Welcome to a curated list of high-impact opportunities for aspiring CA(SA) students, accounting graduates, and finance professionals in training.
Ideal for: undergrads, honours students, trainees, and recent grads.
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Your journey to becoming a Chartered Accountant [CA(SA)] in four key steps:
🔗 Need help picking a training office or prepping for board exams? Check the sections below.
Grouped roughly by route: Big Four first, then mid-tier and national firms, then public sector, then TOPP and commerce programmes. Cycles move every year, so treat them as a guide and check the firm's own page before you diarise anything.
| Firm | Route & Focus | Application Cycle (subject to change, DYOR) | Location(s) | Apply |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PwC South Africa | TIPP. Audit, Tax, Deals, Digital Trust | Rolling. Register your profile early in your final year | National | Student opportunities |
| Deloitte South Africa | TIPP. Audit, Consulting, Financial Advisory, Tax | Rolling, varies by service line | JHB, PTA, CT, DBN | Graduate programmes |
| KPMG South Africa | TIPP. Audit, Tax, Advisory | Rolling. Vac work typically closes end April | JHB, PTA, CT, DBN | Graduate opportunities |
| EY South Africa | TIPP. Assurance, Tax, Strategy, Consulting | Rolling, via the global student portal | JHB, CT, DBN, Gqeberha | Graduate programmes |
| BDO South Africa | TIPP. Audit, Advisory, Tax | Jan to May | JHB, PTA, CT, DBN, Gqeberha | Student careers |
| Forvis Mazars SA (formerly Mazars) | TIPP. Audit, Tax, Advisory | Rolling. 2027 intakes advertised now | JHB, PTA, CT, DBN, Gqeberha | Graduate portal |
| SNG Grant Thornton | TIPP. Audit, Advisory, Tax | March to June | National | Careers |
| RSM South Africa | TIPP. Audit, Corporate Finance | June to August | JHB, CT | Trainee accountants |
| Moore South Africa (Johannesburg) | TIPP. Audit, Tax, Consulting | Rolling. 2028 articles currently advertised | JHB, plus an independent-firm network nationwide | Moore JHB careers |
| PKF South Africa | TIPP. Audit, Tax, Advisory | Rolling, run per member firm | JHB (Octagon), PTA, CT, Stellenbosch, DBN, George, Gqeberha, East Rand | SAICA training contracts |
| Nexia SAB&T | TIPP. Audit, Public Sector, Advisory | Rolling | Centurion head office, offices in all nine provinces | SAICA trainee |
| Crowe Southern Africa | TIPP. Audit, Tax, Advisory | Rolling | JHB, CT, DBN | Careers |
| Baker Tilly (Johannesburg) | TIPP. Audit, Accounting, Tax | Rolling | JHB | Careers |
| SC Audit (Schoeman Coetzee) | TIPP. Audit, Tax. Small-firm exposure | 2027 intake open now | Bellville, Cape Town | 2027 intake |
| Auditor-General South Africa (AGSA) | TIPP. Public sector audit | March to July | National | Trainee auditor programme |
| SARS | TOPP. Tax, revenue administration | Advertised on the SARS vacancies page. 36-month GIT contract | PTA and regional offices | CA articles programme |
| Transnet | TOPP. SOE finance, infrastructure | Advertised via Transnet Academy | JHB, DBN | CAT programme |
| Investec | TOPP. Banking, investment, global markets | 1 to 30 September each year. 2028 intake opens 1 Sept 2026 | JHB, with secondments to London, Sydney, Zurich or Hong Kong | CA programme |
| Allan Gray | TOPP. Asset management. Takes 2 to 5 trainees a year | Reopens October 2026 for the July 2028 intake. 70% average minimum | CT, with possible Orbis secondment (London, Bermuda, Vancouver) | CA programme |
| Standard Bank | TOPP. Banking, finance, advisory. Running 25+ years | 1 February to 31 May. 36-month contract | JHB | Specialist graduate programmes |
| Nedbank | TOPP. Banking, finance, risk. Self-directed rotations | 2027 intake closed. 2028 intake opens January 2027 | JHB | CA training programme |
| FirstRand (FNB, RMB, WesBank) | TOPP. Banking, corporate finance, global markets | Final-years should apply by 31 August | JHB (all articles served there) | CA training programme |
| Absa | TOPP. Banking, finance | Rolling, via the graduate portal | JHB | Graduate opportunities |
| Sanlam | TOPP. Insurance, investment. 60% average minimum | Typically closes end May for a January start | CT, with rotations to JHB and other provinces | CA training programme |
| Old Mutual | TOPP. Insurance, investment, wealth | Advertised on the young talent page | CT, JHB | Young and future leaders |
| Shoprite Group | TOPP. Retail, supply chain, digital analytics | Advertised through the year, intake each February. 65% average, under 27 | Brackenfell, CT (rotations to JHB and DBN) | Trainee accountant programme |
| Tiger Brands | TOPP. FMCG, manufacturing | Advertised on the youth careers page | Bryanston, JHB | Young talent |
<aside> 💡
This is a curated shortlist, not the full register. SAICA accredits several hundred training offices, including a lot of excellent small and regional firms that never advertise on a graduate portal. If a firm you like isn't here, check whether it is accredited on SAICA's training offices page and then approach them directly. Small firms often say yes to a well-written email.
</aside>
Vac work is the cheapest way to find out whether you actually like audit before you sign three years of your life away. Most programmes run over the June/July and December/January university breaks.
| Programme | Company | Dates | Requirements | Apply |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CA Vacation Programme | PwC | June/July and Nov/Dec breaks | Students on a SAICA-accredited degree | Student opportunities |
| Vacation Work Programme | KPMG | Mid-year and December. Applications typically close end April | Penultimate and final-year students | Graduate opportunities |
| BDO RED and RED Lite | BDO SA | RED runs one to two weeks. RED Lite runs two days | RED: 3rd year and CTA. RED Lite: 1st and 2nd year. Strong academics | BDO RED programme |
| Vacation Programme | Moore Johannesburg | Usually June/July and January, over the semester break | BAcc or BCom Accounting students | Moore JHB careers |
| Graduate and student programmes | Forvis Mazars | Year-round, per office | BAcc or BCom Accounting students | Graduate and student opportunities |
| LEAP (Limitless Experience for Audit Pioneers) | Auditor-General SA | University breaks | BCom Accounting and CTA students. Public sector audit exposure | AGSA graduate recruitment |
| CASE (CA Seminar Experience) | Nedbank | 4-day seminar, held each December | Students considering articles in a banking environment | Nedbank CA programme |
| Pathfinder (CA exposure programme) | Investec | Runs alongside the CA programme cycle | Undergraduates exploring a TOPP route | Pathfinder |
| Internships and industrial placement | EY | Varies. Industrial placement runs 12 months | Students whose degree requires industry experience | Student and entry-level programs |