Audit Commission

The Audit Commission has recruited 90 university graduates to its new professional accountancy training scheme, twice its previous intake of 45.

Graduates will join a public sector spending watchdog committed to driving greater efficiencies across England, everywhere from local NHS trusts to district and county councils.

Professional accountancy trainees are the lifeblood of the Commission’s audit workforce. They help promote value for money for taxpayers across the £200 billion spent by public bodies in England, including local government, health, housing, community safety and fire & rescue services.

The Commission’s new scheme marks a change from locally driven recruitment of graduates to a national scheme. Graduates will receive professional training towards the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) qualification.

Steve Bundred, Chief Executive of the Audit Commission, said:

‘We’re investing in young people as our future audit workforce. It’s likely to be a tough time for graduates looking for work this autumn because many private sector recruitment schemes are facing cutbacks, but we’re bucking that trend by reducing our contractor numbers and doubling the number of opportunities for students.

The Audit Commission wants to train a new, young generation of auditors across England who are committed to delivering world class public audit. Trainees’ experience will be gained in dynamic environments everywhere from local government to the NHS in a time of significant financial challenge which has put public sector financial management under the microscope and on the front pages like never before.’

The new national trainee scheme will offer opportunities all across England and begins this September. The Audit Commission will soon be recruiting for its 2011 intake, and the website will re-open for applications at the end of September.

The Audit Commission recently won the Best Graduate Recruitment Website Award which recognises excellence in recruitment. The award, part of the Targetjobs National Recruitment Awards, was voted for and decided exclusively by students in a field of competitors that included Barclays Bank, the multi-national law firm Clifford Chance and PriceWaterhouseCoopers.

Notes for editors

• The Audit Commission is an independent watchdog, driving economy, efficiency and effectiveness in local public services to deliver better outcomes for everyone.
• Our work across local government, health, housing, community safety and fire and rescue services means that we have a unique perspective. We promote value for money for taxpayers, auditing the £200 billion spent by 11,000 local public bodies.
• As a force for improvement, we work in partnership to assess local public services and make practical recommendations for promoting a better quality of life for local people.
• Further details about the role of the Audit Commission can be obtained from www.audit-commission.gov.uk.