About the author

Simon directs the National Audit Office’s Commercial Insights team. He started his career in investment banking, then moved to a strategy role at Mars, one of the world’s largest privately owned companies. He has been at the NAO for over 20 years where he has audited a range of policy areas, including regulation, health and defence.

For the last eight years Simon has directed the NAO’s HM Treasury and Corporate Finance Team reporting on topics such as asset sales, government’s COVID-19 response schemes, and the spending and planning framework.

He is an Associate of the CFA Society of the UK, a Member of the Chartered Institute of Securities and Investments, and is a certified counter-fraud examiner.