Global Insurance and Reinsurance Companies Hiring Remote Staff from South Africa
By Werner Saayman
Managing Director | Recruitment | SA | IN | MU
Introduction
A growing trend is reshaping the global insurance and financial services landscape: insurance and reinsurance companies, captive insurers, and fund administration firms in the US, UK, Bermuda, and Cayman Islands are increasingly hiring remote accounting, finance and actuarial staff, or setting up entities in South Africa to support teams in other jurisdictions. This shift is driven by a combination of world-class talent, cost efficiency, and operational flexibility.
Why South Africa?
Quality of Education
South Africa boasts a robust education system that consistently produces highly skilled professionals. The Chartered Accountant CA(SA) designation has earned global recognition, recently securing the top position in the Global Professional Trust Survey. Additionally, the Actuarial Society of South Africa (ASSA), established in 1948, offers the prestigious FASSA (Fellowship) designation and maintains Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs) with actuarial bodies in Canada, Australia, Ireland, and the UK.
Communication and Professional Skills
South African professionals are known for their strong communication skills and work ethic, and favourable time zone closely aligned with Europe. The country offers a deep talent pool across disciplines such as accounting, finance, legal, company secretarial, HR, IT, and procurement—particularly concentrated in Johannesburg and Cape Town, where many large insurers and reinsurers already operate.
Flexible Resourcing Models
South Africa supports both remote and dedicated office models. Companies can choose from fully serviced office spaces or hybrid setups in premium locations like https://www.workshop17.co.za/the-bank and https://www.workshop17.co.za/cpt-gardens-kloof04. These spaces offer high-speed connectivity, modern infrastructure, and shared services support from Acumen Group.
Some of the most popular remote resource models:
- Source a single resource – Ideal for short- or long-term integration into your existing team.
- Source a team of consultants – Acumen appoints a key contact to manage communication between the client and the contractor team.
- Set up an office as employer of record – Acumen can establish a small office in South Africa where a full-time team (e.g., accountants) operates under hybrid or full-time models.
- Set up an office for your team and entity – Acumen provides guidance and support in establishing a legal entity in South Africa, including hiring a local team lead and full-time staff.
Cost Efficiency and Speed
Hiring from South Africa allows companies to reduce overheads significantly. With a network of 25 specialist recruiters, roles can be filled or replaced quickly—often within days. This agility is especially valuable for firms seeking to scale or manage project-based work.
Conclusion
The trend of hiring remote staff from South Africa is gaining momentum among insurance, reinsurance, and other financial services companies in the US, UK, Bermuda, and Cayman Islands. The quality of education, availability of skilled professionals, cost savings, and work ethic of South Africans make South Africa an ideal destination for remote staffing solutions. Companies can leverage the expertise and flexibility offered by South African professionals to enhance their operational efficiency and achieve their business goals.
Acumen has extensive experience supporting clients in this space by hiring top-tier talent in South Africa. Our services are backed by robust shared services infrastructure, HR support, and deep knowledge of South African labour laws—ensuring a seamless and compliant remote staffing experience. Acumen also has a physical presence and offices in South Africa (Johannesburg, Pretoria, and Cape Town), as well as in the UK, USA, Cayman Islands, Bermuda, Mauritius, and India—allowing us to support clients with both global experience and local expertise.