National Audit Office EmployAbility Summer Internship Programme 2012
Start Date |
July 2012 |
Duration |
8 weeks |
Locations |
London, Newcastle |
Who |
Students interested in studying to become a Chartered Accountant and interested in the public sector
|
Application Deadline |
Midnight Sunday 5 February 2012 |
The Company
The National Audit Office (NAO) is the UK’s main public sector audit body, responsible for auditing the accounts of government departments and agencies and examining the propriety of government spending. The NAO reports to Parliament on the economy, efficiency and effectiveness with which these bodies have used public money.
The NAO employs around 900 staff, most of whom are qualified accountants, trainees or technicians. They work across two main areas, financial audit or value for money (VFM) audit. Each year it produces 60 VFM reports and numerous other outputs to help Parliament hold government to account and improve public services. Value for Money audit focuses on how public money has been spent. To do this it draws on a range of disciplines – financial audit, evaluation, consultancy, social research and economics to name a few. Its work leads to savings and other efficiency gains worth many millions of pounds.
The Opportunity
In partnership with EmployAbility, the National Audit Office is offering students with disabilities the opportunity to participate in an exciting and challenging summer internship programme.
Successful candidates will gain insight into the work of the NAO, the Supreme Audit Institution for the UK.
The assignments last for eight weeks commencing in July 2012. Through the internship you will gain an understanding of the skills and capability needed to become a Chartered Accountant.
The internship is likely to include work-shadowing auditors, conducting fieldwork for the NAO value for money teams, research, drafting option papers, interviewing and assisting with formulating questions for VFM studies.
During the internship you will have the opportunity to attend a number of training courses some of which are listed below;
- Government Framework Course – one day training which introduces interns to the history of government and combines this with a visit to Parliament
- Value for Money training – one day course which provides an understanding of VFM
- Financial Audit training – one and a half days training on what it is and working through the cycle of a hypothetical financial audit
- Public Accounts Committee meeting – an opportunity to attend a meeting at the House of Commons
- Graduate Programme – an opportunity to hear about and discuss applying to the NAO graduate training scheme
- Thinking Accountability Workshop – discussing accountability from a variety of perspectives and considering what they might mean for the work of the NAO
The sheer number of central government departments ensures that your internship will take place in one of the NAO’s key client area departments.
A place on the summer internship programme will give you an insight into the work that a graduate trainee is involved in. You will also if successful, during your internship have the opportunity to join the NAO graduate programme.
The Rewards
- Salary £22,000+ pro rata depending on location
- 4.5 days leave for an eight week placement
- Subsidised staff restaurant
- Onsite Fitness Centre (London)
Eligibility
To be eligible, you must be a university undergraduate or graduate with a disability or health condition and have a keen interest in this sector.
The Summer Internship Programme is ideal for 2nd or 3rd year undergraduates interested in studying to become a Chartered Accountant and are interested in the public sector, government and audit. However, if you are a graduate and wish to apply for this internship programme, please contact Justin Penney on +44 (0)7776 090 508 or email info@employ-ability.org.uk to discuss further.
You must be a UK, Commonwealth, EEA or Swiss national to comply with Civil Service nationality rules.
Academic Requirements
You will need to have attained at least 300 UCAS points and expect a 2.1 degree.
However, if there are extenuating circumstances which may have affected your grades, please contact Justin Penney on +44 (0)7776 090 508 or email info@employ-ability.org.uk for further information.
Don’t forget to contact EmployAbility should you have any questions or require further information regarding the NAO EmployAbility Summer Internship Programme. We can give you useful advice and tips on how to make a successful application.
This programme is now closed for applications.
