Senior Talent Consultant: CA Training Programme: Group Financial Reporting at Sanlam Group

What will you do?


The Talent Consultant - CA(SA) Training Programme is the strategic custodian of Sanlam's Chartered Accountant (South Africa) talent pipeline, responsible for building a sustainable, diverse, and future‑ready finance leadership bench for the Group.
The role owns the end‑to‑end CA(SA) talent value chain, integrating SAICA compliance, strategic workforce planning, employer branding, recruitment excellence, talent development, and post‑articles retention.
The role partners closely with Group Financial Reporting, Finance leadership, and Group Human Capital to ensure that Sanlam continues to attract, develop, and retain high‑calibre CA(SA) talent aligned to current and future business needs.


What will make you successful in this role?

Key Strategic Accountabilities

CA(SA) Talent Pipeline & Workforce Strategy


Develop and execute a multi‑year CA(SA) talent pipeline aligned to Sanlam Group's finance capability and succession requirements.
Partner with Finance and Group Financial Reporting leadership to forecast demand, critical skills, and leadership pipeline needs.
Monitor and report on pipeline health (intake quality, throughput, exam success, completion, and post‑articles retention).
Provide strategic insights and recommendations on pipeline risks, gaps, and optimisation opportunities.


SAICA Accreditation, Compliance & Risk


Act as custodian of Sanlam's SAICA accreditation, ensuring ongoing compliance with SAICA Training Regulations.
Support the Training Officer in audit readiness, reviews, and engagements with SAICA.
Ensure accurate registration, maintenance, and governance of training contracts and trainee eligibility.
Serve as liaison with SAICA on arbitration, disciplinary matters, and misconduct reporting.
Translate regulatory developments into continuous programme improvements.


Employer Brand & University Ecosystem


Own and evolve the employer value proposition for CA(SA) trainees.
Lead targeted attraction and branding initiatives, including university engagement, career fairs, CSR initiatives, and digital presence.
Build and maintain strategic university relationships and benchmark the programme against leading training offices.


Recruitment & Attraction Excellence


Lead end‑to‑end annual CA(SA) trainee recruitment, from attraction and assessment to selection, contracting, and onboarding.
Manage specialist recruitment streams (e.g. Thuthuka, top‑performing and foreign national graduates).
Ensure recruitment supports employment equity objectives and long‑term talent sustainability.


Talent Development, Programme Management & Retention


Manage the CA Training Programme and approximately 15 trainees in line with the CA2025 competency framework.
Oversee trainee rotations, exposure planning, training plans, performance tracking, and corrective action where required.
Facilitate structured development interventions, including mentorship, coaching, graduate development, and technical training.
Coordinate group‑wide mobility and secondments (internal and external audit exposure).
Drive retention and absorption of high‑performing trainees into permanent roles post‑articles.
Establish and manage a CA Trainee Alumni strategy as a long‑term talent and employer brand asset.


Stakeholder Engagement & Continuous Improvement


Build strong relationships with Finance leadership, HR, trainees, universities, SAICA, and other external stakeholders.
Provide thought leadership on best practice in professional training and early‑career talent development.
Continuously assess programme effectiveness and implement improvements to enhance trainee experience and organisational value.


Qualification and Experience


Bachelor's degree in Human Resources or a related field.
SAICA assessor training (advantageous).
Minimum of five years' experience in graduate programmes, talent development, or early‑career pipeline management.
At least 3 years managerial experience of direct reports.
Sound understanding of HR, talent management, and workforce planning practices.


Compentencies


Strategic workforce and talent pipeline planning.
SAICA training regulations and compliance administration.
Graduate recruitment and employer branding.
Stakeholder engagement and influence at senior levels.
Talent analytics, reporting, and programme evaluation.
Change management and continuous improvement.
Strong written, verbal, and presentation skills.


Knowledge and Skills


HR Consulting and Solutions orientation
Data analysis and interpretation and trend analysis within complex business environment
Business understanding
Complex HR Support


The application closing date is 1 April 2026.