Accounting Bursaries South Africa 2027

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If you have a passion for numbers and for keeping order, you may be best suited to a career in the Finance/ Accounting sector.

In general, Accountants are responsible for the balancing of books, creation and finalising of financial statements and all-round management of an organisations finances.

As qualified Accountants are considered one of the “scarce skills” in South Africa, there are many large corporations seeking to help students gain qualifications into the finance field by way of a bursary programme.

View all bursaries OPEN for application here

How much can I earn within the Accounting field in South Africa?

Based on 2026 market data and current recruitment trends, the following are annual salary guidelines, (the lower end would be for entry-level positions, and the higher end for senior positions):

CareerTypical Salary Range (per annum)
AuditorR250,000 – R900,000
Internal AuditorR300,000 – R1,000,000
AccountantR260,000 – R900,000
Senior AccountantR450,000 – R1,200,000
Financial AccountantR400,000 – R1,100,000
Management AccountantR500,000 – R1,300,000
Chartered Accountant (CA(SA))R420,000 – R2,400,000+
Finance ManagerR700,000 – R1,800,000
Financial ManagerR700,000 – R1,800,000
General / Operations ManagerR600,000 – R2,500,000+
Financial DirectorR1,200,000 – R4,000,000+
Finance DirectorR1,200,000 – R4,000,000+
Chief Financial Officer (CFO)R1,500,000 – R8,000,000+

Qualified accountants commonly earn significantly more after obtaining professional designations such as CA(SA), CIMA, SAIPA, or ACCA.

Where can I find Accounting bursaries in South Africa?

Whether you intend on studying towards an accounting degree/ diploma/ certificate, here are a list of big companies offering accounting degrees and scholarships for South African students in need of financial assistance to complete their studies.

Please note that some of the bursaries listed below may be closed. Always check the closing date of each bursary on the relevant bursary page.

AUDITING BURSARIES FOR 2027

Auditing is an on-site verification process, such as the examination or inspection of a quality system to ensure that it meets compliance requirements.

An Auditors main responsibility in a business is to ensure that all financial records are accurately kept by reviewing all transactions systematically. The business owners have the responsibility to ensure that their accounting books are maintained, which Auditors then annually look at. Auditors are there to aid business owners in locating problems within their company. Once auditing is complete, the business will receive an audit report, explaining whether records were inaccurate, accurate, and/or missing.

There are 2 types of Auditors in business: internal and external Auditors.

  • Internal Auditors are appointed by the business owner to conduct auditing, thus checking company goals and preventing financial flaws. Internal Auditors examine business management and operations, as well as update board members and shareholders on the company’s finances.
  • External auditing is auditing performed by a third party (e.g. SARS, insurance company, etc.). External audits may take a look at the business’ complete financial records or just various aspects of its operations. All reports done by external Auditors are compiled using auditing standards.

To become an Auditor, you will need to obtain a relevant qualification (it is advised to work via an institution that has been endorsed by the IIA as they may offer internship programs.) Internships are fantastic as they can introduce you to the practical world of auditing.

Next, you will need to become a member of a professional body (IIA SA brands), by doing this, you have an advantage as companies will want to employ branded professionals. You would then need to go through the IIA SA training program and then write the CIA exam/ specialty exam (if you wish to enhance your facilitation skills.) Lastly, you would need to adhere to the IIA SA requirements in order to maintain the professional IIA SA designations.

If this sounds like a career path you would be interested in following, here are a list of Auditing bursaries to apply for:

CHARTERED ACCOUNTING BURSARIES FOR 2027

An Accountant and a Chartered Accountant (CA) are very similar, and really only have a few differences. The best way to understand this is that a Chartered Accountant is an Accountant with more experience, thus they are given a title. A Chartered Accountant has the responsibility to give financial advice, engage in auditing, and ensuring that financial records are secure and maintained.

Some duties of a Charted Accountant are taxation, auditing, financial reporting, corporate finance, forensic accounting, insolvency, business recovery, and/or accounting processes and systems. Charted Accountant’ work in a number of businesses, with the common goal to enhance profitability for their employer/ client.

To become a CA, you need to obtain excellent marks in Mathematics and Accounting in Matric. These will aid you in getting into a University where you would need to enroll for a Degree that is SAICA recognized to qualify to write a CTA. Once your Degree is completed and if your marks are high enough, you can then qualify to complete CTA.

Next, you will need to sign up with a Training office and start your Learnership, and thereafter, you will need to complete 2 board exams. The first exam is the ITC (which you can write in 1 year after you pass your CTA) and then the APC. You will then become eligible after completing 18 months of your training contract. Upon successful completion of all of this, you will qualify as a Chartered Accountant!

If this sounds like a career path you would be interested in following, here are a list of Chartered Accounting bursaries to apply for:

FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING BURSARIES FOR 2027

Financial accounting involves record keeping of a companies financial transactions. Transactions are recorded, summarised and thereafter presented in the form of a financial statement or financial report, such as a balance sheet or income statements.

FINANCE & FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT BURSARIES FOR 2027

Financial Manager are responsible for ensuring that the finances of their corporation run smoothly. Financial Managers work with their team to ensure that a business’ accounting, procedure financial report, profit projections, and cash-flow statements are coordinated. Financial managers help members of the business understand the reports by using their excellent (and mandatory) communication skills.

The main duties of a financial manager are to: ensure that there are enough funds within the organization, ensure shareholders receive a good return on investment, utilize funds efficiently, and ensure that there is a safe investment opportunity. Financial managers are in charge of all the financial planning of the company, whereby they calculate the amount of capital the business needs and allocate it to its various, and necessary expenses. Financial management is vital to any company as it aids in financial, funds, asset, economic, and savings planning.

To become a Financial Manager, you will need a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, Finance, Businesses Administration, or Economics. Many, successful finance managers have more than 5 years of work experience in another business/ financial occupation such as Accountant, Loan Officer, Securities, Auditor, Financial Analyst, or Sales Agent.
Some companies may offer students formal management training programmes, aiding them in becoming skilled Financial Managers and workers.

If this sounds like a career path you would be interested in following, here are a list of Finance & Financial Management bursaries to apply for:

GENERAL ACCOUNTING BURSARIES FOR 2027

Accountants have a major responsibility in the business they work in – they are in charge of keeping track of all the business’ income and assets. To do this, accountants give advice to owners on their financial dealings as well as advise them on compliance requirements and associated record-keeping. Accountants work closely with bookkeepers to ensure that a business’s financial reports and records are accurately prepared to ensure financial analysis.

The general duties of an accountant includes the preparation of asset, liability and capital account entries by way analysing and compiling account information. Accountants are also responsible for documenting financial transactions and recommending financial actions.

To become an accountant, you would need to complete a Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting, a Bachelor of Science in Accounting, or a Finance Degree/ equivalent Diploma. You will need to obtain your qualification from a recognized institution or complete 6 years of relevant work experience. The last step to becoming an accountant is to complete the SAIPA Professional Evaluations exam, showcasing your ability to combine your practical and academic knowledge.

These subjects are recommended for following a career in Accounting: Accounting, Mathematics, Economics, Information Technology and Businesses Science.

If this sounds like a career path you would be interested in following, here are a list of Accounting bursaries to apply for: