James Pearson

•  Senior Manager  
• 7+ years experience 

"I am committed to leveraging my existing understanding of your technology environment and the broader insurance sector to deliver focused, practical and high-quality technology assurance. My involvement in the IFRS 17 implementation from a data governance perspective has given me valuable insight into your technology stack, data landscape, governance requirements and the interaction between its systems, processes and financial reporting. I will use this knowledge to identify relevant technology and data risks early, align our work with your operating environment and support an efficient audit that provides meaningful assurance and actionable insights. "

James is a Senior Manager in BDO South Africa’s Technology Assurance practice with seven years of experience supporting financial services clients, with extensive experience in the insurance sector. He has worked with leading insurers, including Santam and Telesure Investment Holdings, and has developed a strong understanding of insurance operations, technology environments, data flows, financial reporting processes and the regulatory requirements that shape the sector. His involvement in IFRS 17 implementation from a data governance perspective has further strengthened his knowledge of insurer data landscapes, system dependencies, governance frameworks and the technology controls underpinning reliable financial reporting.

James specialises in technology risk assurance and brings a structured understanding of business and technology risks to IT audit and assurance engagements. He is a Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) and holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration and a Bachelor of Commerce in Business Management. His broader financial services client experience includes PSG, Nedbank, Investec, FirstRand, African Bank and State Bank of India. Across these engagements, he has worked closely with financial audit teams and client stakeholders to assess complex technology environments, identify relevant risks and deliver focused, high-quality assurance aligned with both industry and business priorities.

Largest Financial Services clients serviced:

• Santam
• Telesure Investment Holdings
• PSG
• Nedbank
• Investec
• FirstRand
• African Bank
• State Bank of India

Group / Multinational audit experience

James has experience supporting group and multinational audits in complex financial services environments, with particular exposure to insurance. He coordinates technology assurance across entities, systems and shared-service environments, aligning IT audit work with group financial audit requirements. His IFRS 17 data governance experience provides valuable insight into group-wide data lineage, governance and control, enabling him to work effectively with group and component teams to deliver consistent, risk-focused assurance.

Qualifications and professional affiliations

• Certified Informations Systems Auditor (CISA) - ISACA