Pensions Administration Team Leader (Accounting) at SARB
South African Reserve Bank · Pretoria, Gauteng
Overview
The South African Reserve Bank is looking for an accounting professional to lead its Pensions Administration team in Pretoria. You will guide a team of junior accountants, review payment authorisations and reconciliations, and make sure pension fund accounting stays compliant with legislation. If you have a BCom in Accounting and a few years of team leadership experience in financial services, this is a strong career move at South Africa's central bank.
About the role
The South African Reserve Bank (SARB) is hiring a Team Leader for the Pensions Administration Section within its Finance and Accounting function. In this role, you will take charge of the accounting team that keeps pension administration records accurate, complete and compliant with relevant legislation and internal policies.
Your work will include setting priorities so the team meets internal and regulatory deadlines, reviewing and authorising payment transactions processed by junior staff, and leading engagements with internal and external stakeholders on complex pension accounting matters. You will also review reconciliations and board reports, troubleshoot operational issues, and provide guidance to help your team work more efficiently.
This is a leadership position requiring a mix of technical accounting knowledge, pension fund regulation awareness and people management skill. The role is based at the SARB in Pretoria and is a full-time, onsite opportunity.
To apply, visit the SARB's official careers portal. Applications are only accepted through the bank's online system.
Requirements
- A bachelor's degree at NQF level 8 in Accounting (BCom Accounting or similar)
- Five to seven years of job related experience in a financial services environment
- Two to five years of experience leading teams
- Pension administration accounting experience will be an advantage
- Knowledge of retirement fund legislation, governance and compliance
- Strong financial accounting and financial reconciliation skills
- Quality assurance and continuous improvement mindset
- Function specific performance management and information systems knowledge
- Business continuity planning and corporate governance awareness
- Excellent communication, judgement, decision making and problem solving abilities
- Planning and organising skills, plus the ability to develop and support others
- Resilience and the ability to manage complexity and ambiguity
Responsibilities
- Set work priorities for the accounting team to ensure internal and regulatory deadlines are met
- Ensure the team adheres to controls and processes so tasks meet compliance standards
- Review and provide first level authorisation for payments, accounting transactions and data entries captured by junior team members
- Lead and participate in engagements with internal and external stakeholders on pension related accounting matters
- Collaborate with other departments to ensure seamless pension fund accounting operations
- Diagnose and resolve problems in the team's operations and recommend workflow changes where needed
- Equip the team to resolve issues by providing guidance on troubleshooting, process improvements and effective solutions
- Review and authorise statutory and internal reports for the fund's board and subcommittees
- Manage the team's performance, providing feedback and guidance to junior team members
- Keep abreast of changes to pension legislation and ensure the team adapts
- Review all reconciliations to confirm they are completed accurately and on time
Benefits
Remuneration and benefits commensurate with the level of the position and in line with the market
Job details
- Organisation
- South African Reserve Bank
- Location
- Pretoria, Gauteng
- Job type
- Full time
- Experience level
- Lead (5+ years)
- Education
- Bachelor
- Category
- Accounting & Finance
- Posted
- 6 November 2026 (1 day ago)
- Application Method
- Apply online
Success Guide
This is a senior team leader role at the South African Reserve Bank, so your application needs to show more than just accounting knowledge. When you apply, highlight specific examples of times you led a team through audits, reconciliations or compliance deadlines. The panel will likely ask how you have handled performance issues, reviewed work from junior colleagues and explained complex pension or financial information to stakeholders.
Also, show that you understand pension fund legislation and governance, even if your direct pension experience is limited. A BCom in Accounting is essential, and any evidence of further study or certifications in financial reporting or compliance will count in your favour. Since applications go through the SARB's online portal, prepare a clean CV and make sure your qualification details are easy to verify.
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