Pamela O’Connell

Pam O’Connell is Vice President for Finance and World Bank Group Controller since January 2022. In this role, Ms. O’Connell has oversight over all aspects of financial operations, financial reporting, and internal control framework for the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), the International Development Association (IDA), and the extensive trust fund/joint venture portfolio of these entities. She also leads the client service function for the World Bank Group accounting and business services and trust funds.

Ms. O’Connell, a US national, has strong expertise leading teams in accounting, auditing, operational risk, and internal controls and bringing experience in talent development, corporate governance, and information technology-enabled transformation. She represents the Bank externally as a member of the Advisory Council of the Value Reporting Foundation and is an elected Executive Director of the Bank Fund Staff Federal Credit Union with over $5billion in assets, serving her fifth year.

Prior to this position, she was the Director of Corporate Accounting and Reporting Department & World Bank Group Chief Accountant from 2014 to 2021. She was responsible for all Financial Reporting, Internal Controls and Accounting Policy across the World Bank, providing leadership to staff located on and offshore.

She also served on several corporate committees including, the Finance Operational Risk Committee; as Secretariat of the New Business Committee; the Credit Risk Committee, the IT Strategic Investment Committee, and other technical groups. She is also member of Advisory Board for the World Bank Y2Y Community.

From 2010 to 2014, Ms. O’Connell was the Director of Client Services in Controller’s. She was responsible for the operations performed by approximately 180 staff, of which about two-thirds were in the off-shore center in Chennai, India; and with the Center Manager reporting to her. She was responsible for the World Bank Group’s accounting for corporate expenses and the financial reporting and accounting for the $40 billion asset pool for trust funds and partnership operations. During this period many transformational initiatives were launched to modernize the way work was done and services delivered.

Ms. O’Connell joined the World Bank in 1997 as the Financial Reporting Team Lead in Corporate Reporting. She developed and wrote the first IBRD MD&A, co-led the implementation of fair value accounting (FAS 133), and led the analysis and implementation of Sarbanes-Oxley for IBRD. In 2001, she was promoted to Head of Accounting Policy and Advisor to the Deputy Controller, and later Advisor to the Vice President & Controller.

Before coming to the World Bank, she held positions in private sector international manufacturing, the Inter-American Investment Corporation (IDB Invest), and Price Waterhouse.

Ms. O’Connell holds a degree in Accounting from The College of William and Mary, and professional accounting certifications, including Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Global Management Accountant (CGMA), and several other professional certifications in audit, accounting and risk.