Citi South Africa Learnership Graduate Programme 2026 – Johannesburg

Are you a university graduate looking for a learnership opportunity in South Africa that can give you valuable banking and financial services experience? Citi South Africa is offering a one-year Learnership Graduate Programme in Independent Compliance Risk Management (ICRM) in Johannesburg, Gauteng.

The programme is aimed at newly qualified university graduates who want to develop their careers in banking, compliance, risk management and financial services.

Unlike many entry-level opportunities that require several years of experience, Citi states that extensive work experience is not required for this programme. Candidates with a maximum of one year of work experience may also apply.

The programme provides practical workplace exposure and training while allowing graduates to develop skills in one of the most important areas of the financial services industry.

Citi Learnership Graduate Programme 2026 – Job Details

Company: Citi
Programme: South Africa Learnership Graduate Program – ICRM
Location: Johannesburg, Gauteng
Programme duration: One year
Employment type: Full-time
Department: Independent Compliance Risk Management (ICRM)
Job family: Management Development Programs
Job family: Intern
Experience: Maximum of one year accepted, but experience is not required
Degree requirement: Undergraduate degree with a GPA of 65% or above, or a master’s degree
Pay information: Not provided in the vacancy

Citi is looking for graduates who are interested in developing their careers in financial compliance and risk management.

What Is the Citi ICRM Learnership Programme?

The Independent Compliance Risk Management (ICRM) team plays an important role within Citi.

The one-year programme is designed to give newly qualified university graduates practical experience in compliance risk management.

During the programme, successful candidates will be exposed to areas such as Anti-Money Laundering (AML) risk management, regulatory requirements, risk assessments, policy implementation and data analysis.

The programme is intended to help graduates move from academic learning into the professional working environment.

Participants will gain practical knowledge while working within a major international financial institution.

What Will Graduates Learn?

Citi explains that participants will be immersed in the core functions of compliance risk management.

One important area is Anti-Money Laundering (AML) risk management.

Graduates will learn how compliance risks are identified, assessed and mitigated across different areas of the business.

The programme may also provide exposure to:

• Compliance risk management
• Anti-Money Laundering risk management
• Regulatory frameworks
• Risk assessments
• Policy implementation
• Data analysis
• Internal compliance standards
• External regulatory requirements
• Financial regulations
• Risk mitigation
• Control environments

This experience can be valuable for graduates interested in developing a career in banking, financial compliance, risk management or related areas.

Citi Learnership Requirements

Citi has listed specific academic requirements for candidates interested in the programme.

Undergraduate Degree With 65% GPA or Higher

Applicants must have obtained an undergraduate degree with a GPA of 65% or above.

The vacancy states that the undergraduate qualification can be in any discipline.

This means applicants are not limited to graduates who studied a specific banking or compliance degree.

Master’s Degree

Candidates who have obtained a master’s degree in any discipline may also apply.

Applicants should ensure that they provide their academic records as part of the application.

Work Experience

Extensive work experience is not required.

Citi states that candidates may have a maximum of one year of work experience, but having work experience is not a requirement.

This makes the opportunity particularly relevant to newly qualified graduates who are looking for their first significant professional experience.

Skills Citi Is Looking For

Academic qualifications are only one part of the selection process.

Citi is also looking for graduates who demonstrate strong personal and professional skills.

Leadership Skills

Candidates should demonstrate leadership potential and the ability to contribute positively within a team.

Leadership does not necessarily mean having managed a large team. Graduates can demonstrate leadership through university projects, community activities, student organisations or other experiences.

Teamwork

The programme involves working within a professional team.

Applicants should therefore be able to collaborate with colleagues, contribute ideas and work towards shared objectives.

Communication Skills

Strong communication skills are important.

Graduates should be able to communicate clearly and professionally, both verbally and in writing.

Analytical Skills

The ICRM function involves analysing information and assessing potential risks.

Citi is therefore looking for candidates with strong analytical and quantitative skills.

Applicants should be comfortable working with information, identifying issues and thinking critically.

Planning and Organisation

The successful candidate should have strong planning and organisational skills.

Working in a professional financial environment requires employees to manage tasks, meet deadlines and maintain accurate information.

Integrity and Ethical Decision-Making

Integrity is particularly important in compliance and risk management.

Citi states that an unquestioned commitment to integrity and ethical decision-making is paramount to the ICRM function.

