Audit Apprentice/Associate Review
at National Audit Office
Higher Level Apprenticeship
Accounting, Audit
Newcastle upon Tyne
Review Submitted: April 2026
Overall Rating
4.4 /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!
5/5
-
Overview of Role
5/5
-
Skills Development
4/5
-
Structure and Support
Overview of Role
Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis:
5/5
No two days are the same. There is a very wide variety of work that you will do, both on our financial audit side (where you spend most of your time) and our value for money side.
As a trainee, you will spend most of your time sample testing transactions and communicating with the client.
As a trainee, you will spend most of your time sample testing transactions and communicating with the client.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
5/5
The people are what make the NAO a great place to work, my team has been very supportive and make me feel that there are no stupid questions.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
5/5
Communication skills have massively improved for me - I was quite shy before joining but now I feel that I have come out of my shell a bit. Whether it be by talking with my team, sending queries to the client or publicly speaking with the internal apprentice network and helping with recruitment, I feel a lot more confident in my communication skills.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
4/5
Time in college to study for exams can be a bit stressful with how fast you go through the content for the ICAEW ACA exams, but the NAO provide a great amount of study leave and your team is very understanding that you won't be accessible when away studying.
The internal apprentice network has been massively helpful for multiple intakes, they provide bespoke workshops for the unique requirements of the apprenticeship (e.g. reflective statements, training logs and review calls and the EPA). It is a network ran by apprentices for apprentices.
The internal apprentice network has been massively helpful for multiple intakes, they provide bespoke workshops for the unique requirements of the apprenticeship (e.g. reflective statements, training logs and review calls and the EPA). It is a network ran by apprentices for apprentices.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
5/5
Very good amount of study leave, and teams are very understanding that you won't be able to work when you are away at college.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
4/5
Our training provider BPP are generally very good - the tutors are very knowledgeable and friendly. The only downside is that the content is taught at a very fast pace, which is a big change compared to A-Levels I felt.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
2/5
Most of the content in the ACA exams isn't really things that we see in day to day work, with the exception of the accounting and audit & assurance exams.
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
Plenty of social events, trainees will go out for meals together, there is work football.
There are many different staff networks, and there is even a dedicated apprentice network ran by apprentices to support apprentices in all aspects of work/study!
There are many different staff networks, and there is even a dedicated apprentice network ran by apprentices to support apprentices in all aspects of work/study!
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend National Audit Office to a friend?
Yes
Why?
Great qualification, very competitive pay and strong progression and plenty of support (both in work and study) I feel a lot more supported than I would at a Big 4 firm for example
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to National Audit Office?
Be enthusiastic in the work that we do, show that you want to make an impact on public spending. Throughout the application process, recruitment know that you are only just finished your A-Levels, so they aren't looking for a long list of experience, they want enthusiasm and a willingness to learn!
