Making a difference

Introduction to CS-DRMS

The Commonwealth Secretariat Debt Recording and Management System (CS-DRMS) is a world-leading debt software for managing a government's entire debt portfolio. Using it effectively requires a sound understanding of basic debt principles and how the system has been designed to capture various borrowing instruments, as well as how it is used as part of the operations of a well-functioning debt office.

This will provide a solid foundation in CS-DRMS fundamentals for users compiling a comprehensive portfolio of a country's liabilities (loans and securities) and reporting. Emphasis is placed on timely and accurate recording of public debt, including repayment terms and actual transactions, and using the system's sophisticated validation features.

Who should attend
All new CS-DRMS users and those with a foundation knowledge as well as debt analysts and managers, economists and accountants at national and sub-national level debt offices, central banks, ministries, state-owned enterprises and parastatals.

How you will benefit
By the end of the course you will be able to:

• record loan agreements for multilateral , bilateral and commercial bank sources as well as bonds and treasury bills
• record debt service payments and disbursement transactions
• make debt service and stock projections
• report internally and externally including to the World Bank's Debt Reporting System
• support operational debt management functions of the back office

Course profile

• The Loan and Securities borrowing cycles
• Introduction to CS-DRMS as a key tool in debt management
• Overview of CS-DRMS's External and Domestic Debt Recording Modules
• Recording loan agreements including contractual terms
• Recording securities including bonds and treasury bills
• Processing instruments to project future debt service and stock positions
• Harnessing CS-DRMS's in-built validation features for accurate recording
• Recording creditor bill statements and actual debt service payments
• Recording disbursements transactions relating to reimbursement, cash and direct payment disbursement procedures
• Maintaining an up-to-date database using the system's Period End Processing function
• Producing debt reports to a wide range of internal stakeholders such as budget and accounts
• Reporting to international financial institutions conforming to international reporting standards
• Using CS-DRMS's automated facility for reporting to the World Bank's Debtor Reporting System
• Calculating grant element, present value and effective rate of interest
• Supporting operational debt management functions of the back office
• A visit to the Commonwealth Secretariat in London is included

It has been rewarding for me as an individual in attending this course because it has pave way for me in understanding the basic principles of CS-DRMS. After returning from the course, I have been given the opportunity to be part of our CS-DRMS team back here in PNG, we're I'm now working with the system administrators. I hope to do my best and go for further advance course in CS-DRMS in the years ahead.

Mr Herman Pahau
Financial Analyst
Department of Treasury, Papua New Guinea

This course was well organised and the presenters know the subject matter extremely well and address all questions raised by participants. I recommend this course to all users of CS-DRMS.

Richard S Williams
Deputy Accountant-General
Ministry of Finance & Economic Development
Sierra Leone