FTI Treasury Talks: Independent Valuation of Debt and Derivatives

January 28, 2026

FTI Treasury Talks Independent Valuation of Debt & Derivatives

In this episode of FTI Treasury Talks: Conversations with the Experts, we explore the importance of independent valuation of debt and derivative instruments—a cornerstone of financial integrity in today’s complex and highly regulated markets.

FTI Treasury experts Marie Clarke, Head of Finance, and Marie Gaynor, Middle Office Manager, share their insights into why independence and transparency are critical, the key components of robust valuation practices, and common challenges faced by organizations.

The discussion highlights how independent valuation strengthens credibility with auditors and regulators, supports compliance, mitigates risk, and provides valuable insights for confident, informed decision-making. This session is particularly relevant for professionals involved in treasury, risk management, financial reporting, governance, and transaction advisory.

Key Topics Covered

  • What Independent Valuation Is
    Explanation of mark-to-market valuation — determining the fair value of debt and derivative instruments based on current market conditions rather than historical cost.
  • Why Independence and Transparency Matter
    The limitations of relying solely on counterparty (bank) valuations and the value of independent verification for credibility with auditors, regulators, and internal stakeholders.
  • Components of a Robust Valuation Practice
    Discussion on essential inputs and market data — yield curves, FX rates, interest rates, credit spreads — and how robust systems allow treasury teams to understand valuation drivers at a granular level.
  • Challenges and Best Practices
    Common challenges in valuation practices and industry best practices for ensuring accuracy, transparency, and reliability of valuations across reporting cycles.
  • Strategic Value Beyond Compliance
    How independent valuation supports financial reporting, risk management, forecasting, and strategic decision-making.

Independent valuation specialists bring technical expertise in handling complex instruments, enhancing credibility with auditors and regulators and enabling organisations to:

Why Independent Valuation Matters

  • Validate and challenge counterparty valuations
  • Mitigate valuation risk
  • Improve transparency and governance
  • Support informed and defensible decision-making

This session highlights how independent valuation not only fulfills compliance obligations but also elevates treasury’s strategic contribution to the business.

About FTI Treasury Talks

The FTI Treasury Talks series delivers expert perspectives through engaging conversations with treasury and finance leaders on topics that matter — including valuation, in-house bank solutions, treasury outsourcing, risk management, and technology enablement. Each episode offers practical guidance, industry insights, and actionable strategies designed to support treasury teams in enhancing capabilities and driving value.

To explore how FTI Treasury can help your organisation implement or improve independent valuation practices for complex financial instruments, contact our team or subscribe to the FTI Treasury newsletter for updates and future expert discussions.