Previously the NAO could only access the BBC’s finances if invited to do so by the corporation Spending watchdog the National Audit Office will be able to fully examine the BBC’s finances for the first time.
The NAO would be allowed “access to any part of the BBC they wish to look at”, said a spokesman for the Department of Culture, Media and Sport.
A formal announcement will be made at the Liberal Democrats’ party conference on Wednesday.
The move follows weeks of negotiation between the BBC Trust and the coalition government.
The NAO scrutinises the finances of government departments and other public sector bodies to ensure good governance has being carried out and value for money has been achieved.
BBC political correspondent Jo Coburn said that in the past the NAO could access the corporation’s finances only if invited to do so by the BBC’s governing body, the BBC Trust.
Now it seems the NAO will be able to decide what aspect of the BBC’s finances it wants to look at and when.
Our correspondent added that a key question was whether the NAO would be allowed to publish details about fees and payments made to the BBC’s biggest stars.
She added: “The BBC could argue that its contractual obligations with leading talent would restrict any detailed publication.”
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