Suraiya Zannath is Lead Financial Management Specialist for the Governance Global Practice of the World Bank. She is responsible for the Bangladesh program but also supports other countries in South Asia and beyond on fiduciary service, developing strategies for public financial management reforms and providing policy & advisory services. She has lead policy dialogue with various stakeholders and is known for bringing together legislative oversight and PFM reform through a standalone project for the Parliament- the first of its kind for the South Asia Region and the World Bank in Bangladesh.
Prior to joining the World Bank, she worked as group Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of an international NGO and had overseen the financial management operations in Jordan, Thailand, the Philippines, and Nepal. Her analytical and advisory work for policy notes on Promoting Public Private Partnership for improved public sector auditing , Public Expenditure Financial Accountability (PEFA) and Report on observance of Codes and standards (ROSC) led to government commitment for implementation of policy recommendations through a number of Technical Assistance projects.

A Chartered Accountant by profession, Suraiya also holds the unique distinction of being the first woman to qualify as CA from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Bangladesh.