Vacancy: Advisory Panel on National Accounts members

The closing date for applications is 24 October 2025 at 23:55pm

The Advisory Panel on National Accounts (APoNA) provides independent advice to the Deputy National Statistician on the production, publication, uses and applications of National Accounts and their technical aspects.  

About the Advisory Panel on National Accounts

The APoNA has been set up to provide advice and guidance for National Accounts, and its directly associated topics, which are produced and published by the ONS. This includes the regular suite of National Accounts publications (monthly, quarterly and annual) as well as the transformation of existing outputs and the development of new statistics.

In scope are:

• Data sources and methods used to compile the National Accounts,   
• Production issues related to the compilation of GDP and components, which include: GDP (monthly, quarterly and annual), Trade, Balance of Payments, Sector and Financial Accounts, and Productivity.

Note that Public Sector Finances and classification guidance and decisions will be considered separately and fall outside of the APoNA due to specific user focus and needs.

Relationship of APoNA to other advisory panels

The APoNA forms part of a suite of separate advisory panels on Economic Statistics and works in parallel to separate advisory panels on Labour Market and Prices. Issues relevant to those topics are covered by the appropriate advisory panel. 

Functions  

The Advisory Panel provides independent advice to the Deputy National Statistician, Economic Statistics on the production, uses and applications of National Accounts, and its associated topics, to ensure that these statistics meet the needs of users and ‘serve the public good’.  

Specifically, the Panel will:  

• monitor and provide timely advice on the National Accounts and related transformations and improvements based on the agenda items covered;  
• raise other relevant issues or topics on the production, use and application of National Accounts, including on behalf of the user community;  
• provide technical expertise on relevant aspects of the National Accounts statistics work programme guided by the agenda items;  
• provide a yearly report to the Deputy National Statistician, Economic Statistics as appropriate, describing its activities and plans  

Role and responsibilities

• Provide independent, expert advice on national account and related economic statistics. 
• Contribute insights based on academic, professional or industry experience. 
• Attend and actively participate in all scheduled meetings. 
• Review materials in advance and contribute to discussions and recommendations. 
• Work collaboratively with other members to reach consensus where possible. 
• Respect diverse perspectives and maintain a constructive tone in discussions.  

Reporting and Governance

The APoNA advises the Deputy National Statistician, Economic Statistics.   

The Chair of the APoNA, in conjunction with the Deputy National Statistician for Economic Statistics, will present a yearly summary report on the activities of the Advisory Panel, for the National Statistician, who in turn can decide whether specific matters or issues need to be raised or discussed by the UK Statistics Authority Board.  

Essential criteria for committee members 

• has a strong background as either a producer or user of official statistics, particularly in the economic domain; 
• strategic skills, including the ability to analyse complex issues and to think clearly, strategically and laterally, extracting the essence of an argument from papers or presented evidence; and 
• have a good working knowledge of the use of official statistics and their uses, and the UK statistical system.

The successful applicant will contribute sufficiently to Committee discussions such that it may effectively discharge its duties as set out in the Terms of reference.  

Terms and Conditions of Employment

Time commitment

The Panel will be expected to meet between 2 to 4 times each year or on an as needed basis as requested by ONS and agreed with the Chair. Adequate meeting preparation time will be provided.  

Location

APoNA meetings will have flexibility to follow a hybrid approach, although the committee may, on occasion, meet all in person with a venue provided at a relevant ONS site for those attending. 

Remuneration

These posts are non-remunerated. All reasonable travel and subsistence costs will be reimbursed. 

Period of appointment

The appointment will be for an initial period of three years. The possibility of renewal for a further similar period will be available at the discretion of the Chair and ONS.

Conflicts of interest

Candidates should not have interests that would be likely to conflict with their responsibilities as part of the committee. Please declare any potential conflict of interest as early as possible in the selection process and disclose information or personal connections that might, if successful, be open to misperception.