Applicants should therefore understand the importance of honesty, confidentiality, responsible decision-making and compliance with rules and regulations.

Interest in Banking and Financial Regulations

Citi says that knowledge of the global or domestic business landscape, particularly an interest in financial regulations and compliance, is preferred but not required.

This means applicants do not necessarily need previous professional experience in compliance.

However, demonstrating genuine interest in financial services, banking regulations and risk management can strengthen an application.

Candidates can use their cover letter to explain why they are interested in the financial industry and why compliance and risk management appeal to them.

What Documents Must You Submit?

Citi has clearly stated that only full applications will be considered.

Applicants must submit the required documentation with their application.

These documents include:

• Updated CV
• Cover letter
• Full academic transcripts
• ID

It is therefore important not to submit an incomplete application.

Before applying, check that all documents are current, clear and readable.

Your CV should contain your educational background, relevant skills, achievements, projects, leadership activities and any work experience you may have.

Why Is the Cover Letter Important?

The cover letter gives graduates an opportunity to explain why they are interested in joining Citi.

Because the programme is focused on compliance and risk management, applicants can use their cover letter to demonstrate their interest in:

• Banking
• Financial services
• Compliance
• Risk management
• Financial regulations
• Anti-Money Laundering
• Ethical decision-making
• International business

A strong cover letter should also explain what you hope to learn from the programme and how the opportunity fits into your long-term career goals.

Can Graduates Apply for Permanent Positions?

One of the important aspects of this programme is that Citi states that graduates are allowed to apply for permanent positions during the year.

This means the learnership can potentially provide a pathway for graduates who want to establish a longer-term career with Citi.

However, applicants should understand that being allowed to apply for permanent positions does not mean that permanent employment is guaranteed.

Permanent roles would still be subject to the relevant recruitment and selection processes.

A Potential Career Starting Point for Graduates

Moving from university into the workplace can be challenging for newly qualified graduates.

The Citi programme is designed to help bridge that gap by combining training with practical work experience.

Participants can develop their understanding of how a major financial institution manages compliance and risk.

The experience gained during the programme may also help graduates understand how financial regulations affect businesses operating in a global environment.

For graduates who are interested in banking, compliance or risk management, this type of practical exposure can be valuable when building a professional career.

Who Should Apply for the Citi Learnership?

The programme may be suitable for candidates who:

• Have completed an undergraduate degree.
• Achieved a GPA of 65% or above at undergraduate level.
• Alternatively, have obtained a master’s degree.
• Have no more than one year of work experience.
• Are interested in banking and financial services.
• Have strong communication skills.
• Have analytical and quantitative abilities.
• Can work effectively within a team.
• Have strong organisational skills.
• Are committed to personal development.
• Have an interest in compliance and financial regulations.
• Demonstrate integrity and ethical decision-making.
• Are willing to learn and develop professionally.

Citi South Africa Learnership 2026 – Application Advice

Before submitting your application, carefully check the information in your CV and supporting documents.

Make sure your academic results are clearly presented and that your full academic transcripts are included.

Your CV should also be tailored to the programme rather than being a generic CV.

Highlight academic achievements, university projects, leadership activities, teamwork, analytical work and any relevant exposure to financial services or compliance.

If you have completed courses, projects or activities related to finance, risk, compliance, economics, business or data analysis, consider including them where relevant.

Final Thoughts

The Citi South Africa Learnership Graduate Programme 2026 in Johannesburg provides an opportunity for newly qualified university graduates to gain practical experience within the Independent Compliance Risk Management (ICRM) function.

The one-year programme focuses on areas including Anti-Money Laundering risk management, compliance risks, regulatory frameworks, risk assessments, policy implementation and data analysis.

Applicants need an undergraduate degree with a GPA of 65% or above or a master’s degree in any discipline. Extensive work experience is not required, although candidates with up to one year of work experience may apply.

Citi is also looking for candidates with strong leadership, teamwork, communication, analytical, planning and organisational skills, as well as a genuine commitment to integrity and ethical decision-making.

Applicants must submit a CV, cover letter, full academic transcripts and ID, as Citi states that only complete applications will be considered.

If you are a recent graduate looking to enter the banking and financial services industry, this could be an opportunity worth considering.

For more learnerships, graduate programmes, internships, jobs for graduates and career opportunities in South Africa, keep checking seta-services.co.za for new opportunities.

Important: Always check the official Citi careers page and the original vacancy before applying. Job requirements, availability and application details can change.