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Office manager

Office managers are responsible for facilitating the efficient functioning of an office via a range of administrative, clerical, financial and managerial tasks.

There are many similarities between the role of office manager and the work undertaken by senior secretaries or administrators, although generally the work of office managers attracts higher salaries.

Office manager job description: Typical employers | Qualifications and training | Key skills | Useful links | Find jobs and courses

There is no generic role for office managers as duties vary according to the size of the employing organisation. However, responsibilities typically include:

organising meetings
arranging appointments
typing
booking transport and accommodation
ordering stationery and furniture
dealing with correspondence, complaints and queries
preparing letters, presentations and reports
supervising and monitoring the work of secretarial, clerical and administrative staff
managing office budgets
liaising with staff, suppliers and clients
implementing and maintaining procedures/office administrative systems
delegating tasks to junior employees
organising induction programmes for new employees
ensuring that health and safety policies are up to date
using a variety of software packages
handling staff recruitment and appraisals
attending meetings with senior management
keeping personnel records.

Typical employers of office managers

Any organisation with more than a few members of staff may employ an office manager. Major employers include:

hospitals
universities
financial organisations
local authorities
central government
charities
small businesses
retailers
manufacturers
major companies
media/law firms.

Jobs are advertised online, by careers services, recruitment agencies, in specialist publications such as The Economist and The Appointment, and in local, regional and national newspapers.

Qualifications and training required

A degree can sometimes be beneficial, particularly for higher level positions. Previous office-based clerical, secretarial or commercial work experience is essential (some employers may expect at least two years). Relevant experience can be gained via temporary agency work (temping), which may in turn lead to permanent office work.