HC Operations Associate

PwC; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 240,000 - 360,000; Full time

Job summary

PwC is seeking an HC Associate to provide end-to-end operational support for the HC Operations Graduate Team in Johannesburg. You will manage a designated year of graduate intake, coordinate recruitment, placement and training contract administration for SAICA and learnership opportunities, and maintain accurate records.

The role requires high accuracy, organisation and professional communication across multiple systems while supporting stakeholders and students throughout the process.

Qualifications

• Diploma or degree in Human Resources, Business Administration or related field.
• Experience in recruitment administration or HR operations is advantageous.
• Experience with Neptune, MIE or similar platforms is advantageous.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (Outlook, Excel, Word, Teams).
• Strong data-capturing, record-management and reconciliation capability.
• Ability to communicate professionally with students, candidates and internal stakeholders.
• Understanding of recruitment, learnership or training contract administration is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Application screening and Neptune administration for SAICA learnership placements.
• Coordinate interviews, send invitations and manage campus interview logistics.
• Submit training contract approvals and monitor progress through completion.
• Reconcile applicant data across systems and maintain accurate records.
• Respond to stakeholder and student queries promptly and professionally.

Skills

Strong organisational skills

Clear communication

High-volume workload management

Attention to detail

Problem-solving

Team collaboration

Education

Diploma or degree in Human Resources or Business Administration

Tools

Neptune

MIE

HR systems

Databases

Workflow tools

Job description

Management Level Associate Job Description & Summary At PwC, our people in people operations primarily focus on managing the people lifecycle and the day-to-day operational tasks related to managing employees. These includes activities such as employee onboarding, offboarding, payroll and benefits administration, absence management, employee record-keeping, compliance with labour laws and regulations, and managing employee inquiries and issues. These individuals enable HR processes and systems to run smoothly in order to efficiently support our workforce. Those in human resource operations at PwC will focus on all areas of Human Resources and the business in executing Human Resources related transactions and administrative activities. You will be a primary HR point of contact in the resolution, escalation or routing of inquiries as needed in line with HR protocols and guidelines, as well as be part of a team of problem solvers that help solve complex business issues from strategy to execution. Driven by curiosity, you are a reliable, contributing member of a team. In our fast-paced environment, you are expected to adapt to working with a variety of clients and team members, each presenting varying challenges and scope. Every experience is an opportunity to learn and grow. You are expected to take ownership and consistently deliver quality work that drives value for our clients and success as a team. As you navigate through the Firm, you build a brand for yourself, opening doors to more opportunities. Examples of the skills, knowledge, and experiences you need to lead and deliver value at this level include but are not limited to: Apply a learning mindset and take ownership for your own development. Appreciate diverse perspectives, needs, and feelings of others. Adopt habits to sustain high performance and develop your potential. Actively listen, ask questions to check understanding, and clearly express ideas. Seek, reflect, act on, and give feedback. Gather information from a range of sources to analyse facts and discern patterns. Commit to understanding how the business works and building commercial awareness. Learn and apply professional and technical standards (e.g. refer to specific PwC tax and audit guidance), uphold the Firm's code of conduct and independence requirements.

Purpose of Job:

The HC Associate will provide end-to-end operational and administrative support within the HC Operations Graduate Team. The role is responsible for managing a designated year of graduate intake and supporting applicants through the recruitment, placement and training contract administration process for SAICA and other line of service learnership opportunities with PwC. The role requires high levels of accuracy, organisation and professional communication. The incumbent must maintain complete and compliant applicant profiles, keep information aligned across systems and trackers, and provide reliable support to students, Graduate Recruitment, Talent Acquisition and other HC Operations stakeholders.

Responsibilities:

• Application Screening and Neptune Administration: Screen applications in Neptune for SAICA learnership placement opportunities with PwC. Progress applications accurately through the relevant stages in Neptune. Request outstanding or additional information and follow up with applicants where required. Ensure applicant profiles remain QMSE compliant and that all required supporting documents are uploaded and correctly recorded. Maintain accurate and up-to-date application information.
• Interview Coordination: Send interview booking invitations and related applicant communication. Coordinate and set up campus interviews, including the required scheduling and administration. Process interview permission requests and other interview-related administration. Liaise with students in a clear, professional and service-focused manner throughout the process.
• Training Contract and Offer Administration: Submit training contract approvals to the Graduate Recruitment Partner. Submit approved training contract requests for drafting and monitor progress through completion. Process XLOS contract requests accurately and within agreed timelines. Liaise with the Talent Acquisition team regarding regional offers, application outcomes and general queries. Process academic article applications and maintain the required supporting records.
• Data Reconciliation, Compliance and Controls: Reconcile applicant and intake information between the Intake Tracker and Neptune. Identify and resolve missing, incomplete or inconsistent information across systems and records. Ensure all applicant profiles, approvals and documents meet the required quality and compliance standards. Participate in the MIE background-check project and support follow-up actions. Maintain organised, accurate and auditable records for the assigned intake year.
• General HC Operations Administration: Process administration requests, including releases, acknowledgement of debt requests, interview permissions and related graduate administration. Respond to stakeholder and student queries promptly, accurately and professionally. Provide progress updates and escalation risks, delays or exceptions to the appropriate stakeholder. Support bulk activities, process improvements and special projects within the Graduate Team. Be willing to assist other areas of HC Operations with operational work and projects when required.

Key Competencies and Attributes:

• Strong organisational and administration skills, with excellent attention to detail.
• Clear and professional written and verbal communication.
• Ability to manage a high-volume workload, prioritise effectively and meet deadlines.
• Strong reconciliation, quality-checking and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work accurately across multiple systems, trackers and process stages.
• Service-focused approach when dealing with students and internal stakeholders.
• Proactive follow-up, ownership and accountability for assigned work.
• Ability to work independently while contributing positively to a team.
• Adaptable, resilient and willing to support changing operational priorities and projects.
• High level of discretion and integrity when handling personal and confidential information.

Qualification & Experience:

• Requirements: Diploma or degree in Human Resources, Business Administration or a related field.
• Previous experience in recruitment administration, graduate recruitment, HR operations or a similar administrative role is advantageous.
• Experience working with applicant tracking systems, HR systems, databases or workflow tools is advantageous.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Outlook, Excel, Word and Teams.
• Strong data-capturing, record-management and reconciliation capability.
• Ability to communicate professionally with students, candidates and internal stakeholders.
• Understanding of recruitment, learnership or training contract administration is advantageous.
• Experience with Neptune, MIE or similar platforms is advantageous.

Travel Requirements Up to 20% Available for Work Visa Sponsorship? No Job Posting End Date November 12, 2026

Are you ready to make a difference? Want to unlock new value by applying your unique perspective and talents? You can grow exponentially at PwC. Here, you can uncover hidden talents, build lifelong relationships rooted in trust and empathy and turn challenges into opportunities for innovation. We’ll help you grow your skills through challenging, meaningful work so you can go further.