Apex Group is one of the largest fund administration and financial services groups globally, with its South African arm, Apex Fund Services, forming part of a network spanning dozens of countries. Because the business covers so many specialist functions — fund accounting, compliance, investor services, legal, and more — its internship programme is structured to rotate interns through real departments rather than a single fixed desk, which is fairly unusual for a 12-month internship in the financial services space.
Internship Overview
The Apex Internship Programme places candidates inside different divisions of Apex Fund Services South Africa, giving them workplace experience that serves as a foundation for their career. Interns get a 12-month contract and receive a monthly stipend.
At the end of the contract, trainees who meet Apex’s recruitment requirements can apply for any available vacancy on the career portal. No guarantee can be given, but many interns before have successfully moved into permanent positions after their internship. The programme is aimed at people who have completed a degree in Finance, Accounting, IT, Investment, HR, Legal, or Marketing.
Who This Internship Suits
This suits recent graduates from a finance, legal, or business-related degree who want broad exposure across a large financial services group rather than committing to one specific role from day one. Because placement into a department only happens after you’re accepted, it particularly suits candidates who are open-minded about which division they land in — fund accounting, compliance, and investor services all differ quite a bit day-to-day.
Job Specification
- Responsibilities will differ depending on which department the intern gets placed in
- Must drive and contribute to a culture of quality and excellence, through risk awareness and following compliance standards and operational control
Requirements
- Must have completed a Degree in Accounting, Finance, HR, IT, Investment, Legal, Marketing, or equivalent — this is essential
- No experience needed
- Must have numeracy and analytical skill
- Must have problem-solving skill
- Must have strong attention to detail
- Must be able to follow rule and procedure
- Must be able to work on own initiative
- Must be able to work with people and in team
What You Get in Return
- Genuine and unique opportunity to be part of large and growing global business
- Competitive monthly stipend that match your skill
- Training and development opportunity
Application Tips for Financial Services Internships
- Since placement happens across different divisions, mention in your application or cover letter which area interests you most (e.g. fund accounting vs compliance) — it helps the recruitment team match you, even though placement isn’t guaranteed.
- Global financial services firms like Apex often run online numeracy or reasoning assessments early in the process — practising basic aptitude-test style questions beforehand can help if this comes up.
- A 12-month internship with a stipend is common in fund services because the qualification requirement (a completed degree) is non-negotiable — don’t apply if you’re still finishing your final year, as this is usually a hard cut-off.
- Since many interns move into permanent roles afterward, treat the internship year like an extended interview — compliance and attention to detail (explicitly called out in the job spec) are what these firms watch closely when deciding who to keep on.
Not eligible yet, or missed this intake? Check our internship listings for other finance, accounting, and graduate opportunities.
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