what is an office manager?
As an office manager, you organise all administrative roles and ensure that the office runs smoothly. You have to develop supervisory skills to supervise others consistently. You will be responsible for resolving employee disputes and hiring employees as an office manager.
The size and type of company determine your responsibilities as an office manager. In a small business, you handle most of the jobs, but in a large company, you supervise the work of a team. If you're in charge of a team, you motivate and encourage them to improve their productivity and quality of work.
Time is critical to a company's success. The need for office managers has grown as a result of this. Business owners hire office managers to ensure they complete their office tasks promptly. Any brick-and-mortar business that allows customers to visit their location requires an office manager to assist in customer service. A company with many employees should also hire an office manager to address employee questions and concerns.
office manager jobsaverage office manager salary
The average salary of an office manager in Australia is $73,000 per year. When starting in the role, your remuneration package starts at $65,000 annually. As you build your skills and expertise, your earnings increase to $85,000 annually. The remuneration package usually includes the basic salary and various allowances. For instance, some companies provide car allowances, medical insurance and housing allowances. You will also enjoy annual leave days.
factors that affect your earnings as an office manager
The type and size of the business determine what you can expect from your employer. When you work in a large organisation, the complexity of your role improves your salary prospects. If you have more experience in office management, your salary will be higher than a person fresh from school. Your level of education and the number of certificates also increase the salary you get from an office management job. If you have additional skills, some employers will remunerate you accordingly.
Want to know what you will earn as an office manager? Check out what you are worth with our salary checker.
types of office managers
Some of the types of office managers include:
- corporate office manager: as a corporate office manager, you plan the organisational structure and assist with managing the office environment in corporate settings. Sometimes, your role involves managing customer service teams and marketing campaigns.
- medical office manager: as a medical office manager, you need basic medical knowledge and procedures to ensure efficiency in a hospital or clinic. You supervise medical assistants and ensure patients are assisted on time.
- legal office manager: working in a legal office requires experience in law and extensive knowledge of legal procedures. You oversee legal administrative assistants and assist with payroll management.
working as an office manager
Being an office manager requires reliability and discretion since you will be exposed to confidential information. You also need to be organised to ensure you accomplish all duties associated with the role. Here are specific tasks and expectations from the role:
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office manager job description
Some of the duties and tasks of an office manager include:
- planning office functions: an office manager's primary responsibility is to plan so that everything in the office runs smoothly. As a manager, it is your responsibility to establish a structure of duties necessary to meet your employer's objectives. After you've figured out your employer's goals, you'll need to devise a strategy to achieve them.
- staffing: it is a part of your job if you're an executive office manager. As an office manager, you'll work with the human resources department to assist with promotions, remuneration, staff recruitment and the retirement of subordinate employees. You may be responsible for staffing independently if you work in a small business.
- motivating employees: as an office manager, you lead and direct your team to achieve your company goals. Therefore, it is essential to motivate them to perform better and do a quality job. You help boost your team's morale by motivating them to be more productive. You can use external or personal motivation.
- communicating with staff: effective communication is a critical factor that any office manager should have to operate a successful department. As an office manager, you must communicate with your staff and inform them of their responsibilities. It would be best if you also learned effective ways to communicate with your bosses so that you can comprehend the company's needs.
- organising resources: as an office manager, you organise resources, plan and work to achieve a company's objectives. To ensure a project runs smoothly, you must delegate tasks to qualified individuals.
- collaborating with the IT team: working in a modern office means dealing with technology in almost every aspect of your job. To ensure your daily operations run smoothly, you'll need to use various tools, including spreadsheets, emails and databases. It is critical to receive digital technology training, such as video conferencing and Zoom meetings. As the office manager, you must also collaborate with the IT team for technical assistance.
- keeping records: when it comes to a company's success, record keeping is crucial. As a result, any business requires an office manager to assist in recording office expenses. You also manage the budget and ensure that each coin benefits the company.
- responding to complaints: clients may have a problem with a product or service that the company provides. As an office manager, it is your responsibility to address the problem and, if necessary, compensate the clients. Apart from clients, employees may protest about their overtime or other issues at work. It is your responsibility to ensure that these issues get addressed.
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work environment
As an office manager, you spend most of your time in an office. Your employer determines the type and size of office you can expect. In most cases, office managers have their office. However, you share an office with a team in companies with open office plans. Some office managers work remotely, but sometimes you must work in the office.
