Navigating Chatgpt: An Accountant's Guide

Navigating ChatGPT: An Accountant's Guide

In this article, we'll provide an overview of ChatGPT, including its features and functionalities, specifically tailored for accountants. If you haven't utilized this powerful tool yet, we highly encourage you to explore it. Here's a breakdown of what you can expect from ChatGPT and how to navigate its user interface:

Main Screen and Navigating Between Versions

Upon opening ChatGPT, you'll be greeted with the main screen. On this interface, you can toggle between different versions like ChatGPT-4.0 (referred to as Omega) and earlier versions such as ChatGPT-4 and GPT-3.5. Currently, I'm using the ChatGPT Teams version, which is the newest and most advanced model.

Asking Questions

The primary function of ChatGPT is to answer questions. You can enter your queries in the text box provided. For instance, if you request, "Provide a summary of ASC 842," ChatGPT will search for the relevant accounting standard and offer a summary.

Custom GPTs and Recent Chats

On the left-hand side, you'll notice the GPTs section. These are custom-built solutions. For instance, I have created a GPT for County governments in Georgia, loaded with financial statements from several county governments. This allows me to ask specific questions, such as "Provide a sample of a debt disclosure," and get tailored responses based on preset data.

Additionally, you will find a record of recent chats on the left-hand side. This feature allows you to revisit previous queries and responses easily.

Working with PDFs

If you need to analyze a PDF document, ChatGPT has the capability to handle that as well. By clicking on the main screen, you can upload documents and ask questions about the content. For example, I uploaded a Georgia ethics CPE PDF and asked about the new CPE requirements. ChatGPT then provided a summary based on the document's content.

Settings and Personalization

In the settings section, you have multiple options available:

• Appearance: Choose between dark or light themes.
• Speech: Enable ChatGPT's speech functionality to have an interactive experience.
• Integration: Connect to Google Drive or Microsoft OneDrive.
• Security: Set up and manage security protocols.

You can also customize ChatGPT by telling it more about yourself. I've indicated that I'm a CPA with 40 years of experience and specified my areas of expertise, enabling ChatGPT to tailor its responses to my needs. Furthermore, you can set the tone of ChatGPT's replies to be professional but friendly.

Subscription Plans

For those interested in diving deeper into ChatGPT, multiple subscription plans are available:

• Free Version: Offers basic functionality.
• $ 20/month Version: Provides more features.
• Teams Version ($ 50/month if paid annually): Includes advanced capabilities.

Regardless of which plan you choose, ChatGPT proves to be a highly valuable tool for accountants.

Conclusion

Whether you are involved in tax, auditing, or other accounting tasks, ChatGPT can significantly enhance your efficiency. Having used it for about a year, I’ve found it increasingly beneficial and believe you will too.

Until we meet again, take care, and happy accounting!

Keywords

• ChatGPT
• Accounting
• Auditing
• Custom GPTs
• Financial Statements
• PDFs
• Subscription Plans
• CPA
• Settings
• User Interface

FAQ

Q: What is the primary function of ChatGPT for accountants?
A: The primary function is to answer questions related to accounting and auditing standards, generate emails, and summarize documents.

Q: How can I switch between different versions of ChatGPT?
A: You can toggle between different versions such as ChatGPT-4.0 and GPT-3.5 via the main screen.

Q: What are custom GPTs?
A: Custom GPTs are tailored solutions created with specific datasets, enabling specialized queries and responses relevant to a particular domain.

Q: Can ChatGPT handle PDF documents?
A: Yes, ChatGPT can analyze PDF documents and provide summaries or answers based on the content.

Q: What customization options are available in ChatGPT?
A: Users can customize ChatGPT by providing details about their profession and preferences. They can also choose appearance settings, enable speech, and integrate with cloud services.

Q: What subscription plans are available for ChatGPT?
A: ChatGPT offers a free version, a $ 20/month version with more features, and a Teams version at $ 50/month (if paid annually) which includes advanced functionalities.

Q: How do I revisit previous queries in ChatGPT?
A: Previous queries and responses can be accessed via the recent chats section on the left-hand side of the main screen.