Testimonials

This is what some of our trainees have said about their experience with the NAO:

'The externally run professional training is excellent. The tutors know exactly what to tell you to pass the exams. However, it’s a lot more intensive than university courses – which presents a challenge' - Mark Burford,Engineering Doctorate, Southampton

'The professional training is fantastic. The people who deliver the training are highly qualified and hugely enthusiastic, and most important of all listen to the needs of the class and the individual' – Jessica White, Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Newcastle, (Newcastle Trainee) 

'A career at the NAO offers an impressive variety of training opportunities. You'll find the professional qualification makes up only a small part of your personal development' – Ben Jones, Philosophy, Politics and Economics, Oxford

'It's a real challenge to be sent out on audit immediately after induction, but a real sense of satisfaction when you realise that you're up to it, with a little help from your team, of course' – Max Chessis, History with Italian, UCL

'Within a year of starting at the NAO, I’ve had my name published as part of a VFM study team report and I’m soon due to do an entire audit from planning to final on my own. The amount of impact you can have as an individual so early on is a little daunting, but it’s brilliant to be given these opportunities' – Emma Lucas, Classics, Cambridge

'In my first week at the NAO, I worked on an efficiency toolkit, which is now available on the NAO's website for the whole world to see' – James McGraw, Genetics, Nottingham

'The portfolio of clients in the Newcastle office provides a huge range of interesting accounting challenges' – Jessica White, Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Newcastle, (Newcastle Trainee)

'As the government's auditor, we work with some of the best and most interesting clients. One week I’ll be looking at how the Ministry of Defence procures tanks and aircraft carriers, and the next I’ll be analysing how the National Lottery distributes cash to good causes' – Andrew Makin, Politics and Economics, Leeds

'I've been lucky to have both Financial and VFM experience in my first year.  On the financial side I've been given responsibility for whole account areas and been sent to clients all around the UK both with the team and individually. For VFM I've come into a crucial part of the fieldwork stage and have been involved in collecting and analyzing the data and the initial part of the drafting the report' – Rashmi Rajyaguru, Management, West of England

'It is extremely motivating to know your work on a study can have such a diverse and far reaching impact' - Jennie Nicholson, Law & Politics, Edinburgh

'The mix of work in Newcastle has been great, I've worked on everything from the National Insurance Fund audit to a VFM study into the Regeneration of Coalfield areas since starting 2 and a half years ago. Its always interesting to find out where your NI contributions have been spent and know you've had a direct effect on the tax payer!'  - Pamela Tarbit, Mathematics, York (Newcastle Trainee)

'It’s a very supportive, friendly environment in which to start your career and each individual’s qualities are valued. Diversity at the NAO is one of its biggest strengths as an organisation' - Abhishek Velani, Economics with French, Durham

'Having moved to London from the North, it benefited me greatly starting with a fairly large intake, to socialise with and form a close knit group of friends almost instantly. Even a year down the line we socialise regularly' – Richard Dyson, Business and Accounting, Sheffield Hallam

'The camaraderie in the Office is great, especially around final audit when the teams really pull together' - Max Chessis, History and Italian, UCL

'Prior to joining the NAO I researched the benefits pretty thoroughly, and as a trainee the NAO offers a high calibre benefits package, comparable to the private sector. Check it out - you'd be surprised!' – Matt Smith, Biology and Anthropology, Durham

'In my experience the NAO application process was second to none. I was provided with clear and useful guidance on how to approach each stage of the selection process and the recruitment team was always quick to respond to my queries and provide me with feedback after each stage – so much so that I started only two and a half weeks after I sent off my initial application.' – Leyla Doughty, Classical Civilisation, Warwick