<p>The office environment is the backbone of any business. It needs to be well managed in order to allow those working within it to reach their full potential and complete their work as effectively as possible. The office manager is responsible for keeping the office organised, and running to maximum efficiency. This article will explain the role in detail, and describe the day-to-day duties people interested in these positions can expect to be given.</p>
<h3>Key skills for office managers.</h3>
<p>Key skills needed by office managers include the following:</p>
<ul>
<li>Strong organisational ability – for keeping track of lots of different tasks, coordinating tasks and keeping work on schedule.</li>
<li>Budgeting – even where accountants are present to help with the details of financial arrangements, managers have to make the decisions.</li>
<li>Record keeping – ensuring that everything from incoming and outgoing phone calls to staff timekeeping, absences and accidents is properly recorded.</li>
<li>I.T. and admin – for managing day to day tasks directly and for training and supporting staff as they carry out their duties.</li>
<li>People skills – for dealing with visitors to the office but also for building positive relationships with staff and keeping them motivated.</li>
</ul>
<p>In big companies, office managers not only need to be able to organise staff effectively, they need to be able to negotiate with senior personnel to make sure they can get all the equipment and supplies they need, so they also need strong powers of persuasion.</p>
<h3>Day to day activities.</h3>
<p>In general, office managers carry out a range of admin and IT tasks in order to ensure everything within the office is functioning correctly, and all employees are able to do the jobs they are being paid for. These roles are highly varied and flexible depending on the specific needs of the employer, and those of the office the employee is working within. In most cases, office managers will be responsible for filing duties, some budget management, replacing and purchasing new office equipment, and for arranging - and taking notes in - meetings. These are only a few examples, and responsibilities are likely to range much wider.</p>
<p>On a day-to-day basis, individuals in these roles are likely to find themselves completing a large list of minor jobs. These can range from monitoring the attendance of employees to placing orders for stationery, or even managing the company's social media accounts.</p>
<p>Each company is likely to have specific tasks in mind that the office manager will need to complete; meaning individuals interested in these positions have to be flexible and willing to adapt to provide whatever services the company requires. Being able to establish positive relationships with everyone within the office is also a valuable trait, as office managers will be constantly interacting with other employees. One of the best ways to impress an employer in one of these roles is to be consistently positive, and aim to use the unique level of access to all employees to spread this attitude and positivity – thereby improving the office environment for everyone.</p>
<p>The role of the office manager also tends to vary depending on the size of the company. Larger companies may have several office assistants, meaning duties can be shared out between them. Equally, the office manager may be responsible for managing a small team of office assistants. Smaller companies will usually only employ a single office manager, however, who will wear multiple hats, completing jobs like answering the phones, creating reports and documents, and managing the payroll. It's common for office managers to perform receptionist duties, such as responding to enquiries and welcoming visitors. They may also be responsible for minor repair works, cleaning the office space, and maintaining equipment, for example by replacing the toners in printers.</p>
<h3>Legal responsibilities.</h3>
<p>Most office management jobs involve accepting some level of legal responsibility, especially in smaller companies where there are no senior managers or HR departments. This includes making sure the workplace meets health and safety standards – for instance, by making sure that warning signs are put up when floors are wet—and recoding any accidents that do happen in the workplace Accident Book. It also includes implementing equality policy, making sure no-one in the office feels unfairly discriminated against and ensuring that employees don’t exhibit prejudice toward one another. Additionally, it involves responding promptly to any allegation of harassment and making sure staff feel safe at work. This begins with making sure all staff understand what is expected of them in terms of behaviour.</p>
<h3>Salary and perks.</h3>
<p>New office managers in the UK earn an average of £23,827 per annum, rising to around £34,000 in the best positions and with performance-related bonuses of as much as £4,000. In some positions they are also eligible for profit sharing. Over time, most see their salaries rise ahead of inflation whilst they remain in post, potentially drawing is as much as £40,000, but to earn significantly more usually requires a move.</p>
<p>As senior staff, some office managers also receive company cars and private health insurance.</p>
<h3>Hours.</h3>
<p>In the vast majority of companies this is a nine to five job but managers may find they are expected to arrive a little early to open up the office before staff arrive and stay a little later to secure it again after they have gone. As they are responsible for a lot of essential tasks they may also find themselves required to work extra hours to make sure everything gets done at busy times, and they may occasionally have to take paperwork home with them. For the most part, however, this is a job that intrudes very little into other areas of life.</p>
<h3>Growth potential.</h3>
<p>Office manager positions have some growth potential, although individuals will often have to move companies in order to realise this. Larger companies, which have larger offices, will usually pay more for experienced office managers who have a proven track record of organising and maintaining productivity levels within an office environment. Some office assistants choose to progress into personal assistant roles, which can become extremely rewarding when working alongside high-level executives.</p>