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National Audit Office

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Public Sector1 apprenticeship typeIntake2027 intake
FollowCareers siteWebsite

The National Audit Office (NAO), the UK's independent public spending watchdog, runs an ACA Accountancy Training Scheme with a 4.5-year structured apprentice pathway for school leavers (alongside a 3-year graduate pathway). Apprentice trainees gain hands-on financial audit experience across government while studying for the ICAEW ACA, based in London or Newcastle, with college and exams at BPP.

Programmes

1 tracked · status for the next intake that is recruiting

Apprenticeship types

1 offered · degree apprenticeships first

  • Apprentice ACA Accountancy Training Scheme

    Level not published

    Accountancy / Audit · 4.5 years

    More about this programme: Apprentice ACA Accountancy Training Scheme
    Qualification
    ICAEW ACA chartered accountancy qualification (fully funded)
    University or provider
    BPP
    Business areas
    Financial audit of government bodies
    Locations
    London, Newcastle

    Apprenticeship standard and level not named on the scheme site. College attended in person in London or Newcastle; Certificate exams at BPP London or Newcastle. Typically 12-14 apprentices a year. Must not hold a degree.

    Source for Apprentice ACA Accountancy Training Scheme

National Audit Office does not publish the standard for any of these.

Entry requirements

Accepts UCAS pointsFrom 104 UCAS points
A levels
120 UCAS points from top 3 A levels (or equivalent), excluding General Studies
UCAS points
120 (104-119 may be considered through contextual recruitment)
GCSEs
5 GCSEs (A-C or 9-4) including Maths and English
Equivalents
A level equivalents; overseas qualifications assessed on request
Other
Must not have a degree; must not be on an accountancy training contract or part-qualified; right to work in the UK for the whole scheme (no visa sponsorship); no upper age limit; one application per year (1 Sept-31 Aug); security vetting

As National Audit Office publishes them; requirements differ between programmes, so check the advert before you apply.

Application process

  1. Online application
  2. Stage 1: Capptivate and Numerical Reasoning Test
  3. Stage 2: Job simulation
  4. Stage 3: Assessment centreongoing shortlisting
  5. Conditional offer and pre-employment checks
  1. 1

    Online application

    When: Apprentice scheme 2027 opens mid-December 2026

    Checked against minimum requirements; CRS for 104-119 UCAS points

  2. 2

    Stage 1: Capptivate and Numerical Reasoning Test

    No feedback at this stage

  3. 3

    Stage 2: Job simulation

    Written and video responses

  4. 4

    Stage 3: Assessment centre

    When: ongoing shortlisting

    London Victoria HQ or Newcastle (some virtual): role play, skills-based interview, reflection exercise; feedback for all attendees

  5. 5

    Conditional offer and pre-employment checks

    Security vetting, certificate checks, right to work

Typical timeline

Opens
mid-December 2026 (Apprentice Accountancy Scheme 2027)
Closes
Not published
Assessment
Not published
Offers
Not published
Starts
September (induction, college and first exams from September to November)

Windows for the 2027 intake, September 2026 to August 2027

  • Expected, ~DecACA Accountancy Training Scheme (school leavers)

Locations and universities

Locations
London, Newcastle
Universities and training providers
BPP

Salary and benefits

Starting salary
Apprentice: London £29,188; Newcastle £24,178 (2026 figures)
Progression
Annual increases plus raises on passing exams; once qualified, expected to exceed £62,000 (London) and £54,000 (Newcastle)
Notes
Not published
Benefits
  • Fully funded ACA qualification and ICAEW membership
  • 25 weeks' paid study leave
  • Civil Service Pension (28.97% employer contribution)
  • 35 days' annual leave including public holidays
  • Hybrid working after induction (minimum 2 office days a week)
  • Employee networks and health and wellbeing support

Cohort size and intakes

Intake years
2027 intake
Cohort 2027
Not published

What stands out

A small intake (typically 12-14 apprentices a year) training to ACA as public-sector auditors, with 25 weeks' paid study leave and a 28.97% employer pension contribution.

Sources

Where every fact above comes from
  1. 1
    naoaccountancyscheme.co.uk

    Accessed · Scheme overview: 4.5-year apprentice pathway, ACA, benefits summary

  2. 2
    naoaccountancyscheme.co.uk/about-the-scheme

    Accessed · Pathways and minimum requirements, CRS, right to work

  3. 3
    naoaccountancyscheme.co.uk/how-to-apply

    Accessed · Application stages, assessment centres in London and Newcastle, pre-employment checks

  4. 4
    naoaccountancyscheme.co.uk/benefits-and-rewards

    Accessed · 2026 salaries, qualified salary, study leave, pension, leave, hybrid working

  5. 5
    naoaccountancyscheme.co.uk/apply-here

    Accessed · 2026 schemes closed; Apprentice Accountancy Scheme 2027 opens mid-December 2026

  6. 6
    naoaccountancyscheme.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Recruitment-FAQs.pdf

    Accessed · 12-14 apprentices a year, no upper age limit, one application per year, BPP college and exams, September induction

Apprentice Atlas is not affiliated with National Audit Office. This information comes from National Audit Office’s own pages and job feeds, linked under Sources. Report an error or ask for a takedown.