them how to provide them ([email / secure portal / upload link]). Keep it courteous and brief.
Follow up on outstanding items
Write a polite follow-up message for the outstanding items still needed from [person / organisation]: [list the missing items]. Note that we are still waiting, remind them of the requested format if relevant, and ask for an update on when they can be sent. Keep the tone measured and factual.
Covering note for document production
Write a short covering note to accompany a document production. The documents being sent are [describe the production]. State that the attached material is being provided in response to the request, identify any obvious gaps or redactions I have noted, and invite the recipient to raise any questions. Neutral and concise.
Request missing context for a document
Draft a short request asking for context around this document: [describe the document]. Ask for the purpose, the people involved, and any related records that would help place it in context. Make it clear that I am asking for clarification only and not making any assumptions.
03
Explaining complexity plainly
Forensic work often needs to be understood by non-specialists: instructing solicitors, briefing clients, or preparing a report for someone who does not live in spreadsheets. These prompts help translate technical material without losing accuracy.
Stay with explanation, not opinion. The AI can help simplify the wording, but it should not tell you what the transactions mean, which explanation is right, or whether the evidence proves anything. Keep it on the facts you provide.
Explain a complicated transaction chain
Explain this transaction chain in plain language for a lay reader: [paste the chain with dates, accounts and amounts]. Use simple words, short sentences and a chronological structure. Show the movement of funds step by step, but do not interpret the purpose or significance of the transfers.
Create a glossary of terms
Create a plain-English glossary for a non-specialist reader using these terms: [paste the technical terms]. For each term, give one short, neutral definition and, if helpful, a simple example. Keep it accurate but accessible, and do not use jargon in the definitions themselves unless it is explained.
Turn one technical point into one clear sentence
Turn this technical point into one clear sentence for a report or email: [paste the technical point]. Make it sound professional and easy to understand, keep the meaning faithful to the original, and avoid any claim beyond what the point actually says.
Explain a chart or schedule
Write a short explanation for this chart or schedule: [describe the chart or paste the figures]. Explain what the reader is looking at, how to read the key columns or lines, and what the visible pattern is, without stating why the pattern exists. Plain language only.
04
Chronologies & structure
A good chronology and a well-structured report section save a lot of revisiting. These prompts turn rough notes into an orderly timeline and a clean outline, while keeping alternative accounts in a neutral frame.
Turn dated events into a clean chronology
Turn these dated events into a clean chronology: [paste the event list with dates]. Put them in date order, keep each entry short, and use consistent wording so the sequence is easy to follow. Only include what I have given you and do not fill gaps with assumptions.
Structure an outline of a report section
Help me structure an outline for a report section on [topic]. The facts I want included are [paste the key points]. Give me a sensible heading structure with brief notes under each heading about what belongs there, keeping the flow logical and neutral. Do not draft conclusions unless I ask for them.
Summarise competing accounts neutrally
Summarise these competing accounts in a neutral way from the facts I have provided: [paste the accounts and supporting facts]. Present each version fairly, note where they differ, and avoid saying which is more likely or which one I prefer. Keep the summary balanced and factual.
Build a working chronology table
Create a simple chronology table from these notes: [paste the notes]. Use columns for date, event, source and any follow-up needed. Keep the entries concise, and mark any missing date as [date unknown] rather than guessing.
05
Correspondence & admin
A lot of investigative work lives in the everyday correspondence: replying carefully, condensing a long thread, and turning interview notes into a tidy file note. These prompts help keep that work calm, neutral and easy to follow.
Draft a measured reply to a query
Draft a measured reply to this query: [paste the query]. My response should be calm, professional and neutral, acknowledge the point raised, and state only the facts I can support. Do not speculate, do not concede anything I have not checked, and do not sound defensive.
Summarise a long email thread
Summarise this long email thread so I can see the current position quickly: [paste the thread]. Give me the key points agreed, the outstanding questions, any deadlines or next steps, and the last message in one short paragraph. Keep it factual and do not add anything that is not in the thread.
Turn interview notes into a tidy file note
Turn these interview notes into a tidy file note: [paste the notes]. Keep the note neutral, identify who said what where possible, separate facts from points that still need checking, and avoid any speculative wording. Use a simple heading and bullet points if that helps readability.
A reminder to stay neutral and never speculate
Before you draft, remind yourself to stay neutral, use only the facts provided, and never speculate about motive, intent or outcome. Now rewrite this note into a careful administrative email: [paste the note]. Keep it concise, accurate and professional.
Confidentiality and review still apply. Check your firm's rules before putting any sensitive, privileged or evidential material into an AI tool, use placeholders where you can, and never send a draft without checking it against the source records first.
06
Common questions
Which AI tool should a forensic accountant use?
Any capable general assistant works for the drafting tasks on this page — ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, Google Gemini or Claude. The free tiers are enough to try every prompt here. The main thing is not the brand but the workflow: the tool drafts the words, you keep control of the analysis and the final wording.
Can AI do the actual forensic accounting work or give advice?
No. A general AI assistant cannot review evidence properly, form an expert opinion, decide what happened, or replace your professional judgement. Use it for drafting summaries, requests, chronologies and correspondence. The findings, opinions and advice remain yours.
Is it safe to paste client or employee details into an AI tool?
Be cautious. Treat any AI tool like an external service and follow your firm's confidentiality, privilege and evidence-handling rules. Use [bracketed] placeholders where possible, avoid pasting sensitive identifiers or evidential material, and only include the minimum context needed for the draft.
Do I still need to check what the AI writes?
Always. Everything here is a first draft, not a finished work product. Read every line, correct anything that is wrong or overstated, and make sure it matches the source records and your own conclusions before it is used. AI drafts; you remain responsible.
If you'd rather this just happened on its own
These prompts are the manual version — copy, paste, edit, send. They work, and for many forensic and investigative accountants that is enough. But if you find yourself repeating the same drafting, chasing and file-note work every matter, that is the sort of routine that can run quietly inside the tools you already use, with your controls in place and a person always reviewing before anything goes out.
That's what SG1 Consulting builds with The Everything — and there's a free 22-page playbook that shows exactly how a firm puts it to work.