Value for Money Analyst

UK National Audit Office; Newcastle upon Tyne; Hybrid; GBP 38,000 - 45,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Civil Service pension scheme

35 days annual leave

Flexible working arrangements

Offices in London and Newcastle

Job summary

UK National Audit Office in London is seeking an entry-level Value for Money Analyst to join our teams. You’ll help examine how public money is spent, influencing key government decisions through multi-method audits and driving improvements in public services.

The role offers a clear path into public sector analytics, with flexible working, generous leave, a Civil Service pension, and opportunities to learn across health, education, justice, and international development.

Qualifications

• Minimum 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.

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.

Job description

Location: London or Newcastle with a minimum of 2 days per week in the office

Competitive Salary: £45,316 per annum if based in London, or £38,403 per annum if based in Newcastle plus civil service pension scheme employer contribution of 28.9%

Contract type: Permanent

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 ([e-mail]) 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/).

We will be holding an online session to provide more details about the role on Thursday 5th November 12:00-13:00. Our analysts will talk to you about their work and the application process and there will be time for you to ask any questions. If you would like to attend, please contact us via [e-mail]. We will send you a link to the meeting.

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.

Selection Process

1. Application

Candidates are required to submit their CV, a written case study exercise, complete two online tests and answer four selection questions as part of their application. Please note that each application question has a maximum limit of 200 words. While the application system may allow you to enter more text, any content beyond the first 200 words of your response will not be considered as part of the assessment. Please ensure that all sections of the application are completed accurately and thoroughly by the closing deadline of Monday 16 November.

2. Screening

An initial screening will be conducted to check the eligibility of candidates based on the verbal and numeracy tests and degree / experience criteria. Only candidates who meet these criteria will proceed to the next stage.

3. Assessment

All candidates should complete the case study exercise in the application stage to be eligible for shortlisting consideration. Shortlisting for interview is based on a combined score for your overall application (your CV, the 4SQs and online tests). Please note that the case study exercise will only be reviewed if you are shortlisted for an interview.

4. Final stage – case study marking and interview

Candidates who pass the screening and assessment stages will be invited for an interview. The interview will assess various competencies and skills relevant to the role. We expect the interviews to take place in late November and early December. The case study will be marked for candidates shortlisted for the final stage.

5. Decision

The final decision-making process will involve a moderation and review panel. The panel will consider the combined scores from the assessment and final stages to make the final decision.

Equal opportunities and diversity

Supporting Neurodivergent and Disabled Candidates

We are committed to creating an inclusive recruitment process where everyone can perform at their best. If you are neurodivergent, have a disability, or live with a long-term health condition, we encourage you to let us know about any adjustments you may need. We will work with you to understand your requirements and make appropriate, tailored adjustments — whether that’s extra time for assessments, alternative formats, or support during interviews. Our aim is to ensure a fair and supportive experience for all candidates.

Disability and Reasonable Adjustments

Applicants with a disability who wish their application to be considered under the Disability Confident scheme should confirm this when submitting their application. Under this scheme, we guarantee an interview to an applicant with a disability who meets the minimum requirements for the role. You should also let our HR team know if you wish us to consider any Reasonable Adjustments at any stage of the process ([e-mail]).

We are committed to fair and open recruitment. All applications will be assessed on merit against the requirements of the role. We do not discriminate on the basis of any protected characteristic as defined by the Equality Act 2010.