Office Management

Office management

An office manager is an employee charged with the general administrative responsibilities of any given office of a corporation. In small and medium sized companies the task is often given to the corporation's bookkeeper. In large companies there will often be several offices in several geographical areas, and each one will have an office manager.

Main functions

The office manager is the coordinator of the work system. An office manager is responsible for planning, organization, and controlling the clerical aspect of the organization, including the preparation, communication, coordination and storage of data to support production and other important operations of an industrial establishment. Often they also engage in marketing. Also, their tasks are to monitor the work processes and to evaluate the outcome. The outcomes of work are intended for what can be called the final receiving system, as for instance, client, customer, and other departments.
Furthermore, their role is to coordinate on the front end by issuing various assignments. They usually lead or manage a team of secretaries or administrative clerks. And they take care of the assignment of tasks within the department, but the more complex tasks tend to come to their desk.
Positions allocated to usual classification perform a combination of the following office management functions:

• Budget development and implementation
• Purchasing
• Human resources
• Accounting
• Printing
• Records management
• Forms management
• Payroll
• Facilities management
• Space management
• Risk management
• Grants administration
• Affirmative action and equal employment opportunity
• Information technology and telecommunications
• Monitoring the management of health and safety in the company office
• Assisting senior managers in identifying health and safety needs in their departments
• Responsibility for the day to day running of the office
• Liaising with senior managers to ensure that staff in the division have appropriate information technology equipment
• Managing a range of budgets including accommodation, health & safety for company
• Plan, consult and manage office moves for the division and other units within the department

Considering the diversity of functions, someone holding an office manager position is expected to have many talents. Some of the competencies which he or she is expected to possess are problem solving and decision making abilities, integrity, assertivity, flexibility, accuracy and the ability to cope with pressure.