BDO market presence expands across NSW & VIC with new hires

BDO Australia welcomes Fiona Narielwalla and Joanna Georgalis to the firm’s partnership as it continues to grow its market presence across New South Wales and Victoria.

Fiona Narielwalla joins as an Audit and Assurance Partner in BDO’s Sydney office, while Joanna Georgalis joins the firm’s Melbourne office as a Partner in its Advisory team.

Ms Narielwalla, who starts on 1 February, brings over 25 years’ experience as a global leader in the adoption of next generation audit solutions and as a specialist in audit and assurance services to the fintech and financial services industry.

She joins BDO from KPMG where she spent time in its US and New Zealand office, with significant global experience having spearheaded numerous international audit innovation projects, while working alongside large, multi-national clients in the fintech and financial services industry including wealth management, funds management, banking, leasing and insurance clients.

BDO Sydney Office Managing Partner Grant Saxon said Ms Narielwalla would bring strategic focus to growing the firm’s Financial Services practice, while continuing her focus on audit innovation.

“Fiona’s appointment is testament to our enduring commitment to audit quality, ensuring our clients are confident in the assurance we provide now and into the future,” said Mr Saxon.

“Fiona’s vast experience in the fintech and financial services industry and around audit innovation will be a great asset to our audit offering and growing client network.”

In Melbourne, transformation and performance improvement expert Joanna Georgalis joins the firm’s partnership on 13 February. Joanna joins from Grant Thornton where she led the development of the Public Sector and Social Services strategy for the firm’s consulting division.

BDO Melbourne Office Managing Partner David Garvey said the firm continues to experience strong demand for change management expertise, and the Consulting team is being strengthened to meet that demand. David added that he expects change management expertise to be a sought-after asset for the foreseeable future.

Joanna’s expertise spans several industries, with a primary focus on organisations delivering services to the community including Government agencies, health and aged care providers and not-for-profits.

“Joanna is a change management expert with deep capability in business transformation and performance improvement. She is skilled at managing complex projects through the lenses of people, process and technology, delivering the best possible outcomes for organisations,” David said.

“Joanna has been published in the Australian Journal of Management for her thesis on Resistance to Change and is also a qualified PROSCI practitioner. We look forward to offering Joanna’s highly skilled problem solving ability to our growing client network,” he said.