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 jobs
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average 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.

office manager salary
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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.
smiling female, sitting at the office
smiling female, sitting at the office
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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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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.
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FAQs about working as an office manager

Here are the most asked questions about working as an office manager:

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