Citi ICRM Graduate Programme 2026: Compliance, AML and Financial Risk Careers
Citi South Africa is offering a one-year Independent Compliance Risk Management Graduate Internship / Learnership Programme in Johannesburg for newly qualified graduates who want practical exposure to compliance, regulatory risk and financial services.
The programme is open to graduates from any academic discipline, provided they meet the academic requirements. Previous work experience is not compulsory, and applicants should have no more than one year of work experience.
Participants may also apply for permanent positions during the programme year.
What is the ICRM Graduate Programme?
ICRM stands for Independent Compliance Risk Management.
The team helps identify, assess and manage compliance risks across the business. This includes making sure Citi operates in line with internal standards, regulatory requirements and financial crime controls.
The programme is designed to give graduates practical experience in these areas while working inside a global financial-services environment.
What will you learn during the programme?
You can expect exposure to areas such as:
- Anti-Money Laundering risk management
- Compliance risk identification
- Compliance risk assessment
- Risk mitigation
- Regulatory frameworks
- Risk assessments
- Policy implementation
- Compliance data analysis
- Internal compliance standards
- External regulatory requirements
- Control environments
- Reputation risk
This makes the programme especially relevant if you are interested in banking compliance, financial crime risk or governance.
What is Anti-Money Laundering?
Anti-Money Laundering, usually shortened to AML, refers to the controls financial institutions use to detect and prevent the movement of money linked to illegal activity.
As part of the programme, you may gain exposure to how AML risk is identified, assessed and managed.
This can include understanding how financial institutions build controls to meet regulatory requirements and protect the integrity of their operations.
How does compliance risk management work?
Compliance risk management focuses on identifying where a business could fail to meet laws, regulations or internal standards.
You may support work involving:
- Reviewing risks
- Assessing controls
- Analysing compliance information
- Supporting policy implementation
- Monitoring regulatory requirements
- Identifying areas that need stronger controls
The work combines analytical thinking with a strong understanding of governance and ethics.
Will you work with regulatory frameworks?
Yes. Understanding regulatory frameworks forms part of the learning experience.
You will gain exposure to how financial institutions interpret and respond to rules that affect their operations.
This is important in banking because regulatory requirements can influence products, customer relationships, internal controls and risk-management processes.
How important are controls in the programme?
A strong control environment helps a financial institution reduce compliance and operational risk.
You may support activities that help Citi:
- Identify weaknesses
- Strengthen procedures
- Improve monitoring
- Meet internal standards
- Meet external regulatory requirements
This provides useful experience if you want to build a career in compliance, audit, governance or financial risk.
Who can apply?
You should meet one of the following academic requirements:
- Completed undergraduate degree with a GPA of 65% or above
- Completed Master’s degree in any discipline
You should also:
- Have no more than one year of work experience
- Have strong leadership potential
- Work well in teams
- Communicate effectively
Previous work experience is not required.
Can graduates from any academic discipline apply?
Yes.
The programme is not restricted to finance, accounting, law or economics graduates.
Applicants from other academic disciplines can be considered if they meet the academic requirements and demonstrate strong analytical, communication and problem-solving skills.
An interest in financial services, regulation and compliance will be useful.
What skills is Citi looking for?
Useful qualities include:
- Strong commitment to learning
- Interest in the business
- Commitment to career development
- Teamwork
- Communication
- Planning
- Organisation
- Analytical ability
- Quantitative ability
- Integrity
- Ethical decision-making
Knowledge of financial regulations or compliance can help, but it is not compulsory.
What careers can this programme support?
The experience can be relevant to careers in:
- Compliance
- Risk management
- Anti-Money Laundering
- Financial crime risk
- Regulatory compliance
- Banking
- Governance
- Internal controls
- Business risk
- Financial services
These areas are central to how banks manage regulation, protect customers and reduce financial and reputational risk.
What documents do you need?
Prepare:
- Updated CV
- Cover letter
- Full academic transcripts
- Copy of your ID
Make sure your documents are complete and current before applying.
Where is the programme based?
The programme is based in Johannesburg, Gauteng.
Organisation: Citi South Africa
Programme: Independent Compliance Risk Management Graduate Internship / Learnership Programme 2026
Duration: One year
Location: Johannesburg, Gauteng
Closing date: No fixed closing date specified
How do you apply?
Applications must be submitted online through the Citi careers platform.
Apply for the Citi South Africa ICRM Graduate Programme 2026
Include your latest CV, cover letter, full academic transcripts and copy of ID with your application.
