Final-year students and graduates can apply for the Lesaka APEX Graduate Programme 2027 in Johannesburg, with permanent employment from the first day and an 18-month development journey across fintech, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, data, finance, risk and commercial strategy.
APEX is Lesaka Technologies’ Future Leaders Accelerator. Instead of joining on a temporary graduate contract, successful candidates become permanent Lesaka employees with a defined role, a line manager and real business responsibilities.
Applications close on 30 October 2026.
How does the APEX Graduate Programme work?
The programme runs for 18 months while you work in a permanent position within Lesaka.
Your development will combine your day-to-day role with broader exposure to the organisation’s businesses, customers, markets and operations.
You can expect to build capability in:
- Professional skills
- Functional expertise
- Commercial thinking
- Strategic thinking
- Technology
- Artificial intelligence
- Communication
- Collaboration
- Leadership
- Personal effectiveness
The programme is designed around doing real work rather than moving between training sessions without business responsibility.
Are you permanently employed from the start?
You will join Lesaka as a permanent employee from day one.
You will have:
- A permanent role
- A line manager
- Business deliverables
- Responsibility for real work
This is one of the most distinctive features of the APEX programme because permanent employment does not depend on completing the 18-month development period first.
Which career streams are available?
APEX has three main streams:
- Technology
- Finance
- Operations
Each stream includes several specialised entry-level roles.
Which technology roles are available?
The Technology stream includes:
- Cybersecurity Analyst
- Data Analyst
- Developer / Business Analyst
- AI / Automation Engineer
- Security Operations Analyst
These roles cover areas ranging from protecting financial systems to developing new fintech solutions and using data to improve business decisions.
What will a Cybersecurity Analyst work on?
Cybersecurity Analysts will help support the security of Lesaka’s technology and financial-services environment.
The work connects directly to a business handling more than 100 million customer transactions daily.
This can expose you to the controls, technologies and security practices used to protect high-volume financial transactions.
What will a Data Analyst do?
Data Analysts will work with fintech data at scale and help convert information into useful insights.
This type of work can involve identifying trends, investigating business questions and supporting better decisions across products, customers and operations.
It is particularly relevant to graduates who enjoy combining analytical thinking with technology and commercial problems.
What does the Developer / Business Analyst role involve?
This role combines technology development with an understanding of business requirements.
You can contribute to the development of new fintech solutions while learning how customer needs and business problems are translated into technology.
The combination is useful for graduates who want to work between technical teams and business stakeholders.
What will the AI / Automation Engineer work on?
The AI / Automation Engineer role focuses on solving business problems using artificial intelligence and automation.
You will be expected to identify opportunities where technology can:
- Improve productivity
- Automate repetitive work
- Improve customer experiences
- Solve operational problems
AI development is also part of the wider APEX programme, so graduates outside this specific role will still build their understanding of how AI can be used within financial services.
What does a Security Operations Analyst do?
Security Operations Analysts help protect systems and customer data.
The role can build practical experience in monitoring technology environments, identifying security concerns and supporting responses to threats.
This makes it relevant to graduates interested in cybersecurity operations and financial technology security.
Which finance roles are available?
The Finance stream includes:
- Group Accountant
- Finance Sales Analyst
- Junior Finance Analyst
- Junior Insights Analyst
- Risk Analyst
These positions combine traditional finance with commercial analysis, data and financial risk.
What will the Group Accountant role involve?
The Group Accountant role gives graduates exposure to accounting across Lesaka’s fintech business environment.
This can help you develop practical experience in financial reporting, controls and the accounting processes that support a financial technology group.
What does a Finance Sales Analyst do?
Finance Sales Analysts work with customer economics and profitable growth.
The role connects finance with commercial performance and can help you understand how customer behaviour, revenue and business decisions influence financial outcomes.
What will a Junior Finance Analyst learn?
Junior Finance Analysts will develop financial discipline and commercial thinking.
The role can provide practical experience in analysing financial information and understanding how finance supports business decisions.
How does the Junior Insights Analyst role use data?
Junior Insights Analysts turn data into information that decision-makers can use.
