Process for the preparation of a catalyst comprising an oxide matrix having a content of calcined alumina of greater than or equal to 90% by weight, with respect to the total weight of said matrix, and an active phase comprising nickel, said active phase not comprising a metal from Group VIb, the content of nickel being of between 1% and 65% by weight, of said element, with respect to the total weight of the catalyst, said active phase being provided in the form of nickel particles having a diameter of less than or equal to 18 nm, the said catalyst comprising a total pore volume, measured by mercury porosimetry, of greater than 0.10 ml/g, a mesopore volume, measured by mercury porosimetry, of greater than 0.10 ml/g, a macropore volume, measured by mercury porosimetry, of less than or equal to 0.6 ml/g, a median mesopore diameter of between 3 and 25 nm, a median macropore diameter of between 50 and 1500 nm, and a specific surface S BET of between 20 and 400 m 2 /g, which process comprises the following stages: a) a calcined porous aluminium oxide is prepared; b) the calcined porous aluminium oxide obtained in stage a) is kneaded with a solution resulting from the mixing of one or more aqueous solutions comprising at least one nickel precursor, said nickel precursor being nickel nitrate, and at least one solution comprising at least one organic compound comprising at least one carboxylic acid function chosen from ethanedioic acid (oxalic acid), propanedioic acid (malonic acid), pentanedioic acid (glutaric acid), hydroxyacetic acid (glycolic acid), 2-hydroxypropanoic acid (lactic acid), 2-hydroxypropanedioic acid (tartronic acid), 2-hydroxypropane-1,2,3-tricarboxylic acid (citric acid), 2,3-dihydroxybutanedioic acid (tartaric acid), 2-oxopropanoic acid (pyruvic acid) or 4-oxopentanoic acid (levulinic acid), in order to obtain a paste, the molar ratio of said organic compound to the nickel element being of between 0.01 and 5.0 mol/mol; c) the paste obtained in stage b) is shaped; d) the shaped paste obtained in stage c) is dried at a temperature of less than 250°C in order to obtain a dried catalyst; e) optionally, a heat treatment of the dried catalyst obtained in stage d) is carried out at a temperature of between 250 and 1000°C, in the presence or absence of water. a) a calcined porous aluminium oxide is prepared; b) the calcined porous aluminium oxide obtained in stage a) is kneaded with a solution resulting from the mixing of one or more aqueous solutions comprising at least one nickel precursor, said nickel precursor being nickel nitrate, and at least one solution comprising at least one organic compound comprising at least one carboxylic acid function chosen from ethanedioic acid (oxalic acid), propanedioic acid (malonic acid), pentanedioic acid (glutaric acid), hydroxyacetic acid (glycolic acid), 2-hydroxypropanoic acid (lactic acid), 2-hydroxypropanedioic acid (tartronic acid), 2-hydroxypropane-1,2,3-tricarboxylic acid (citric acid), 2,3-dihydroxybutanedioic acid (tartaric acid), 2-oxopropanoic acid (pyruvic acid) or 4-oxopentanoic acid (levulinic acid), in order to obtain a paste, the molar ratio of said organic compound to the nickel element being of between 0.01 and 5.0 mol/mol; c) the paste obtained in stage b) is shaped; d) the shaped paste obtained in stage c) is dried at a temperature of less than 250°C in order to obtain a dried catalyst; e) optionally, a heat treatment of the dried catalyst obtained in stage d) is carried out at a temperature of between 250 and 1000°C, in the presence or absence of water.