Accountancy Options

Accountancy opportunities for graduates at the National Audit Office.

So you're thinking about accountancy. A great career. Good pay. Excellent prospects. No wonder it appeals to so many students, epecially those with an enquiring mind and a head for figures.

Just one thing makes you stop and think, though. Exams.

Unless you're the sort of person who loves to study, the thought of all that extra work can be a bit of a turn-off.

The trouble is, getting the right qualifications is an accounting fact of life. What's more, they're tough. Very tough. And the same is true whether you work in the public or private sector.

Of course, employers recognise this and most do try to ease the strain, which is why so many offer study support. The question is, how much? Read the small print and you'll find that it can range from paying for the odd book to providing substantial study leave.

The NAO (National Audit Office) is firmly at the latter end of the scale. Over the course of a comprehensive three-year training programme, you can expect five weeks' block release in the first year, ten weeks in the second and seven weeks in the third - all on full pay.

This gives you time to really concentrate on your revision and exam preparation without having to worry about the day-to-day business of building your career. What's more, there will always be someone to turn to for help or advice, whether it's your line manager, HR manager, mentor or training advisor.

Study support, though important, shouldn't be the only thing that influences your choice of employer. You've got to enjoy the work. As NAO accountancy trainee Tracey Payne says: "The mechanics of auditing are pretty much the same anywhere. What makes the difference is the type of clients you work with."

At the NAO these range from big-spending ministerial departments, like Health, Defence and Education, to museums, galleries and historical buildings.

Above all, at the NAO you will be helping to ensure that taxpayers' money is being spent wisely - something that matters to NAO's Khadija Qidwai.

"Big profit companies aren't my scene. Seeing how the Government works from the inside and the sense of doing something worthwhile, though, really gives me a sense of job satisfaction."

So take account of what you want from your career. Scour the available information, scrutinise the facts and figures, and draw your own conclusions - it's the best possible preparation for life as a chartered accountant.

Visit the NAO website for graduates now!