The role sits between analytics and commercial strategy, making it relevant to graduates interested in using data to answer business questions.
What does a Risk Analyst do?
Risk Analysts identify, measure and help mitigate financial risk.
You can gain practical experience in how a financial-services and fintech business assesses potential risks and uses analysis to support better decisions.
Which operations roles are available?
The Operations stream includes:
- Operations and Projects Graduate
- Commercial Strategy Analyst
- Junior Commercial Decision Analyst
- Fraud Risk Analyst
These roles focus on project delivery, strategy, commercial decisions and fraud prevention.
What will you do in Operations and Projects?
The Operations and Projects Graduate role involves supporting complex projects that can span different parts of Lesaka.
This can build experience in:
- Project delivery
- Cross-functional coordination
- Problem-solving
- Stakeholder management
- Operational improvement
The role is suited to graduates who enjoy working across different business functions.
What does a Commercial Strategy Analyst do?
Commercial Strategy Analysts help shape competitive and business strategy.
You may work with information about markets, customers, competitors and business performance to support strategic decisions.
This role combines analytical thinking with a wider understanding of how a fintech business competes and grows.
What will a Junior Commercial Decision Analyst work on?
This role focuses on making commercial decisions using data.
You can develop experience in analysing business information, comparing options and supporting decisions that affect growth and profitability.
How does fraud risk fit into fintech?
The Fraud Risk Analyst role focuses on protecting customers and identifying potential fraud.
You can build practical experience in detecting unusual activity, understanding fraud patterns and supporting controls designed to reduce financial losses.
Fraud risk is particularly important in digital financial services because large volumes of transactions can move quickly through technology platforms.
Will you work with senior leaders?
APEX participants will have opportunities to engage with executives and work on strategic business challenges.
The programme culminates in an executive-sponsored business challenge.
You will develop a recommendation and present it to senior leadership.
This gives you experience in analysing a significant business problem and communicating your conclusions to senior decision-makers.
Will you work outside your main function?
The programme is designed to give you exposure beyond your specific job.
You can learn about Lesaka’s:
- Businesses
- Customers
- Markets
- Operations
- Different functions
- Different geographic environments
This broader exposure is intended to develop commercial awareness and prepare graduates for future leadership responsibilities.
Do you need previous fintech experience?
Previous fintech experience is not required.
Lesaka is looking for evidence of potential, capability and mindset rather than prior experience in the sector.
You should, however, be genuinely curious about:
- Technology
- Business
- Financial services
- Innovation
- How organisations can work better
What academic results do you need?
You need a minimum 75% academic average.
Your qualification should be relevant to one of the programme’s main areas:
- Technology
- Finance
- Operations
Final-year students can also apply.
Does leadership experience matter?
You should be able to demonstrate leadership potential through experiences such as:
- University activities
- Employment
- Community involvement
- Entrepreneurship
- Other leadership responsibilities
Leadership does not have to come from holding a formal management title.
Lesaka is looking for evidence that you have taken initiative, influenced others or helped create an outcome.
Which skills will help you succeed?
Strong candidates should demonstrate:
- Problem-solving ability
- Analytical thinking
- Leadership potential
- Curiosity
- Adaptability
- Ambition
- Commercial awareness
- Interest in technology
- Desire to create impact
- Ability to work across different teams and environments
You should also be comfortable taking responsibility and working on challenging assignments.
What documents do you need?
Prepare:
- Updated CV
- Academic transcript
- Copies of completed qualifications or certificates, where applicable
Final-year students can apply even if their qualification has not yet been completed.
Make sure all required supporting documents are included because incomplete applications may not be considered.
Where is the programme based?
The programme is based in Johannesburg, Gauteng.
Company: Lesaka Technologies
Programme: APEX Graduate Programme 2027
Employment: Permanent
Programme development period: 18 months
Closing date: 30 October 2026
How do you apply?
Applications must be submitted online through Lesaka Technologies’ recruitment platform.
Apply for the Lesaka APEX Graduate Programme 2027
Make sure your CV, academic transcript and relevant qualification documents are ready before submitting your application.
