If you’re a fresh BCom (Finance/Accounting) graduate who wants real finance experience inside a big FMCG factory, this finance internship at Unilever could be the perfect start right now.
What the opportunity is
- Job title: Finance Intern
- Employer: Unilever
- Location: Boksburg factory, Johannesburg (full‑time on‑site)
- Reports to: Production Accountant
- Employment type: Intern, full‑time
- Work arrangement: Factory based, 100 % attendance required
- Employer commitment: Unilever stresses diversity, equity, inclusion and compliance with South African employment equity and BEE legislation.
Who can apply (requirements)
- Completed BCom or BCom Honours in Financial/Accounting – Accounts 1 & 2 must be passed.
- Matric certificate and full academic transcript (both to be uploaded with the CV).
- Basic IT skills: Excel, Word and PowerPoint.
- Willingness to work on‑site in a factory environment every day.
- Legal right to work in South Africa.
What you gain (skills and experience)
The placement is a supervised learning experience in a global FMCG manufacturer. You will:
- Assist with production‑related finance tasks such as cost accounting and inventory reconciliations.
- See how production data feeds into financial reports.
- Develop practical Excel skills (formulas, pivot tables, basic macros).
- Learn to work with cross‑functional teams (operations, supply chain, accounting).
- Build a solid foundation for future roles in cost accounting, financial reporting, FP&A or internal audit.
How to apply (step‑by‑step)
- Prepare a PDF CV that includes your contact details, education (with module names and marks) and a brief technical‑skills section.
- Save your Matric certificate and full academic transcript as separate PDFs.
- Write a short cover letter (4–6 paragraphs) stating your qualification, why you are interested in factory finance, and confirming you can work full‑time on‑site in Boksburg.
- Visit the official Unilever careers page and submit the CV, cover letter, Matric certificate and transcript: Apply online.
- Keep a copy of all files for your records and note the reference number on the confirmation email.
Tips to improve your chances
- Show evidence of accounting knowledge: list Accounts 1 & 2, management accounting, cost accounting and your marks.
- Demonstrate Excel ability: attach a screenshot or brief description of a spreadsheet you built for a project.
- Connect to manufacturing: mention any coursework, part‑time job or volunteer work that involved cost, inventory or production data.
- Use the STAR method in your cover letter – give a short Situation, Task, Action and Result for a relevant example.
- Address Unilever’s behaviours: show how you care deeply, focus on what counts, stay three steps ahead, or deliver with excellence.
- Check your documents: upload the Matric certificate and full transcript exactly as requested; missing files will move your application to the bottom.
- Prepare for the selection process: expect a short online assessment (numerical reasoning/Excel), a phone or video screening, and possibly an on‑site interview with technical and behavioural questions.
Next steps – keep moving forward
Many graduates feel unsure about applying for a factory‑based role. Remember that the internship is designed to turn what you learned in class into real‑world skills. If you meet the academic criteria, polish your CV and cover letter, and submit your application today. Even if you don’t get this spot, the experience of applying will strengthen future applications for finance roles in FMCG, manufacturing or any large corporation.
