The South African Reserve Bank (SARB) is calling on skilled and ambitious postgraduates to apply for its one-year Graduate Development Programme starting in February 2026.
(914) Graduate Development Programme
Duration: 1 year contract
Location: Pretoria, South Africa
Closing Date: 30 April 2025
What the SARB does
The SARB serves the economic well-being of South Africans through maintaining price and financial stability. It is responsible for the regulation of the South African financial sector, the design and distribution of banknotes and coin, the management of interest rates, setting the cash reserve requirement for banks, and ensuring the stability of both the banking sector and the wider financial system.
What the Programme is about
Exposure to departments in the SARB
Graduates will work and learn at the SARB Head Office from February 2026 to January 2027. They will be assigned to a department and exposed to various tasks and projects.
During the Programme, graduates will attend various learning interventions at the SARB Academy. Interventions are mainly specific to central banking and are aimed at producing well-rounded central bankers. As part of the holistic programme, graduates will also gain personal and professional skills such as assertive communication, public speaking and presentations, creating powerful PowerPoint presentations, impactful reporting, teamwork and personal excellence and etiquette.
After the first year
At the end of the year, some graduates will be permanently appointed into a department of the SARB. Those most likely to be appointed are graduates who:
• are interested in continuing their career at the SARB;
• have a desire to contribute to monetary policy, financial stability, currency management, supervising financial institutions, financial markets, or any one of the SARB’s enabling functions;
• have demonstrated behaviours aligned to the SARB’s values of accountability, excellence, integrity, respect and trust and open communication;
• can function independently and contribute actively and effectively in a team; and
• have performed exceptionally well in their assigned departments and academically.
Qualifications
Applications are open to candidates who have a postgraduate qualification in one of the following fields:
o e.g Economics
o Econometrics
o Statistics
o Research
o Policy Analysis
o Public Finance
o Accounting
o Auditing
o Law
o Financial Mathematics
o Financial Engineering
o Information Technology
o Digital Technology
o Portfolio or Investment Management
o Mathematics
o Quantitative Analysis
o Business Analysis
o Risk Management (operational and financial risk)
o Actuarial Science
o Fintech
You meet the requirements if you:
• have completed an honours degree (NQF 8);
• a South African citizen;
• have attained an average of over 65% in your final year;
• have a strong desire to work in financial services and/or policymaking;
• have a proven track record of academic excellence;
• have excellent communication and interpersonal skills; and
• are a curious and keen learner.
Shortlisted applicants will be invited to participate in interviews, assessments and a security clearance as part of the selection process.
In line with the SARB’s commitment to diversifying its workforce, preference will be given to suitable candidates from designated groups. Correspondence will be limited to shortlisted candidates only.
(915) Data Science Graduate Development Programme
Qualifications
To be considered, candidates must have a postgraduate qualification or be in the process of completing a postgraduate qualification (ideally completed the course work) in one of the following fields:
• Data Science
• Machine Learning/Artificial Intelligence
• Predictive Analytics Modelling
• Statistics
• Applied Mathematics
• Digital Technology (Information Technology)
• Fintech
• Economics with Econometrics
• Business Mathematics and Informatics.
Additional requirements
• Coding with R and/or Python;
• be a South African citizen;
• be a curious, innovative and self-motivated individual with strong analytical skills;
• have a proven track record of academic excellence with an overall average mark of 70% and above; and
• have excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Have Fintech experience.
Remuneration and benefits
Graduates will receive a market-related salary and additional benefits for the duration of the programme.
Shortlisted applicants will be invited to participate in interviews, assessments and a security clearance as part of the selection process.
In line with the SARB’s commitment to diversifying its workforce, preference will be given to suitable candidates from designated groups. Correspondence will be limited to shortlisted candidates only.
Closing Date: 30 April 2025
How To Apply
