Audit Apprentice Review
at National Audit Office
Higher Level Apprenticeship
Audit, Accounting
Newcastle upon Tyne
Review Submitted: April 2025
Overall Rating
4.3 /5
The Overall Rating is the average of all the ratings given in each category. We take those individual ratings and combine them into one final score!
4/5
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Overview of Role
5/5
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Skills Development
3.8/5
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Structure and Support
Overview of Role
Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis:
4/5
I audit the financial statements of government departments, and other government bodies.
I perform various kinds of testing on different transactions, ensuring that they have been accurately recorded and disclosed.
If things don't match, I will contact the client to gain an understanding as to why and to ask for more evidence.
I also attend calls with our clients so that they can walk us through their internal processes.
I perform various kinds of testing on different transactions, ensuring that they have been accurately recorded and disclosed.
If things don't match, I will contact the client to gain an understanding as to why and to ask for more evidence.
I also attend calls with our clients so that they can walk us through their internal processes.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
4/5
I very much enjoy the programme.
The people at the NAO are absolutely fantastic, I could not ask to be working with better people.
The qualifications I get (an apprenticeship and the ACA) will provide me with fantastic career opportunities.
The pay, for an apprenticeship in Newcastle, is very competitive, and it increases massively as you progress throughout the qualification (up to about £28k when finished the apprenticeship, and over £52k when fully qualified).
The exams and studying can be challenging, but it is very rewarding when you pass a difficult exam.
The people at the NAO are absolutely fantastic, I could not ask to be working with better people.
The qualifications I get (an apprenticeship and the ACA) will provide me with fantastic career opportunities.
The pay, for an apprenticeship in Newcastle, is very competitive, and it increases massively as you progress throughout the qualification (up to about £28k when finished the apprenticeship, and over £52k when fully qualified).
The exams and studying can be challenging, but it is very rewarding when you pass a difficult exam.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
5/5
My communication and self confidence has massively improved since I joined. I used to be rather shy and timid, but now I feel a lot more confident in my own abilities and I am confident when speaking with others.
I have vastly improved my ability to work as part of a team (previously, I would tend to only work by myself)
My attention to detail has massively improved.
I have also gained significant experience with Excel - I previously had no experience but now I am very capable with spreadsheets and formulas.
I have vastly improved my ability to work as part of a team (previously, I would tend to only work by myself)
My attention to detail has massively improved.
I have also gained significant experience with Excel - I previously had no experience but now I am very capable with spreadsheets and formulas.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
4/5
Initially, some elements of the apprenticeship were not clearly explained (e.g. reflective statements and the EPA), however, the NAO have had a massive push to improve the understanding of the apprenticeship route.
Other than that, college is clearly allocated and our exam dates are fully booked for us.
Work is always available, and I never find myself with no work to be doing.
Other than that, college is clearly allocated and our exam dates are fully booked for us.
Work is always available, and I never find myself with no work to be doing.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
5/5
As mentioned previously, the support provided by the NAO has massively improved in relation to the apprenticeship.
We are given plenty of time for exams, including fully paid study days.
My managers are extremely supportive in my day to day work, and I am made to feel that there is no such thing as a silly question.
We are given plenty of time for exams, including fully paid study days.
My managers are extremely supportive in my day to day work, and I am made to feel that there is no such thing as a silly question.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
3/5
BPP (my training provider) have been very good.
Their tutors are extremely knowledgeable and are able to answer any questions we have.
We are given mock tests to monitor our progress.
However, I do feel that BPP could improve in their support with the reflective statements and the EPA. Particularly, I did feel that the taught phase of the EPA course was lacklustre and could have been better laid out.
Their tutors are extremely knowledgeable and are able to answer any questions we have.
We are given mock tests to monitor our progress.
However, I do feel that BPP could improve in their support with the reflective statements and the EPA. Particularly, I did feel that the taught phase of the EPA course was lacklustre and could have been better laid out.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
2/5
Some of the exams are very useful for my role (namely accounting and assurance), however the other exams have felt a bit detached from the work that I do day to day.
Similarly, I did not find the reflective statements and the EPA to be particularly helpful in my day to day role. That said, some elements of the EPA were very helpful.
Similarly, I did not find the reflective statements and the EPA to be particularly helpful in my day to day role. That said, some elements of the EPA were very helpful.
Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)
5/5
Yes! I frequently play football with people from work (we are in a 5 a side league together).
There are opportunities to help out with recruitment events too.
The NAO provide us with special leave to do charity volunteering work.
Trainees also organise their own social events (for example go karting) to help build a bond in our intakes.
There are opportunities to help out with recruitment events too.
The NAO provide us with special leave to do charity volunteering work.
Trainees also organise their own social events (for example go karting) to help build a bond in our intakes.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend National Audit Office to a friend?
Yes
Why?
The people are amazing, they are so supportive and knowledgeable, and make me feel very welcome.
The qualification is internationally respected by many employers, thus providing me with excellent career opportunities.
The pay is very competitive, and scales excellently as I progress through the qualification.
Finally, the work is very unique - I feel proud to be able to say that my work holds government to account and helps ensure that taxpayer money is well spent.
The qualification is internationally respected by many employers, thus providing me with excellent career opportunities.
The pay is very competitive, and scales excellently as I progress through the qualification.
Finally, the work is very unique - I feel proud to be able to say that my work holds government to account and helps ensure that taxpayer money is well spent.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to National Audit Office?
Be yourself
Make your application specific to the NAO and the work that we do (try and read some of our value for money reports) and take your time with the application, don't use a cookie cutter application.
Don't use AI - it may help you get past the written phase but you will massively struggle with the interview.
Read up about the skills that we want from our apprentices on our website. (this is very important)
Work well as part of a team during the assessment centre day.
Be enthusiastic!
Make your application specific to the NAO and the work that we do (try and read some of our value for money reports) and take your time with the application, don't use a cookie cutter application.
Don't use AI - it may help you get past the written phase but you will massively struggle with the interview.
Read up about the skills that we want from our apprentices on our website. (this is very important)
Work well as part of a team during the assessment centre day.
Be enthusiastic!
