APEX Graduate Programme 2027 - Future Leaders Accelerator

Lesaka Technologies; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 260,000 - 380,000; Full time

Job summary

Lesaka Technologies’ APEX Future Leaders Accelerator offers exceptional graduates a permanent role from Day 1, with real responsibilities and a chance to work across functions and geographies. Over 18 months you will build leadership, commercial thinking and digital capability while gaining exposure to Africa’s leading fintech business.

You will develop through challenging projects, engage with senior leadership, and contribute to AI and technology-driven solutions that improve customer

Qualifications

• A minimum 75% academic average.
• Relevant qualifications aligned to Technology, Finance, Operations
• Evidence of leadership – through university, work, community, entrepreneurial or other experiences
• Strong problem-solving and analytical ability
• A demonstrated desire to create impact and improve how things work
• Curiosity about technology, business and the future of financial services
• The ambition and adaptability to work across functions, businesses and environments

Job description

About APEX

What if your first job was designed to accelerate you towards your future?

APEX is Lesaka’s Future Leaders Accelerator, designed for exceptional graduates who want more than a traditional graduate programme.

From Day 1, you will be a permanent Lesaka employee with real responsibilities, a role in the business and opportunities to work on meaningful challenges.

Over 18 months, you will build your professional, functional, commercial and leadership capability while gaining exposure to one of Africa’s leading fintech businesses.

What you can expect

Real responsibility from Day 1
You will have a permanent role, a line manager and real business deliverables.

Go beyond your function
Gain exposure to Lesaka’s businesses, customers, markets and operations across different functions and geographies.

Work with senior leaders
Engage with executives and work on strategic business challenges that matter to Lesaka.

Build AI and technology capability
You won't just learn about AI. You will identify opportunities to use AI and technology to improve productivity, automate work, enhance customer experiences and solve business problems.

Develop as a future leader
Build capability in commercial thinking, strategic thinking, influencing, communication, collaboration, leadership and personal effectiveness.

Make an impact
Your journey will culminate in an executive-sponsored business challenge and a recommendation presented to senior leadership, alongside a community/CSI contribution.

Who are we looking for?

We are looking for exceptional people who have the potential to become future leaders, not simply candidates with strong academic results.

You should have:

• A minimum 75% academic average

• Relevant qualifications aligned to Technology, Finance, Operations

• Evidence of leadership – through university, work, community, entrepreneurial or other experiences

• Strong problem-solving and analytical ability

• A demonstrated desire to create impact and improve how things work

• Curiosity about technology, business and the future of financial services

• The ambition and adaptability to work across functions, businesses and environments

You do not need previous fintech experience. What matters is your potential, mindset, capability and what you have already demonstrated.

What are the roles?

TECHNOLOGY STREAM

• Cybersecurity Analyst – Secure 100+ million customer transactions daily

• Data Analyst – Unlock insights from fintech data at scale

• Developer / Business Analyst – Build the next generation of fintech solutions

• AI/Automation Engineer – Solve problems with AI. Identify automation opportunities.

• Security Operations Analyst – Protect Lesaka's systems and customer data

FINANCE STREAM

• Group Accountant – Own accounting across the fintech ecosystem

• Finance Sales Analyst – Understand customer economics. Drive profitable growth.

• Junior Finance Analyst – Build financial discipline and commercial thinking

• Junior Insights Analyst – Turn data into business decisions

• Risk Analyst – Identify, measure, mitigate financial risk

OPERATIONS STREAM

• Operations & Projects Graduate – Deliver complex cross-divisional projects

• Commercial Strategy Analyst – Shape Lesaka's competitive strategy

• Junior Commercial Decision Analyst – Make data-driven commercial decisions

• Fraud Risk Analyst – Protect customers. Detect and prevent fraud.

Why Lesaka?

Lesaka operates at the intersection of financial services, technology and inclusion, serving consumers, merchants and businesses across our markets.

APEX gives you the opportunity to build your career while contributing to a business that is transforming how people and businesses participate in the economy.

This isn't about spending 18 months moving from one training session to another.

It's about doing real work, solving real problems, learning from exceptional people and building the capabilities to become a future leader.

Ready to build your future?

If you're ambitious, curious, driven to make an impact and ready to take on challenges beyond your current experience, we want to hear from you.