James Nicolson
Verified Expert in Engineering
Financial Systems Leader and Developer
Huntington Beach, CA, United States
Toptal member since July 6, 2020
James is a leader and engineer with deep expertise in technology solutions for the financial services sector. He integrates business and financial strategy with technology, data and software architecture, design, and coding. Believing in the power of knowing a lot about a lot of things, James connects the dots, creates simplicity, rolls up his sleeves to do the work, and cultivates great teams.
Portfolio
Experience
- Software Engineering - 20 years
- Leadership - 20 years
- Fintech - 20 years
- Architecture - 12 years
- SaaS - 10 years
- React - 6 years
- JavaScript - 5 years
- Data Architecture - 5 years
Availability
Preferred Environment
Amazon Web Services (AWS), SQL, Python, Rust, C++, MongoDB, Java, Node.js, React
The most amazing...
...experiences I've had were creating financial solutions, from strategy to coding, on four continents, in big firms and my own fintechs, with truly awesome teams.
Work Experience
Architecture and Strategy
Anheuser-Busch
- Developed the strategy and design of a fintech platform for a top-five CPG business.
- Established engineering teams, processes, and tools.
- Implemented payments, lending, and eWallet products.
Co-founder
IOUze
- Created a blockchain-based SaaS platform for supply chain finance. The platform uses advanced cryptography to securely share, verify, and prove information about financial transactions.
- Launched a platform to help small businesses operate online and nurture local communities.
- Developed a technology foundation that orchestrates supply chains and then measures the risks in those ecosystems, allowing us to create innovative financial services opportunities to address those risks.
- Created a scalable data platform for managing a complex ecosystem in order to promote trust and simplify automation.
Chief Architect, Corporate and Investment Banking
Standard Bank Group
- Optimized business operating models in 20+ parts of the organization to maximize the benefits of digital transformation, including payments, treasury, foreign exchange (FX), lending, client engagement, and credit risk.
- Established and led digital design labs for rapid experimentation on pressing client problems.
- Served as a trusted partner and advisor for technology strategies in financial markets, transactional banking, and investment banking.
Product Lead, Civic Marketplace
Civic Technologies
- Developed the first identity marketplace on a public blockchain platform.
- Designed and created smart contracts for self-sovereign identity management.
- Integrated with the bitcoin network as an anchor for verified identity data.
Head of eCommerce Technology
Standard Bank Group
- Won "Best Super Regional Bank SDP” in the Profit and Loss Digital FX Awards.
- Created trading channels for personal and institutional clients in equities, FX, and commodities.
- Led teams of developers that pioneered Lean software development within the organization.
Director, Global Markets Technology
Standard Bank Group
- Grew the business from $80 million to $1 billion in revenue during my leadership tenure.
- Created new business platforms in South Africa, London, Hong Kong, and Brazil. Examples include credit derivatives, interest rate derivatives, equities, and fixed income.
- Led geographically dispersed teams in building and operating business platforms by excelling in quantitative finance and technology.
Head, Global Markets Technology
Standard Bank Group
- Implemented trading and risk systems for interest rate derivatives, equity derivatives, credit derivatives, and commodities.
- Created and developed teams of quantitative finance and technology specialists in a market domain where they had few formal skills.
- Supported businesses to double revenue over these three years.
Senior Engineer
Altech Alcatel Telecoms
- Designed and developed an embedded C++ application for data line management devices.
- Optimized the design of digital filters for wireless telephony solutions based on the DECT protocol to improve call quality.
- Created a new product line for South Africa's state telco.
Experience
Small-business Community Platform
Supply Chain Finance Platform (Blockchain Based)
https://iouze.comBanking Platform for a Global Consumer Group
Education
Senior Executive Program (Africa) in Leadership
Harvard Business School - Boston, MA, USA
Master of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering
University of the Witwatersrand - South Africa
Skills
Libraries/APIs
React, Node.js
Tools
Git, GitLab, GitLab CI/CD, Adobe CC, Bloomberg
Languages
C++, Java, JavaScript, HTML5, Rust, GraphQL, Python, Python 3, Solidity, SQL
Paradigms
API Architecture, Back-end Architecture, DevOps, Management, Object-oriented Programming (OOP), Unit Testing, Continuous Integration (CI), Continuous Delivery (CD), B2B
Platforms
Amazon Web Services (AWS), Blockchain, Docker, Ethereum, Oracle Database, Apache Kafka, Azure
Industry Expertise
Banking & Finance
Frameworks
Spring, Django, React Native
Storage
Redis, MongoDB, PostgreSQL, RocksDB
Other
Financial Markets, Software Engineering, Data Architecture, Design, Leadership, Software Architecture, SaaS, Online Payments, Mobile Wallet, Payment APIs, Back-end, CTO, Fintech, Architecture, Financial Modeling, API Integration, Financial Services, Solution Architecture, Full-stack, Technical Leadership, Mentorship & Coaching, Team Mentoring, Fractional CTO, Finance, Stock Market, Trading, Stock Trading, Startup Consulting, Full-stack Development, Machine Learning, Gatsby, Ethereum Smart Contracts, Mobile Apps, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Investments, Security, Messaging, Middleware, Small Business, B2B Partnerships, Africa, Online Banking, Technology Strategy & Architecture, Strategy, Resourcing, Electrical Engineering
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