The administrative practice of planning and executing the supportive services of a business or organization. Office managers, or administrative service managers, ensure all business operations run effectively by overseeing all office processes, especially those involving payroll, timesheets and budgets. They often work with all the departments in a particular office setting and assign the specific functions of all employees in a business.

To qualify for this position, an aspiring office manager should have considerable work experience. This is true regardless of his or her educational attainment, so recent college graduates should have years of office experience to be considered for the job. Candidates with good backgrounds in computing, business, information technology, management, health and safety, and project management courses will have good chances of landing positions. Other office and organizational skills may also prove beneficial in their bid for obtaining pay increases. These include communication (both written and oral), problem-solving, leadership, multitasking and computer skills.

Office managers’ responsibilities depend on the size and type of business. Typically, their duties include controlling office budgets; arranging schedules of meetings, travel, and appointments; ordering office supplies, furniture, and equipment; organizing repair and maintenance tasks; monitoring and supervising the work of secretarial and clerical staff; making payroll timesheets and payroll; and submitting reports to management about office performance.

Office managers typically work normal office hours. Sometimes they may be required to work longer hours during busy office times. Because the nature of their work is office based, it is uncommon for them to travel at night or overseas. However, if the business to which they are connected has several offices, they might need to work between different locations.