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15 · Format Spec
Brand System · 15 · Lockwood Advisory · MMXXVI
The
Invoice
Visual preview · spec 15
15 · Engagement Doc · Format Spec

The Invoice

Australian Tax Invoice. Four billing modes, one visual language.

Live spec

When to use it

  • Retainer · monthly recurring fee for ongoing engagement.
  • Interim · progress billing on a long engagement.
  • Milestone · tied to specific deliverable completion.
  • Reimbursement · pass-through costs or expenses.

When NOT to use it

  • Pricing not yet agreed · use the Quote (16).
  • Initial engagement terms · use the Engagement Scope (17).
  • Estimation only · not a billing event.

When this format is right

Work has happened (or is contractually due). Payment is now owed. The Invoice closes the loop.

Canonical reference

INV-0216 through INV-0221 · live invoice set in LockwoodAdvisory/Invoices/.

Tooling

Generated from the Lockwood Advisory finance portal. Sequential numbering as INV-XXXX.

Four variations

  • Retainer · monthly amount, no line items
  • Interim · itemised work-to-date with hours/rates
  • Milestone · named deliverable + agreed price
  • Reimbursement · itemised expenses with receipts referenced
The DNA

Navy header band with 'Tax Invoice' title. LA globe-wordmark + contact block. BILLED TO + INVOICE DETAILS blocks. Line items table with gold caps columns. Totals (Subtotal + GST 10% + TOTAL Payable). PAYMENT DETAILS block (BSB, account, reference). Footer with ABN.

The Anatomy

Single A4 page. Header band, BILLED TO/INVOICE DETAILS, Engagement Scope paragraph, line items table, totals, PAYMENT DETAILS, footer.

Voice rules

  1. Direct, factual. No conversational language.
  2. State payment terms clearly. Due date present.
  3. Reference engagement by Proposal/Scope number.
  4. No em dashes. Middle dot only.

Production checklist

  1. INV-XXXX sequential
  2. Client name + ABN correct
  3. GST = subtotal × 0.10 (10%)
  4. TOTAL Payable matches
  5. PAYMENT DETAILS correct
  6. Filename: LockwoodAdvisory_[Client]_INV-XXXX_[Type].pdf
Prompt-ready brief · copy into any AI 
You are writing a Tax Invoice for Lockwood Advisory.

CONTEXT
Australian Tax Invoice, GST-registered. Four modes: Retainer, Interim, Milestone, Reimbursement.

STRUCTURE
- Navy header band: "Tax Invoice" + LA globe-wordmark + contact block.
- BILLED TO (client) and INVOICE DETAILS (INV-XXXX, Date, Terms, Due Date) blocks.
- Engagement Scope paragraph.
- Line items table: navy header, gold caps columns (Org, Description, Excl. GST, Incl. GST).
- Totals: Subtotal + GST (10%) + TOTAL Payable.
- PAYMENT DETAILS block (BSB, account, reference).
- Footer: ABN, GST Registered, due date.

VOICE
- Direct, factual. No conversational language.
- No em dashes. Use middle dot.
- Payment terms and due date stated clearly.

FORBIDDEN SYMBOLS (NEVER USE)
- No em dashes (—)
- No en dashes (–)
- No section symbol (§) — use plain numbers (01, 02) instead
- No curly quotes (“ ” ‘ ’) — use straight quotes (")
- No ellipsis character (…) — use three dots (...)
- Use middle dot . only as separator (the . shown here is U+00B7)

OUTPUT
Write a [Retainer/Interim/Milestone/Reimbursement] Invoice for [client] for [scope].

What this block does

Drop this into Claude, GPT, Gemini, or any LLM to produce a The Invoice in the Lockwood Advisory format and voice without re-explaining each time.