Professional Services - Deloitte

Deloitte SAICA Trainee Accountant Programme 2026

Three-year SAICA training contract at Deloitte Africa - qualify as a CA(SA) while working across Audit, Tax, Risk, Financial Advisory and Consulting.

By GoCareers Team • • 12 min read

Apply on Deloitte students & graduates

Status: Annual recruitment cycle - apply ~18 months before traineeship start

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Programme Overview

Programme Details

Provider:Deloitte Africa
Duration:36 months (Training Contract for Management Accountants - TCMA)
NQF level:NQF Level 8 (postgraduate)
Stipend:Deloitte trainee package (market-related; revised annually)
Locations:Johannesburg (Waterfall), Cape Town, Pretoria, Durban, Port Elizabeth
Positions:Hundreds of trainees across Audit & Assurance, Tax and Advisory

Why Deloitte?

  • ✓SAICA-accredited training office - the largest network in SA
  • ✓Strong ITC and APC pass rates with structured exam support
  • ✓Exposure to JSE-listed and multinational clients on day one
  • ✓Global mobility within Deloitte after CA(SA) qualification
  • ✓Bursary pathway available for top BCom Accounting students

Entry Requirements

  • ✓Completed (or final-year) BCom Accounting, BAcc, or equivalent from a SAICA-accredited university
  • ✓Enrolled in or completed CTA / PGDA
  • ✓South African citizen or work-rights for the duration of the traineeship
  • ✓Strong academic record (typically 60%+ average)
  • ✓Pass the SAICA Initial Test of Competence (ITC) and the Assessment of Professional Competence (APC) during the training contract
  • ✓Strong analytical and communication skills
  • ✓Persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply

Streams Within Deloitte

Audit & Assurance

Statutory audits across financial services, consumer industries, energy and the public sector

Risk Advisory

Internal audit, cyber, regulatory, ESG and risk transformation

Tax & Legal

Corporate tax, international tax, indirect tax, transfer pricing

Financial Advisory

M&A, restructuring, valuations, forensics

Consulting

Strategy & analytics, technology, customer & operations, human capital

SAICA TCMA traineeships are most commonly hosted in Audit & Assurance, with secondments into other streams supported.

Programme Structure

1

Year 1 - Foundations

12 months

Initial training, audit/tax fundamentals, exposure to multiple client engagements, and preparation for the SAICA ITC exam.

📍 Office + client sites

2

Year 2 - Build expertise

12 months

Deeper engagement leadership on audits/advisory projects, take ownership of audit sections, supervise first-years.

📍 Office + client sites

3

Year 3 - Audit leadership & APC

12 months

Lead audit sections end-to-end, prepare for the SAICA APC professional competence exam and qualify as a CA(SA).

📍 Office + client sites

Where CAs(SA) Go After Deloitte

A Deloitte training contract is one of the most portable career platforms in South Africa. Typical exits:

Senior Associate / Audit Manager at Deloitte
Move into Deloitte Consulting, Risk Advisory or Financial Advisory
Industry CA(SA) - Financial Manager, FP&A, Group Reporting
Investment Banking analyst (post-CA)
Internal audit / forensic accounting
Treasury or corporate finance
Move abroad - CA(SA) is recognised globally via ICAEW pathway

Documents You’ll Need

  • 📄Updated CV (max 2 pages)
  • 📄Full academic transcript (latest)
  • 📄Certified copy of SA ID or work-rights documentation
  • 📄Matric certificate
  • 📄Motivation letter / cover letter
  • 📄Names of two academic or work references

Application Process

1

Decide on your training contract pathway

Most CA(SA) candidates apply for a TCMA contract in their second or third year of BCom - Deloitte hires roughly 18 months ahead of the trainee start date.

Typically Year 2 of BCom
2

Apply via the Deloitte student portal

Register on the Deloitte SA careers site, complete the candidate profile, attach your latest academic transcript and CV.

Annual recruitment cycle
3

Vacation work programme

Many trainees first do a 1-2 week vac programme - strong vac performers receive a direct training contract offer.

June/December university holidays
4

Online assessments

Numerical reasoning, verbal reasoning and personality questionnaires from the Deloitte talent platform.

After application
5

Interviews

Competency-based interview with a Deloitte manager, then a final partner interview.

Final stages
6

Sign your SAICA training contract

Successful candidates sign a 3-year SAICA training contract with Deloitte. Deloitte also supports CTA fees via its bursary programme for top BCom students.

In time for January/July intake

⚠️ Important to know

• Deloitte recruits ~18 months ahead of the trainee start - apply in Year 2 or Year 3 of BCom for best chances

• Most successful trainees first do a vacation work programme - these have the highest conversion rates

• You must remain enrolled in CTA / PGDA at a SAICA-accredited institution for the duration of your contract

• ITC pass at first attempt is strongly preferred; APC requires registration after Year 3

• Deloitte runs structured CTA bursary support for top BCom students from previously disadvantaged backgrounds

Where to Find More Information

Deloitte SA - Students & Graduates

🌐 deloitte.com - students

📍 Deloitte Place, 5 Magwa Crescent, Waterfall City, Midrand

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