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who are your colleagues?
Depending on your employer and the industry you work in, your colleagues might include office administrators, receptionists and customer service representatives. You might also be working in close proximity to personal assistants and admin assistants, supervisors and human resource managers, as well as other specialists that could include, but not be limited to, accountants, doctors and paralegals.
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work schedule
An office manager works 35-40 hours per week. However, if you have a lot of work, you must spend more time in the office to meet deadlines. You also devote additional time to attending meetings that benefit the company. On weekdays, you work during the day. If your company operates for an extended hour, you must work at night, on holidays and at weekends.
Working as a virtual office assistant allows you to work with various companies. It is simple to maximise your earnings this way because you have the option of working for as many employers as possible. You can set up an office by renting or working from home. You must schedule your time working for your clients if you use virtual assistance.
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job outlook
As an office manager, you interact with various departments and learn new skills. This way, you have the opportunity to advance your career by learning more skills. If you work for a small business, you can gain experience and apply for a higher position in a big corporation. Since you have experience running a business, you should consider adding more responsibilities to your current job or starting your own business. Besides, as your experience and expertise grow, so will your salary. Becoming an office manager is a promising career in Australia, with projected job growth of 7.3% in five years. You also have multiple opportunities for career progression into managerial and executive roles.
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advantages of finding an office manager job through randstad
Finding your office manager job through Randstad provides important advantages such as:
- a wide variety of training and development opportunities
- an experienced contact person to provide help if needed
- a range of opportunities in your area
- get paid weekly or monthly, depending on the job
- temporary and permanent contracts
Want a permanent contract? A temporary job as an office manager is often a stepping stone to an attractive permanent job. Every year, thousands of people earn a permanent contract with great employers thanks to a temporary job found through Randstad. What's more, many companies recruit their permanent employees through Randstad too.
education and skills
Formal education is not always essential but tertiary education may be favourable for office managers. And you need industry experience to excel in the role. You also need management, commerce, business or other qualifications to start your career as an office manager. You can pursue a Certificate IV in business, Certificate IV in business administration or a diploma in business administration. The courses are offered in registered training institutions in Australia. Some people join the role through a traineeship in Level 4 business or business administration. The traineeship may take at least twelve months to complete.
You can also complete a business or commerce degree with a management major to become an office manager. It helps to have a master's degree in business administration when seeking employment in a large organisation.
office manager skills and competencies
Some of the qualities of an office manager include:
- delegation skills: you need to learn how to delegate tasks to avoid completing most of the duties yourself while other workers remain without work. Delegation helps you prioritise tasks and assign duties according to skills and competencies.
- ability to lead: as an office manager, you must be an effective leader to guide your team. You also need to inspire and motivate workers to perform well in their roles.
- fast decision-making: you need to think on your feet to handle issues that need a fast response. When you are a fast decision-maker, you can handle unexpected scenarios.
- flexibility: you should be flexible to handle tasks that crop up with imminent deadlines. Versatility can also help you deal with unexpected plans.
- approachable: as an office manager, you are one of the main faces of the building and having an approachable personality is crucial. When you are approachable, staff and other workers can communicate without fear.
FAQs about working as an office manager
Here are the most asked questions about working as an office manager:
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how much does an office manager earn in Australia?
An office manager earns an average salary of $73,000 per year. Entry-level office managers earn $65,000 annually, while top-level office managers take home a salary of $80,000 yearly.
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what does an office manager do?
The work of an office manager is to recruit workers and train and coordinate staff duties in an office. Some office managers oversee expenditure and budgeting in the office.
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is being an office manager a good job?
Working as an office manager is a rewarding job that allows you to be part of your employer's accomplishments. The role makes you a great leader and is the first step into a managerial position.
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is an office manager the same as a receptionist?
No. An office manager is in charge of what happens in an office, including supervising receptionists and other office workers.
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is an office manager a stressful job?
Deadlines and company expectations can make the job stressful. However, if you plan your schedule and time well, you will minimise the stress associated with the role.
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how do I apply for an office manager vacancy?
Applying for an office manager job is easy: create a Randstad profile and search our office manager job offers. Then simply send us your CV and cover letter. Need help with your application? Check out all our job search tips here.
