Specialist Functions for Graduate Careers
Specialist Functions is the heart beat of our business. The specialist teams set good practice standards at group level as well as working across business lines and countries providing expertise, guidance and professional services that are purposefully shaped to enable every part of the business.
Programme areas
Standard Bank CA(SA) Training Programme
Discover Your Path to Success with Standard Bank’s CA(SA) Training Program For over 25 years, our CA(SA) Training Program has been at the heart of innovation, offering a unique pathway to becoming a Chartered Accountant outside of traditional auditing. We’re looking for dynamic individuals who embrace transformation, thrive on growth, and are committed to lifelong learning. If you’re ready to learn, unlearn, and adapt at pace to stay ahead, this program is for you.
Building the future is exciting, but it requires boldness and determination. We seek challenge-seekers, not bystanders—those motivated by transformation, growth, and the pursuit of excellence.
With over 60 executives and senior managers emerging from our program, we’ve established a legacy of leadership and impact. Our rotational model spans 40+ opportunities, offering diverse experiences and international exposure to ensure every trainee’s journey is tailored to their potential and aspirations.
A Year-by-Year Experience
- First Year: Begin with finance-focused rotations, strategically designed to help you achieve SAICA competencies while gaining a holistic view of banking operations.
- Second Year: Personalize your journey with rotations tailored to your unique skills and SAICA competency needs, deepening expertise and broadening your foundation.
- Third Year: Explore your interests and preferences as you complete SAICA competencies, preparing for permanent placement and excelling in your chosen path.
- Comprehensive Support for Your Success
Our program ensures you thrive with:
- Exam Support: Tailored assistance for ITC and APC success.
- Leadership Development: Upskilling through specialised initiatives.
- Continuous Learning: Access to our CA-focused learning and development platform.
- Executive Engagement: Insight sessions with senior leaders to explore business units and opportunities.
- Coaching and mentorship: Each trainee is provided with mentors and coaches to assist in navigating their journey within our vast organisation.
- Join the Future of Leadership
At Standard Bank, we’re passionate about growing our people—and we are passionate about growing you. Push boundaries, unlock your potential, and become a visionary CA(SA) shaping the future of business.
Choose Standard Bank. Choose to lead.
Qualifying Criteria
- Completed or completing SAICA-accredited Certificate in the Theory of Accounting,
- Honours (HNS) in Accounting
- Postgraduate Diploma in Accounting (PGDA) or equivalent
- Graduate Diploma in Accounting (GDA) or equivalent.
- Post passing GDA, CTA or PGDA you must be eligible to write the ITC Board assessment
NB Please note that you are NOT eligible to apply to the programme if you are currently completing CTA level 1 or BCTA (Bridging course into CTA).
Programme duration: 36 months
Application dates: 1 February 2025 - 30 June 2025
People and Culture (Human Capital) Graduate Programme
How our people think and feel about their work correlates directly with how satisfied our clients are, and how successful we are in delivering our strategy and performance aspirations. The People and Culture team in Standard Bank are continuously finding new ways to make our people’s dreams possible.
Our purpose in People & Culture is to enable people to become the best version of themselves to drive our continent's growth. So, we're looking for talented types who align closely with our People Promise; individuals who are driven to win, empathetic and supportive, and committed to unleashing Africa’s potential.
You'll help us bring our purpose to life, and ensure that we add value in the present –while also anticipating and capitalising on the future world of work.
The 18-month programme consists of structured rotations and has a strong focus on learning-on-the-job, self-learning and technical training. Above all, you'll get to experience People and Culture as a generalist and as a subject matter expert, while interacting and collaborating with all levels of staff.
Qualifying criteria
- Undergraduate or postgraduate degree in one or more of the following: Psychology, Organisational Psychology, Industrial Psychology, Human Resources, Neuroscience, Sociology, Anthropology, Philosophy, Data Analytics, Data Science, or Business Intelligence
- Must be able to speak, read and write English
- Must be computer literate.
Programme duration: 18 months
Application dates: 1 April 2025 – 15 June 2025
Apply for Graduate Programmes
Graduate application process
We believe in making dreams possible and connecting the brightest talent to the meaningful opportunities they need to build their skills, ignite their ambitions, and get closer to their purpose.
Step 1: Apply online
- Visit the Careers Portal
- Go to the apply tab then select my profile.
- If you are a first-time visitor select tell me more to create your SmartRecruiter profile.
- Complete the profile information or upload your LinkedIn or Indeed profile to create a SmartRecruiter profile
- Once your profile has been completed and you have uploaded your supporting documents including your full transcripts then you can proceed to apply for your preferred Early Careers Programme.
Step 2: Pre-Screening process
You'll complete a pre-screening questionnaire related to the requirements of the role. You'll then receive notification via email to complete an online Odyssey assessment once you've successfully met all the minimum requirements in accordance with the Programme requirements.
Step 3: Interviews
Once you've successfully passed the screening part of our process, we'll invite you to a video interview for the programme you've selected. That will be a panel interview.
If your application is unsuccessful for your preferred programme, but you meet the criteria for another, we'll invite you to a video interview for that programme.
Step 4: Assessments
Candidates that are successful at the interview stage will be asked to complete psychometric assessments. The successful candidates will then proceed to the next step.
Step 5: Final selection
The selected candidates will then be invited to an Assessment Center or a final round interview with business depending on the Programme needs.
Step 6: Offer/Decline
Although we'd like to offer all the talented applicants a place, competition for spaces on our Early Career Programmes is often fierce. That's why, post the final selection stage, we'll prioritise letting you know whether your application has been successful or not.
Still have questions?
Visit our FAQ page before applying