Value For Money Analyst – Newcastle

Cooper & Hall Limited; Newcastle upon Tyne; Hybrid; GBP 38,000 - 45,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Civil Service pension scheme

35 days annual leave

Hybrid offices in London and Newcastle

Job summary

The National Audit Office seeks entry-level Value for Money Analysts to evaluate government programmes and their efficiency. You will contribute to major reports, gather and analyse evidence, and interact with senior stakeholders to drive improvements in public services.

Applicants must meet UK nationality requirements and be eligible to work in the UK. This is a hybrid role with offices in London and Newcastle; 35 days annual leave and a strong pension scheme are offered.

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.
• Relevant experience in research, analysis, or performance audit.

Responsibilities

• Audit government programmes to assess value for money and efficiency.
• Work with experienced colleagues in a collaborative team.
• Gain exposure to senior stakeholders and policy challenges.
• Develop and maintain evidence trails to support findings.
• Present findings clearly and contribute to value for money reports.
• Provide briefings to managers and senior staff.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Evidence interpretation

Written communication

Stakeholder engagement

Teamwork

Education

2:1 degree in social science / economics / statistics / data analytics

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 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.

Please note that applicants will need to meet our nationality requirements:

• - UK nationals
• - Nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• - Nationals from the EU, EEA or Switzerland with (or eligible for) status under the European Union Settlement Scheme

Please be aware that we do not provide sponsorship for work visas for this position. Applicants must already meet the nationality requirements outlined above. If you have any questions regarding your eligibility, please contact us.

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.

About the Role

Each year we produce around 60 major reports 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 3and 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.

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.

Responsibilities

The main responsibilities include:

• -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

It is essential that you can demonstrate the ability to:

• -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

In addition, we are looking for candidates with the following 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.

The people we are looking for

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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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.

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.