ANAO Graduate Programs & Entry Level Jobs

We are a specialist public sector agency that supports the Auditor-General of Australia to conduct audits of Australian Government agencies. We report to the Parliament and are proud of the important role we play in keeping government agencies accountable for their exercise of authority and expenditure of public funds.

We exist to support accountability and transparency in government—our work keeps the Parliament and public informed about how government agencies are performing, maintaining pressure on and helping them to improve the way they work.

We are driven by our strong culture of integrity and independence, and our people are committed to fully understanding and shining a light on aspects of public administration for the benefit of everyone.

The work we do

Through our audits we investigate how government agencies operate, including their finances and how they manage programs, implement policy and run IT systems to achieve the aims of government.

We independently select, analyse and audit topics of significant public interest, investment and importance, like Defence capability, government cyber resilience, delivery of major infrastructure, administration of public grants schemes and programs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

We examine topics like:

• program implementation, management and monitoring
• IT systems
• financial statements
• service delivery
• procurement processes, contract and grants management
• management of defence assets
• policy development processes
• performance statements
• and more!

See the big picture of government

Get a birds-eye view of the public service. Work across multiple portfolios, getting the ultimate intro to government and a unique professional edge to launch your APS career.

See the inner workings of organisations

A career in audit develops your business acumen like no other! Be privy to the information and operations critical to running an organisation, priming you take on leadership roles both at the ANAO and in the wider world. 

See action

Do real work with real responsibility — from day one. See your work published and tabled in Parliament. Make a difference, contributing to better public administration and supporting integrity, accountability and transparency in government agencies. 

See first-hand how senior leaders operate

Have unparalleled access to leadership. Work with executives from across the public service. Learn from the best, sitting in on meetings and master classes with ANAO senior leaders including the Auditor-General and Deputy Auditor-General. 

See where your ANAO career takes you

Bring what you know — we’ll help you develop the rest. Expand your career options with tailored learning and development, an extensive training program and structured rotations into different areas.

Our graduate program is open for applications between February and April each year.

We accept graduates of all degrees and disciplines into our program. More so than seeking graduates with the ‘right’ degree, we’re looking for people that are motivated, curious, team-minded and skilled in communicating with others — and that will fit with our high integrity and performance culture.

If that’s you, we encourage you to apply. In our program we’ll value you for your unique skills, attributes and experiences, and help you learn the audit technical skills you need.

Types of audit you can do

Where you start out at the ANAO will depend on what you’re interested in, as well as your qualifications. You could make your mark at the ANAO:

Investigating the financial statements of government agencies (financial audit)

You’ll do: important annual financial statement audits of Australian Government agencies. Working in an environment where profit is not the driver, your job will be rewarding and challenging as you help improve the standards of public sector financial management and administration.

You’ll have: a degree in accounting, finance, economics or commerce. 

Find out more in ‘Available opportunities’ under ANAO 2023 Graduate Program—financial audit.

Evaluating the economy, efficiency and effectiveness of programs, initiatives and systems (performance audit)

You’ll do: research and analysis of a variety of issues of public policy and administration, developing deep insight and identifying improvements to how government agencies do their work.

You’ll have: any degree.

Find out more in ‘Available opportunities’ under ANAO 2023 Graduate Program—performance audit.

Analysing big data (data analytics)

You’ll do: analyse complex and varied data across a wide range of topics. Your investigations and analyses will shape our audit conclusions and recommendations. 

You’ll have: a degree in data analytics, data science, business information systems, business informatics, engineering

IT security, or similar.

Find out more in ‘Available opportunities’ under ANAO 2023 Graduate Program—data analytics. 

**Don’t want to limit yourself to just one of these work groups or types of work? That’s okay, we offer you flexibility in trying work in different groups over your graduate year.**

Internship Program

• Pro rata salary of $48,888
• Mix of on-site and remote work
• Real work in a real team, supported by an in-team buddy
• Get a competitive edge when it comes to applying for our graduate program!

Our internship program is open for applications any time, and we accept students from a number of degrees and disciplines.

We’re looking for

Inquisitive, meticulous, humble students that let their work speak for itself.

You’ll also:

• have a strong record of maintaining and balancing study commitments
• be a good communicator who can build solid relationships with your team and manager
• be able to commit (on average) to 15 hours per week to your placement here, with an increase of hours during university breaks
• be interested in developing your skills and building a career in audit
• be living in Canberra, where the office and internship roles are located.

Available roles

• Over the next year internship positions at the ANAO will become available in the following areas: 
• financial audit
• program and policy evaluation
• audit of government performance statements
• systems assurance and data analytics.

