Building custom finance assistants

AI for Finance

Glenn Hopper

Head of AI, VAI Consulting

So far, so good

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How to structure prompts
Set custom instructions
Schedule recurring queries

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Build a dedicated AI assistant

Research, analyze, and communicate finance insights consistently

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Too much context, too little time

Task: Update on earnings results, market news, and ESG actions

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Structured prompt: one-time request with a clear question, data, and format

Custom instructions: persistent guidelines that shape how AI answers every prompt

Both improve quality, but remain manual

AI assistants

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Assistants:

Maintain structure
Add memory and reusable context
Can access knowledge or reference files
Save time and improve reliability
Stay consistent

Setup

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Define a role, add knowledge, and reuse

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Working with your assistant

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Get started easily

Try suggested conversation starters or guided prompts
Begin with simple finance questions or summaries

Put it to work

Process uploaded files instantly
Generate summaries, analyses, or evaluations
Receive tailored outputs

Knowledge files and integrations

Add knowledge with files

Upload reports and forecasts for context
Transforms your assistant into a specialized Copilot agent
Delivers accurate, compliant, and relevant outputs

Extend with integrations

Connect to compatible tools
Work securely within your organization's ecosystem

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Building practices

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Start small with one clear task
Keep instructions concise and measurable
Use trusted, current files for accuracy
Refresh context when data changes
Always verify outputs before sharing

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Combine structured prompts, custom instructions, and knowledge files

Extend with integrations

Let's practice!

AI for Finance

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