NAO Accountancy Training Scheme 2027

Pays £28,912 to £35,787 a year depending on location.

NoNAO Accountancy Training Scheme (Graduate ACA pathway)

No. National Audit Office does not sponsor its nao accountancy training scheme for international students who need a visa. The scheme's own dedicated site states plainly that it cannot offer visa sponsorship, so candidates need UK citizenship, settled or pre-settled status, or another immigration status that already permits work without sponsorship for the full three years.

Sponsors grads?: No
Pay vs threshold: Not published
Opportunity: graduate scheme
Pay: unknown
2027 cycle: Applications open mid-October 2026, no closing date published
Confidence: high

National Audit Office NAO Accountancy Training Scheme: at a glance

The National Audit Office's Accountancy Training Scheme is a 3-year structured programme for graduates leading to the ACA qualification, with hands-on financial audit experience and exposure to government operations. The NAO also runs a 4.5-year apprentice pathway. Trainees receive a fully funded ACA qualification, ICAEW membership and 25 weeks of paid study leave. Source

Duration: 3 yearsSource
Start date: September 2027“Graduate Audit Associate (ACA Training Scheme) September 2027”Source
Who can apply: Graduates with 120 UCAS points from their top 3 A-Levels (or equivalent, excluding General Studies) who are not on an existing accountancy training contract or part-qualified; right to work in the UK for the full scheme, as the NAO cannot offer visa sponsorshipSource
Locations: London, Newcastle“Our Assessment Centres take place in either London or Newcastle, depending on your preferred office location.”Source
Starting pay: Graduate: London £35,787, Newcastle £28,912 (based on 2026 figures)Source
Degree requirement: Minimum 2:1 undergraduate degree in any disciplineSource

How National Audit Office recruits

How-to-apply page undated; Graduate Accountancy Scheme 2027 applications open mid-October 2026 (Recruitment FAQs PDF uploaded October 2026 describes the same stages). 5 stages, from National Audit Office's own careers pages, checked 2026-10-03. Test providers are named only where National Audit Office names them.

Online Application
Application form
Online application checked against the minimum eligibility requirements before inviting candidates to Stage 1.
“Submit the online application. We’ll review your application against the minimum eligibility requirements outlined on our ‘About the scheme’ page.”
Source
Stage 1: Capptivate and Numerical Reasoning Test (NRT)
Online tests
Capptivate online assessment of strengths and potential combined with a numerical reasoning test. Benchmark to progress; no feedback at this stage.
“Stage 1 combines our Capptivate assessment with an online Numerical Reasoning Test (NRT).”
Source
Stage 2: Job Simulation
Immersive assessment
Interactive job simulation built on role scenarios, testing judgement, analysis and decision-making, with written and video responses.
“You’ll work through a series of interactive exercises based on scenarios you may encounter in the role, allowing you to demonstrate your judgement, analysis and decision-making skills. The assessment combines written and video responses.”
Source
Stage 3: Assessment Centre
Assessment centre
Assessment centre in London or Newcastle (some may be virtual) with a group exercise, role play, skills-based interview and reflection exercise. Feedback for all attendees.
“If you’re successful, you’ll be invited to attend one of our assessment centres. These are held at our NAO Headquarters in London Victoria, and at our regional office in Newcastle.”
Source
Conditional Offer and Pre-Employment Checks
Offer
Conditional offer subject to security vetting, qualification checks and right to work confirmation.
“If you are successful, you will receive a conditional offer to join the NAO.”
Source

Every programme and stage at National Audit Office

“we are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this scheme”

National Audit Office, from its own careers pages

The catch: Pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme is accepted even though it is time-limited, but a Student or Graduate visa is not among the accepted categories.

National Audit Office early careers Verify on gov.uk See the licence record

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What National Audit Office publishes about this programme

Checked against National Audit Office's own careers pages on 2026-10-01. Anything not published is worth asking the early careers team before you apply.

Visa sponsorship policy: published
Application dates: published
Programme description: published
Duration and start date: published
Who can apply: published
Pay: published
Locations: published
Degree requirement: published
Recruitment stages: published

More early careers programmes at National Audit Office

Apprentice ACA Accountancy Training Schemeapprenticeship, no

Sources

Verdict last checked 2026-09-23. Application dates last checked 2026-10-01. How we check programme verdicts

Common questions

Does National Audit Office sponsor visas for its nao accountancy training scheme?

No. National Audit Office does not sponsor its nao accountancy training scheme for international students who need a visa. The three-year Graduate Accountancy Scheme leads to ACA qualification with ICAEW, opening with a three-month induction programme. It accepts any degree subject with a minimum 2:1 and around 300 UCAS points. The scheme's own dedicated site states plainly that it cannot offer visa sponsorship, so candidates need UK citizenship, settled or pre-settled status, or another immigration status that already permits work without sponsorship for the full three years.

What is the National Audit Office nao accountancy training scheme?

Does the pay clear the UK Skilled Worker salary threshold?

The pay for this scheme is not published clearly enough to judge against the threshold.

What is the catch international students miss with National Audit Office?

Pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme is accepted even though it is time-limited, but a Student or Graduate visa is not among the accepted categories.

When do applications open for the National Audit Office nao accountancy training scheme?

Applications open mid-October 2026, no closing date published. Checked on 2026-10-01 against National Audit Office's own site.

How long is the National Audit Office nao accountancy training scheme?

3 years, according to National Audit Office's own careers information.

When does the National Audit Office nao accountancy training scheme start?

September 2027, according to National Audit Office's own careers information.

Who can apply for the National Audit Office nao accountancy training scheme?

Graduates with 120 UCAS points from their top 3 A-Levels (or equivalent, excluding General Studies) who are not on an existing accountancy training contract or part-qualified; right to work in the UK for the full scheme, as the NAO cannot offer visa sponsorship, according to National Audit Office's own careers information.

Where is the National Audit Office nao accountancy training scheme based?

London, Newcastle, according to National Audit Office's own careers information.

What does the National Audit Office nao accountancy training scheme pay?

Graduate: London £35,787, Newcastle £28,912 (based on 2026 figures), according to National Audit Office's own careers information.

What degree do you need for the National Audit Office nao accountancy training scheme?

Minimum 2:1 undergraduate degree in any discipline, according to National Audit Office's own careers information.

How should I confirm National Audit Office's sponsorship before applying?

Read the specific vacancy on National Audit Office's careers site, ask its early-careers team directly, and check the employer on the gov.uk Register of Licensed Sponsors. Policies and thresholds change, so treat this page as a starting point and confirm for the exact role and cycle.

Related guides

All visa and sponsorship guides

Other public sector schemes

Before you apply

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