Apply now… or later

Apply using the Internship Program Register on our website any time, and we'll get in touch if a suitable intern position becomes available for you

Aman — financial statement audit graduate

Sam — performance audit graduate

Isaac — performance audit graduate

Jess — financial statement audit graduate

Tessa — financial statement audit graduate

Song — former graduate in data analytics

Jodi — senior leader in financial statement audit

Dan — performance statements audit graduate

Former ANAO graduates—where are they now?

Kirsty Reddacliff

Then: Graduate Program, 2018
Now: Senior Auditor, Assurance Audit

“I started out at the ANAO in the Assurance Audit Services Group in 2018, fresh out of university. The amount of support provided and the skills I learnt assisted me to confidently and comfortably obtain the role of Senior Auditor (team leader). This provides me with opportunities to manage a team, which is something I never would have imagined doing at 25! By working at the ANAO, it has given me a higher level of appreciation as to the complexities and issues surrounding government. As someone who worked in the private sector casually, I have found that working in government is a great way to learn about your country, build your skills, and have a good work-life balance. Looking back, I am glad that I joined the ANAO as it helped me build confidence in my abilities and skills, especially given I was the youngest graduate in my program.”

Angus Hirst

Then: Graduate Program, 2016
Now: IT Projects Manager, Information Services 

“I started at the ANAO as a performance audit graduate. Six years later, after a move to the corporate group, I’m responsible for managing the ANAO’s biggest contracts with outsourced IT = providers. My work ensures our auditors have the technology they need to work effectively. You might not know your career path but the ANAO graduate program will give you the training and skills you need to take it in any direction.”

Nathan Callaway

Then: Graduate Program, 2011
Now: Director, Performance Audit

“The ANAO has been an excellent place to work, providing me with many opportunities to develop my skills and experience. Two of the most valuable aspects have been the diversity in the nature of the work that I have done, and the level of responsibility that I have been given. After 11 years, I am still being challenged and continuously improving my skills and experience.”

Pooja Bajaj

Then: Graduate Program, 2017
Now: Director, Assurance Audit

“From knowing little about audit to leading a team on one of ANAO’s largest audits (and managing multiple others), it has been an amazing journey. The ANAO has not only provided me with the opportunity to develop and improve my understanding of financial statements, but has helped me extend my skills and knowledge into other areas—like my analytical rigor and leadership skills.”

Sara Casey

Then: Graduate Program, 2017
Now: Director, Performance Audit

“I graduated university with an Honours degree in psychology, but my work at the ANAO has taken me in a direction I never expected while I was studying. I use the research and analysis skills from my degree to evaluate a portfolio of military equipment worth over $60 billion, and only six months after completing my graduate program, I was selected to be a senior analyst on this portfolio. The ANAO is a great place to learn new things and apply your degree in a different way.”  

Ben Siddans

Then: Graduate Program, 2011
Now: Senior Director, Analytics, Technology and Innovation

“I feel that the ANAO as provided me with a diversity of different experiences, which have allowed me to develop a variety of useful skills and gain an understanding of how various parts of the Australian Public Service operate. I’ve also been provided with opportunities to challenge myself, like presenting to important stakeholders, develop solutions for complex issues, and be involved in improving to the way we work. The work I am doing is always changing, which has in turn meant that I’m always learning new things and developing myself further.”

Alicia Vaughan 

Then: Graduate Program, 2016
Now: Senior Performance Analyst

“Since joining the ANAO fresh out of university, I have been able to enrich my skills and experience in a way I had never expected. I have now worked on a number of performance audits across a wide variety of government portfolios, undertaken a secondment to Parliament House and contributed to the ANAO’s work in unstructured data analytics and reconciliation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. The ANAO has given me the best possible start to my career and has supported me to grow in both confidence and capability.”

Simone Adam

Then: Graduate Program, 2018
Now: Senior Performance Statements Auditor

“The ANAO has been a great way to start my career and build my broader understanding of the Australian Public Service. I have had the opportunity to work on audits of many diverse areas of government and have been continually learning about the significant and complex work that is undertaken in the sector. After starting out as a graduate financial statements auditor, I have been able to use the analytical, decision making and leadership skills to become part of the pilot development team for the new Performance Statements Audits. This new area of audit is creating a greater level of accountability and transparency in the sector and it has been an incredible experience being part of a team that has been able to bring this idea to life. After starting as an ANAO graduate four years ago, I have been able to partake in so many opportunities across the wider office and have been continually learning and developing my skillset for the future.”

• Ongoing employment with generous conditions and a starting salary of $64,698 plus 15.4 per cent superannuation
• Opportunities to work side-by-side with senior leaders
• Tailored learning and development, an extensive training program and structured rotations into different areas
• Access to mentoring program and two buddies
• Fresh, modern activity-based work environment
• A positive approach to flexible work and work life balance
• Relocation assistance if you need to move to Canberrra from interstate