Office managers keep offices running smoothly by carrying out a range of administrative, financial and managerial tasks.
What does an office manager do? | Office manager salaries | Typical employers of office managers | Qualifications and training for office managers | Office manager skills
Office managers ensure that the offices they look after are running effectively on a day-to-day basis. Depending on the size of the organisation, they may be involved in a range of activities, from monitoring health and safety to assisting with HR and payroll tasks.
They are often the ‘go-to’ person in an organisation as they work closely with many departments and understand how they ‘tick’.
What does an office manager do?
An office manager’s duties typically include:
- organising meetings and managing databases
- booking transport and accommodation
- organising company events and conferences
- ordering stationery and IT equipment
- dealing with correspondence, complaints and queries
- preparing letters, presentations and reports
- supervising and monitoring the work of administrative staff
- processing invoices and managing office budgets
- implementing and maintaining procedures/office administrative systems
- organising induction programmes for new employees
- ensuring that health and safety policies are up to date
- attending meetings with senior management
- assisting the organisation's HR and finance functions by keeping personnel records up to date, arranging interviews and updating financial documents.
Depending on the size and structure of the organisation, office management can be combined with another office-based job role, for example:
Duties will often include some of the traditional duties of a personal assistant (PA) or administrator, but the role can be more wide-ranging. A personal assistant focuses on supporting one individual with administrative tasks; read about personal assistant skills and duties in our other job description.
Entry-level salaries for office managers
Salaries vary across different sectors and industries but as a general guide, salary survey websites suggest that you could earn around £18,000 initially as an office manager. As you progress, you could earn up to £30,000 in this role.
Typical employers of office managers
Any organisation with more than a few members of staff may employ an office manager. Major employers include:
- hospitals and health organisations, such as NHS trusts
- universities
- financial organisations
- local authorities
- central government
- charities
- small businesses
- manufacturers.
Jobs are typically advertised via local jobs boards and regional and national job sites. You can also find vacancies advertised via recruitment agencies.
Search for business and management jobs on targetjobs and check out our CV and application advice .
Qualifications and training required
A degree can sometimes be beneficial and this career is open to graduates from all degree disciplines. However, many employers do not specify academic qualifications as a requirement, instead stressing the importance of:
- experience in an administrative role
- knowledge of administrative software packages
- good interpersonal and time management skills
- basic accounting skills
- reliability and discretion: you will often learn of confidential matters.
Previous office-based, secretarial or customer-facing work experience is essential (some employers may expect at least two years). Some employers also ask for previous experience of working within an office-based role in the same sector. You can build relevant experience via temporary agency work, which may in turn lead to permanent office work.
Key skills for office managers
- Reliability and discretion: you will often learn of confidential matters
- Adaptability
- Excellent communication, negotiation and relationship-building skills
- Organisational skills
- IT skills
- Problem solving skills
- Initiative
- Leadership and the ability to ‘make things happen’
- Budgeting skills
- Attention to detail.
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FAQs
Builds relationships with colleagues, manages conflict, and fosters a positive office environment. Experience supervising staff, delegating tasks, and providing training and mentorship. Ensuring accuracy in documentation, financial transactions, and other administrative tasks.
What is the brief description of an office manager's role? ›
Their job is to oversee the hiring and training of office employees. They also need to host office meetings and conduct performance reviews for all employees. They may also be responsible for overseeing layoffs and budget cuts across departments to maintain their company's financial health.
How do you describe an office manager on a resume? ›
Good example: “ Experienced Office Manager with a proven track record of streamlining operations and improving efficiency. Possess a keen eye for detail and excellent organizational skills, as well as a strong ability to multitask and prioritize tasks.
What is the biggest strength of an office manager? ›
Office manager qualities
- Optimism. ...
- Communication. ...
- Flexibility. ...
- Organization and project management. ...
- Creativity. ...
- Emotional intelligence. ...
- Administrative. ...
- Leadership.
Answer: “My favourite part of the job is working closely with others. I love to work within a team. I am a people person with great communication skills who loves helping others do the best job possible. My least favourite part is sometimes things can get a little stressful.
What is the sample position description for office manager? ›
Maintain office efficiency by planning and implementing office systems, layouts, and equipment procurement. Establish standards and procedures, measuring results and making necessary adjustments. Keeps management informed by reviewing and analyzing special reports, summarizing information, and identifying trends.
What are the four functions of an office manager? ›
Effective management is a cornerstone of organizational success. By understanding and implementing the four functions of management – the planning function, the organizing function, the leading function, and the controlling function – a manager can steer an organization toward achievement.
What is better wording for office manager? ›
Popular alternatives include community manager, office administrator, and executive assistant. Each of these titles highlights different aspects of the office manager role, which can help them draw focus on the aspects of the job that they most value.
What is an example of an office manager objective? ›
Examples of office manager resume objectives
A highly motivated professional looking to apply over 20 years of experience in electronics as an office manager. Ready to apply my sales experience to guide staff, and strong communication skills to foster new client relationships while maintaining existing relations.
What is the hardest role of office manager? ›
Becoming a Manager: 11 Most Difficult Challenges
- Taking the Party Line. ...
- Liaising Between Organizational Levels. ...
- Using Team Input Effectively. ...
- Making Challenging Decisions. ...
- Adapting Management Style to Employee Needs. ...
- Providing Useful and Timely Feedback. ...
- Keeping the Pace of Work. ...
- Asking for Help.
Being able to prioritize deadlines is critical for an office manager. If you want to hire or wish to become an office manager be sure to understand that time-management is essential to the job.
What is the role of office management? ›
Functions. An office manager is responsible for monitoring and reviewing systems, usually focusing on specific outcomes such as improved timescales, turnover, output, sales, etc. They may supervise or manage a team of administrators, allocating roles, recruiting and training, and issuing assignments and projects.
How to answer tell me about yourself for office manager? ›
It's important to find someone who is confident in their abilities and willing to talk about them. Sample Answer: I have a strong work ethic and am always willing to go the extra mile for my employer. I'm also very good at working with others and establishing a positive rapport with everyone in the office.
What is the responsibility of an office manager? ›
Office manager duties and responsibilities include scheduling meetings and appointments, making office supplies arrangements, greeting visitors and providing general administrative support to our employees. Previous experience as a Front Office Manager or Office Administrator would be an advantage.
How do you introduce yourself as an office manager? ›
How to introduce yourself to your new team
- Learn about your team. Before officially introducing yourself to your new team, gather information about them. ...
- Exhibit positivity. ...
- Dress professionally. ...
- Observe your team. ...
- Tell your story. ...
- Set expectations. ...
- Prepare for questions. ...
- Send a follow-up message.
Managers are responsible for helping employees be effective in their own roles, grow in their positions and develop their skills. They conduct individual coaching sessions and group training on topics related to performance and development. In addition, they evaluate employees on a regular basis.
How do you describe manager duties on a resume? ›
Plans and evaluates department policies, processes, priorities, and performance goals. Maintains staff by recruiting, onboarding, training, assessing, and promoting employees. Ensures that their department is on track to meet performance goals and makes adjustments based on performance data as needed.
How do you define a manager's role? ›
Who is a manager? Managers are responsible for achieving the goals and objectives of an organisation through managing its resources (human, financial, and operational). Managerial duties include, but are not limited to leading the team, setting objectives, analyzing performance, making decisions, and reviewing.
