The South African Reserve Bank (SARB) is inviting productive and talented postgraduates to join its one-year Graduate Development Programme in February 2027.
Job Category: Internship
Best Before: 04/30/2026, 11:57 PM
Degree Level: NQF 8: Honours degree, Post Graduate diploma and Professional Qualifications
Job Schedule: Full time
Job Shift: Day
Placement: Head Office, 1st floor, Pretoria, Gauteng, 0002, ZA
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 2027 to January 2028. 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.
- SARB Graduate Development programme
Job ID: 1556
Qualifications
Applications are open to candidates who have a postgraduate qualification in one of the following fields:
- Economics
- Econometrics
- Statistics
- Research
- Policy Analysis
- Public Finance
- Accounting
- Auditing
- Law
- Financial Mathematics
- Financial Engineering
- Information Technology
- Digital Technology
- Portfolio or Investment Management
- Mathematics
- Quantitative Analysis
- Business Analysis
- Risk Management (operational and financial risk)
- Actuarial Science
- Fintech
- Data Science Graduate Development Programme
Job ID: 1557
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.
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.
About SARB
Primary mandate of the SARB
Section 224 of the Constitution of South Africa states the mandate of the SARB as follows:
- The primary object of the South African Reserve Bank is to protect the value of the currency in the interest of balanced and sustainable economic growth in the Republic.
- The South African Reserve Bank, in support of its primary objective, must perform its functions independently and without fear, favour or prejudice.
What we do
Monetary Policy
- The Constitution gives the SARB the mandate to protect the value of the rand. We use interest rates to keep inflation low and steady.
Financial Stability
- The SARB has a mandate to protect and enhance financial stability. We identify and mitigate systemic risks that might disrupt the financial system.
Prudential Regulation
- The Prudential Authority regulates financial institutions and market infrastructures to promote and enhance their safety and soundness, and support financial stability.
Financial Markets
- Open market operations are the main tool we use to implement monetary policy. We manage South Africa’s gold and foreign exchange reserves.
Financial Surveillance
- The SARB is responsible for regulating cross-border transactions, preventing the abuse of the financial system and supporting the regulation of financial institutions.
Payments and Settlements
- The SARB is responsible for ensuring the safety and soundness of the national payment system, which is the backbone of South Africa’s modern financial system.
Statistics
- The SARB provides important economic and financial statistics that present an overview of the economic situation in South Africa.
Research
- Research conducted by the SARB focuses on economics, financial stability, banking and emerging trends in finance. Our research supports policy decision-making.
Banknotes and Coin
- The SARB has the sole right to make, issue and destroy banknotes and coin in South Africa.
