# Challenge a department's budget submission before approval

A line-by-line review of a budget request with probing questions, red flags, and a negotiating position.

- Topic: Finance & Accounting
- Framework: RTF
- Level: Standard
- Tags: Finance, Analyze, Fill-in Template
- Source: https://www.thinkwithprompt.com/prompts/challenge-a-department-s-budget-submission-before-approval

## Prompt

```text
Help me review a department's budget submission and prepare to challenge it.

**Department and owner:** [DETAILS]
**Their submission:** [PASTE: line items for this year's request, last year's budget, and last year's actuals]
**Their stated rationale:** [WHAT they wrote or said]
**Company targets or guardrails:** [e.g. "opex growth capped at 5%"]
**Strategic priorities this department supports:** [DETAILS]

Review for:
- Growth vs. last year's actuals (not just last year's budget).
- Run-rate errors: annualizing one-offs, double-counting hires, missing savings from leavers.
- Padding signs: round numbers, large "other" lines, contingency hidden in multiple lines.
- New initiatives without measurable outcomes.
- Spend that does not link to a stated priority.
- Timing: costs front-loaded with no reason.

Return:
1. A table: Line | Requested | Prior actual | Change % | Concern | Question to ask.
2. The 8 most important questions for the review meeting, in order.
3. Three options: approve as is, approve with conditions, or a reduced version with the specific cuts and their impact.
4. A short, respectful opening statement for the meeting.

Stay constructive: the goal is a credible budget, not winning an argument. Do not assume bad faith; flag concerns as questions.
```

## What to fill in

- DETAILS
- WHAT they wrote or said
- e.g. "opex growth capped at 5%"

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