Value For Money Analyst

National Audit Office (NAO); Greater London, Newcastle upon Tyne; Hybrid; GBP 28,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

35 days annual leave

Civil Service pension

Flexible working arrangements

Modern offices in London and Newcastle

Learning and wellbeing initiatives

Job summary

The National Audit Office (NAO) is seeking an entry-level Value for Money Analyst to join our teams examining how public money is spent and to drive improvements in public services. You’ll contribute to audits spanning health, education, justice, and international development, helping hold government to account.

You will gain experience gathering evidence, analysing data, and presenting findings to managers and senior staff, with flexible working arrangements and strong learning and wellbeing

Qualifications

• Entry-level analyst role in Value for Money (VFM) teams.
• Assist in examining how public money is spent and influence government decisions.
• Deliver high-impact audits to promote accountability and improve public services.

Responsibilities

• Gather evidence by applying methods such as interviews with officials, reviewing documents and data sources, and surveys.
• Analyse and interpret evidence using qualitative and quantitative methods across public policy topics.
• Present findings clearly and contribute to planning and drafting value for money reports.
• Provide written and oral briefings to managers and senior staff.
• Develop and maintain relationships with audit bodies and stakeholders.
• Support wider assurance work and engagement with Parliament and Select Committees.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Attention to detail

Communication

Evidence gathering

Teamwork

Education

2:1 degree in a relevant discipline

Experience in research/analysis or performance audit

Tools

None

Job description

We welcome applications from candidates who would like to work part-time or as part of a job share arrangement. Please let our HR team know by outlining your preferred working pattern, availability, and any flexibility you would like us to consider.

Start Your Career Where It Counts – Join Us as a Value for Money Analyst

Are you curious, analytical, and ready to make a difference? The National Audit Office (NAO) is looking for entry-level analysts to join our Value for Money (VFM) teams. You’ll help examine how effectively and efficiently public money is spent, influencing key government decisions and improving public services.

About the Role

Each year we produce around 60 major reports https://www.nao.org.uk/report_types/value-for-money/ examining government programmes and projects. These reports are multi-method audits focusing on the cost, effectiveness and efficiency of government programmes and projects. Our work must be timely, and we work to clear timetables, typically taking between 3 and 8 months to report.

This is a unique opportunity to contribute to projects that hold government to account and drive improvements in public services. Whether it's in health, education, justice, or international development, your work will help ensure that public funds are used effectively.

It’s important to note that this is not a business analyst role. Instead, you’ll be part of a dynamic team focused on delivering high-impact audits that promote accountability and enhance the delivery of public services.

You can find out more about us and our work from our website https://www.nao.org.uk/.

As a VFM analyst, you will:

• Audit how government programmes are run and whether they deliver value for money.
• Work alongside experienced and supportive colleagues in a collaborative team environment.
• Gain exposure to senior stakeholders and real-world policy challenges.
• Build skills in research, analysis and communication that will shape your career.

What We offer:

• A competitive salary and excellent Civil Service pension scheme.
• 35 days annual leave (inclusive of public holidays), rising to 40 days after five years.
• Flexible working arrangements and modern offices in London and Newcastle.
• A strong focus on learning, development, and wellbeing.

Our People Deal

Discover more about our commitment to creating an engaging and supportive work environment Please see our Employee Value Proposition for further details https://bit.ly/44cXn5g

Responsibilities

• Gathering evidence by applying a variety of methods such as interviews of government officials and other stakeholders, reviewing documents and data sources and directly collecting data such as through surveys.
• Analysing and interpreting evidence and data (using qualitative and quantitative methods) from many sources on a wide range of public policy topics and sectors.Maintaining an evidence trail and providing advice to your team about the quality of evidence we use to develop our findings.
• Presenting findings clearly and succinctly and contributing to planning and drafting value for money reports.
• Providing written and oral briefings to managers and senior staff.
• Gaining insight and knowledge of the bodies we audit and developing and maintaining good relations with them, for example through engaging with analysts in government and with wider external stakeholders.
• Supporting wider assurance work and assisting teams during engagement with Parliament and Select Committees, particularly the Public Accounts Committee.
• Providing advice and support to other teams by using your subject matter or analytical expertise and engaging with opportunities to share learning across the NAO.

Key Skills

• Gather, analyse and interpret evidence from a range of sources in a timely and high-standard manner.
• Produce clear, well-structured and succinct written work that is easily understood by non-technical readers.Draw valid and concise conclusions that are clearly evidence-based.
• Present complex and nuanced findings from your analysis in a way that can be easily understood by various audiences.
• Engage confidently and communicate effectively with colleagues and clients at all levels, including gathering evidence and supporting knowledge sharing across teams.
• Work cooperatively and collaboratively as part of a team to deliver our reports.

Attributes

• Intellectual curiosity: A keen interest in using a range of evidence sources to answer questions.
• Flexibility: The ability to make a significant contribution across a range of topics and outputs in various teams.
• Interest in our work: A strong enthusiasm for the work of the NAO and public policy across a range of sectors.
• Attention to detail: Careful documentation and maintenance of a reliable audit trail to support the delivery of high-quality audits.
• Drive and determination: The tenacity to overcome obstacles, resistance, or challenges to achieve goals.
• Commitment to personal development: A dedication to keeping technical skills up to date.
• Influence: An interest in influencing people and identifying opportunities to improve public services.

Education and Work Experience

You should have:

• A minimum of a 2:1 degree in a relevant discipline such as social science research methods, management science/operations research, economics, statistics, mathematics, data analytics, or a research-based postgraduate qualification; or
• Relevant experience in research, analysis, or performance audit. This may include but is not limited to experience in management or other consultancy roles, internal audit, or working as a researcher.