Financial Services Advisory Intern 2027

Job description

Primary Purpose of the Job The Financial Services Advisory Intern will join BDO’s Financial Services Advisory division for a 12-month internship programme. The intern will be exposed to a broad range of advisory work spanning financial reporting, technology risk, governance, regulatory compliance, and client consulting. This role is designed to develop well-rounded business and advisory skills and will suit a motivated individual who is eager to learn, contribute meaningfully to client engagements, and gain practical experience across a dynamic advisory environment. Main Duties and Responsibilities • General Information Technology Controls (GITC) testing and application controls testing. • Analysing information systems data to assess accuracy, completeness and timeliness of transaction processing. • Assisting in the identification and assessment of emerging technology and financial reporting risks facing clients in the Financial Services industry. • Providing technical support to engagement auditors where computer-assisted audit techniques (CAATs) are required. • Supporting the preparation of client-facing reports, management presentations and advisory deliverables. • Assisting with regulatory compliance assessments, including reviews against applicable South African financial services legislation (FAIS, FICA, FSCA, NCA, POPIA) where relevant to client engagements. • Contributing to consulting projects spanning risk advisory, business process improvement, and governance reviews. • Supporting due diligence and data analysis exercises using tools such as IDEA and MS Excel. • Researching IT risk management, IT governance concepts and industry best-practice frameworks (COBIT, ITIL, ISO 27001-2). • Being knowledgeable about, or willing to learn, data analysis. • Willing to learn IT risk management, IT governance concepts and best-practice frameworks.

Requirements

• Bachelor of Commerce in Business Management, Engineering, Accounting, Information Systems, Informatics, Finance, Law, or equivalent.
• BCom Accounting or BCom Internal Auditing.
• BCom Law or LLB with a commercial focus will be considered.
• No prior work experience required; this is an entry-level internship position.
• Vacation work, clerkships, or part-time exposure in consulting, audit, legal, financial services or regulatory environments will be recognised.
• Academic projects, case competitions or research involving financial analysis, compliance, governance or technology risk are advantageous.
• Exposure to COBIT, ITIL, ISO 27001-2 and other models is advantageous.
• Willingness to engage with and learn compliance and governance advisory concepts relevant to financial services clients.
• Proficiency in MS Office (Excel, Word and PowerPoint); exposure to data analytics tools is a plus.
• Professionalism.
• Strong client orientation.
• Attention to detail.
• Ability to prioritise and handle stress.
• Task-driven and delivery-focused.
• Ability to work with all levels within an organisation.
• Have a passion and/or interest in emerging technologies, for example: machine learning, Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics.
• Socially aware and able to work as part of a diverse team.
• Curiosity for regulatory and governance developments affecting the financial services sector.
• Ethical conduct and professional integrity in all dealings.
• Willingness to learn and embrace feedback.
• Academic transcript
• Copy of South African ID
• Updated CV

Responsibilities

• General Information Technology Controls (GITC) testing and application controls testing.
• Analysing information systems data to assess accuracy, completeness and timeliness of transaction processing.
• Assisting in the identification and assessment of emerging technology and financial reporting risks facing clients in the Financial Services industry.
• Providing technical support to engagement auditors where computer-assisted audit techniques (CAATs) are required.
• Supporting the preparation of client-facing reports, management presentations and advisory deliverables.
• Assisting with regulatory compliance assessments, including reviews against applicable South African financial services legislation (FAIS, FICA, FSCA, NCA, POPIA) where relevant to client engagements.
• Contributing to consulting projects spanning risk advisory, business process improvement, and governance reviews.
• Supporting due diligence and data analysis exercises using tools such as IDEA and MS Excel.
• Researching IT risk management, IT governance concepts and industry best-practice frameworks (COBIT, ITIL, ISO 27001-2).
• Being knowledgeable about, or willing to learn, data analysis.
• Willing to learn IT risk management, IT governance concepts and best-practice frameworks.

Application tips

• •Highlight your practicals, projects and any volunteer work.
• •Confirm you are an unemployed graduate — most internships require it.