Office Manager Job Description

What is an Office Manager?

An office manager oversees and is responsible for the administrative, operational and managerial tasks that ensure the office runs smoothly on a daily basis. 

The office manager really is a jack of all trades, with responsibilities ranging from post and reprographics to staffing and onboarding. Their role varies hugely depending on company size and industry, so this is a general overview of what to expect.

Responsibilities

Typically, the office manager’s main responsibilities include:

• Managing the functionality of the office
• Administration, including online and paper filing
• Delivery of support services
• Reception
• Post
• Reprographics
• Health and Safety
• Carrying out risk assessments
• Carrying out staff appraisals and measuring performance
• Billing
• Transport
• Managing the budget
• Record management
• Archive
• Refreshments both for meetings and functions
• Arranging any repairs needed in the office

Skills

To be a successful office manager, you will need:

• Proficiency in administrative software, such as MS Office
• Excellent organisation and time management
• Attention to detail
• The ability to work under pressure
• Team management skills
• Excellent communication skills, both written and oral
• Flexibility, adaptability and versatility
• The ability to maintain confidentiality and discretion
• Patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations

Beyond this, some desirable skills are:

• Sage, Xero or similar financial software
• Staffing including onboarding and training
• Knowledge of human resources, diversity and inclusion
• Understanding of the legal and financial proceedings of a business

Qualifications and Education 

It is possible to become an office manager with no degree, starting as an office/administrative assistant and climbing the ladder. However a Bachelor’s degree will improve an office manager application. Some examples of degrees suited to office management are:

• Business Administration
• Public Administration
• Human Resources Management

Aside from a degree, there are plenty of office administration apprenticeships, courses and diplomas, which are an excellent way to dive into the world of administration and office management.

Salary

 According to Payscale, the average salary for an office manager in the UK is £25,301. 

However, salary varies hugely depending on location and experience (an experienced office manager in London can earn up to £60k), so it is best to look at real salaries for positions.

If you’re considering applying to office manager roles, we’ve got interview tips to help you along the way.