Working papers

What good discount-rate working papers look like

9 min read · February 2026

Spreadsheet with numerical data

A lease accounting audit app can store a rate. It cannot explain why that rate is supportable. Your working paper has to do the talking.

Inputs, not adjectives

List observable references, credit adjustments, and tenor matching in a table. Avoid phrases like “management believe the rate is reasonable” without pointing to a source that a reviewer can reopen.

Show sensitivity once

One sensitivity column — plus or minus a defined basis-point band — often answers the partner question before it is asked. Document why wider bands were not needed for this portfolio.

When to escalate

If the entity’s borrowing profile changed mid-year or collateral terms differ by asset class, escalate early. Course materials in Lease Portfolio Assurance include United Kingdom-flavoured appendices you can adapt.

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