the National Audit Office
/ðə ˌnæʃnəl ˈɔːdɪt ɒfɪs/
/ðə ˌnæʃnəl ˈɔːdɪt ɑːfɪs/
(abbreviation NAO)
- an independent organization in Britain which looks carefully at the accounts of government departments and agencies and other public organizations. It examines the way that public money is used, and aims to help public service managers improve their performance so that money is not wasted.