Graduate Recruitment Specialist (JHB Illovo) at BDO South Africa

• BDO Johannesburg is looking for a proactive and detail-oriented Audit Graduate Recruitment Officer to support our efforts in attracting exceptional talent for our Johannesburg audit department. The Graduate Recruitment Officer will be responsible for managing and supporting the end-to-end graduate recruitment process, from attraction and sourcing through to selection, onboarding, integration of graduates into the firm and managing bursary programs. The role requires strong stakeholder management, attention to detail, and the ability to engage with students, universities, and internal teams to ensure a high-quality recruitment experience, alignment with business needs and enhancing BDO’s reputation as an employer of choice for trainee accountants.

Key Responsibilities

Graduate Recruitment & Selection

• Manage recruitment systems (ATS)
• Manage the full graduate recruitment cycle (advertising, applications, screening, assessments, interviews, offers, and onboarding).
• Coordinate and manage psychometric assessments, competency-based interviews, and reference/background checks.
• Draft and manage employment offers and contracts.
• Maintain up-to-date recruitment trackers, candidate pipelines, and monthly recruitment reports.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Build and maintain strong relationships with students
• Partner with internal audit teams/business units to understand workforce needs and ensure alignment with recruitment activities.
• Build relationships with manager that conduct interviews and Partners in the service lines.
• Collaborate with internal teams to ensure smooth onboarding and integration of graduates.

Campus Engagement & Employer Branding

• Attend university career fairs and campus events to promote the firm.
• Facilitate information sessions, presentations, and workshops at universities.
• Support marketing and branding initiatives to position the firm as an employer of choice among students and graduates.
• Manage the student ambassadors programme
• Manage the regional retention strategy

Recruitment Support:

• Assist with the implementation of recruitment campaigns to attract top accounting students and graduates and continuous improvement of graduate recruitment processes
• Support projects and initiatives
• Provide guidance and mentorship to interns
• Maintain BDO’s presence on social media and other platforms to attract potential candidates.
• Maintain records of recruitment activities and provide updates

Bursary Program Administration:

• Management of the bursary program by maintaining records and liaising with bursary recipients.
• Assist in monitoring budgets and tracking program effectiveness.

Requirements
Qualifications, Skills & Experience

Minimum Requirements:

• Degree/Diploma in Human Resources, Industrial Psychology, Business Management, Business Administration, or related field.
• 2–4 years of experience in recruitment, talent acquisition, or related functions, ideally within a professional services or audit environment.
• Strong analytical skills to measure and report on recruitment outcomes.
• Strong and communication skills.
• Familiarity with recruitment platforms, social media, and digital tools.
• Familiarity with recruitment systems (ATS, HRIS) and MS Office Suite
• Exposure to campus recruitment and/or bursary programs is essential.

Key Competencies:

• Strong organizational, interpersonal and communication skills (verbal and written).
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and work under pressure.
• Excellent stakeholder management and relationship-building ability.
• Strong organisational skills with attention to detail.
• Proactive, adaptable, and solution-oriented.
• Understanding of graduate recruitment trends, campus engagement, and employer branding.

Working Conditions

• Based in Johannesburg
• Able to travel
• Flexible working hours during peak recruitment season (some evenings/weekends may be required).

Personal Attributes:

• Detail-oriented with a strong ability to multitask.
• Passionate about talent development and positioning BDO as an employer of choice.
• High level of professionalism and commitment to BDO’s values and culture.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.