WORLD BANK GROUP DONOR FORUM
“Collective Action for Country Results”
Paris, France May 17-18, 2011
Pamela D. O’ Connell
Director, Client Services Department,
Trust Funds and Corporate Expenses Services,
Chennai Operations Controller’s, World Bank
Ms. Pamela O’ Connell, an American national, is the Director of the Client Services Department in the Controller’s Vice Presidency of the World Bank. The department is responsible for managing the corporate expenses and trust fund businesses, as well as providing leadership to the Chennai accounting service center operations. The Client Services Department maintains all World Bank Group accounting and business records for (1) trust funds/partnership operations and financial reporting, and (2) corporate expenses and fixed assets. Additionally, it is tasked with the day-to-day processing of the various multiple currency transactions for corporate expenses, trust funds, and resource management.
Ms. O’ Connell joined the World Bank in 1997. Prior to this she has worked at the Inter-American Investment Corporation; in private sector manufacturing; and a “Big 4” audit firm with clients including the Inter-American Development Bank and World Bank. She brings over twenty-five years of experience in financial accounting policy and reporting, managerial accounting and internal controls. Ms. O’ Connell earned a B.B.A. in Accounting from The College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, Virginia, USA; possesses professional accounting certifications which include Certified Public Accountant, C.P.A; Certified Management Accountant, C.M.A; and Certified Financial Services Auditor, C.F.S.A.
Upon joining the World Bank, Ms. O’ Connell worked as a Senior Accounting Officer/Financial Reporting Team Leader in the Corporate Reporting unit and later for the Office of the Director, Accounting Department from 1997-2001. As a senior officer and team lead of financial reporting, she led the teams for the financial statements, as well as the trust funds, administrative expense, loans/credits and pension areas. She also developed and wrote the first IBRD MD&A, co-led the implementation of fair value accounting, and led the analysis and implementation of Sarbanes-Oxley for IBRD.
In 2001, Ms. O’ Connell was promoted to Head of Accounting Policy and Advisor to the Deputy Controller, and later to the Controller. In her capacity as Head of Accounting Policy, she led evaluations and applications of US and IFRS accounting principles, accounting systems, and internal controls for multiple World Bank Group entities. As Advisor, Ms. O’ Connell worked closely with the Controller and oversaw various functions of his Front Office, and often represented him both externally and with members of senior management on issues related to accounting and financial reporting, as well as other institutional initiatives.
In 2010, Ms. O’ Connell was promoted to Director, Client Services Department, the position which she currently holds.
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