Lender as detective: How to evaluate management estimates

Description

Abstract: It’s important for lenders to make distinctions between their borrowers’ financial certainties and estimates based on management judgment. Lenders need to be able to ascertain when errors, either intentional or unintentional, may occur — errors that can make a big difference in a borrower’s financial health. This article suggests some strategies for lenders, such as paying attention to accounting estimates and fair value measurements, in helping them determine whether the assumptions behind a borrower’s numbers are valid.