Complete AI Training
Sign inGet started

AI agent for business unit managers

Budget Request Challenge Agent

Budget requests are supported with detail and ranked by value before decisions.

Budgets and moneyDecisionsManagement
See how it worksGet access
Budget Request Challenge Agent: what goes in, what the agent does and what you get

What it does

Team budget requests arrive as lump sums with little backup, and the manager has no time to question each one. This agent reads each request, compares it with last year's actuals and the plan, asks the requester for the missing detail, rechecks revised figures and ranks the requests by value. It decides by the change from actuals, the reason given and the link to goals. The manager approves final amounts. If the revised figures still lack detail, it asks again instead of accepting them. It keeps each team's answers on one sheet so the manager can compare requests side by side before deciding. Edge case: a request for software is 40% above last year with no usage data, so the agent asks for the user count.

How it works

Follow the arrows from top to bottom. The orange dashed arrow is the loop: when a check fails, the agent goes back and tries again.

Start and resultWhat it doesA check on its own workWaits for your OKGoes back and retries
ApprovedYes, continueNo 1 STARTS WHEN Budget requests arrive 2 USES A TOOL Read each request 3 USES A TOOL Compare to last year's actuals and plan 4 DOES Flag lump sums and rises over 10% 5 DOES Draft questions for the requester 6 YOU APPROVE Manager approves the questions sent 7 USES A TOOL Read the revised figures 8 CHECKS THE RESULT Is each request now backed by detail? If not: ask again about the remaining gaps. Back to step3. 9 DOES Rank requests by value and link to goals 10 RESULT Ranked request list
Read the steps as a list
  1. Budget requests arrive
  2. Read each request
  3. Compare to last year's actuals and plan
  4. Flag lump sums and rises over 10%
  5. Draft questions for the requester
  6. Manager approves the questions sentThe agent waits here for your OK.
  7. Read the revised figures
  8. Is each request now backed by detail?If not: ask again about the remaining gaps. Back to step 3.
  9. Rank requests by value and link to goals
  10. Ranked request list

How it decides

It flags a request that rises more than 10% over actuals without a stated reason, and ranks by link to goals and value.

  • Flag a rise over 10% without a reason
  • Ask for a breakdown of any lump sum
  • Rank by link to the stated goals
  • Show last year's actuals next to each request

Make it yours

Every agent is a starting point. You choose these settings for your own situation.

  • Rise threshold (default 10%)
  • Ranking criteria
  • Question wording
  • Request format
  • Deadline

What keeps you in control

It always asks you first

  • Manager approves questions sent and final amounts

Hard limits

  • Never approve or reject a request
  • Never share one team's request with another

It stops when

  • Done: all requests backed and ranked
  • Stop: a requester cannot support a request

Set it up

We guide you through the set-up, step by step

Members get the full set-up guide for this agent. No technical skills needed: you copy, paste and upload.

10 minto set it up in your AI
5 AIsChatGPT, Claude, Copilot, Gemini, Grok
  • One set of instructions to paste into your AI, with the clicks for ChatGPT, Claude, Microsoft 365 Copilot, Gemini and Grok
  • The agent then walks you through connecting your own data, one source at a time
  • A downloadable copy with the flow chart, the rules and the full guide
Get access to this agent

An example run

What happensA team requests $90,000 for software, 40% above actuals. The agent asks for user count and contract terms. The reply shows 20 more users. The revised figure of $84,000 is backed by detail. Another request for $30,000 lump sum remains without a breakdown. The agent asks again and ranks the rest.

More agents for business unit managers

Analysis · Risk management

Business Model Sensitivity Agent

Founders know exactly which assumptions make or break their model.

7 steps1 check10 jobs Decisions · Customer support

Transfer and Returns to Vendor Agent

Move slow stock to where it sells and return eligible stock before windows close, with counts verified.

11 steps2 checks5 jobs Analysis · Decisions

Customer Segment Profitability Review Agent

A clear view of the margin by segment and options to fix the negative ones.

10 steps1 check4 jobs Risk management · Analysis

Supplier Concentration Risk Agent

A map of single-source risk with the largest exposures reduced.

10 steps1 check9 jobs