What does an administrative office assistant do?

An administrative office assistant is responsible for performing administrative duties to assist in daily management operations. These duties include taking calls and responding to client and customers' inquiries and concerns, scheduling meetings and conferences, organizing files and submitting required documents, sorting invoices for release, processing travel arrangements, receiving emails, forwarding reports to the appropriate department, and coordinating with company's events. An administrative assistant must be detail-oriented, as well as having excellent time-management and multi-tasking skills to perform duties even under minimal supervision.
Administrative office assistant responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real administrative office assistant resumes:
- Develop and manage external financial relationships between clients and the IRS.
- Manage the receptionist area, including greeting visitors and responding to telephone and in-person requests for information.
- Establish and maintain effective communications and cohesive working relationships with company associates, telephone and walk-in customers, and site visitors.
- Dust offices and clean windows and doors.
- Update information in CATT database, as well as make appointments for therapists and psychiatrists in Sharepoint.
- Create electronic filing system to alleviate paper copies and recruit fellow co-workers to get on board with SharePoint.
- Communicate with other departments and customers directing questions and information to appropriate staff members.
- Provide assistance to customers regarding various issues with accounts; establish operational policies and procedures.
- Provide assistance to technical instructors with PowerPoint presentations, scheduling and coordinating class events and finalizing training material.
- Provide a variety of administrative support services such as provide PowerPoint support, transcribing documents and desktop publishing.
- Register new patients and update existing patient's demographics by collecting patient detail patient's information including personal and financial information.
- Assist a prosecutor with legal research, subpoenas, and discovery on a complex psychologist prosecution.
- Prepare legal papers and correspondence, such as summonses, complaints, motions, and subpoenas.
- Field phone calls.-schedule patients and confirm appointments.-Tracked patients through spreadsheets.-place orders for supplements.-Entered sales receipts into QuickBooks.-Balanced billing invoices.
- Process A/R and A/P, reconcile general ledger daily, and are responsible for daily bank deposit.
Administrative office assistant skills and personality traits
We calculated that 14% of Administrative Office Assistants are proficient in Customer Service, Data Entry, and Phone Calls. They’re also known for soft skills such as Interpersonal skills, Writing skills, and Organizational skills.
We break down the percentage of Administrative Office Assistants that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Customer Service, 14%
Resolved administrative problems and performed various clerical functions, client/customer service, scheduled appointments, processed accounts payable and receivable.
- Data Entry, 13%
Gained familiarity with Microsoft computer software Filed, purged, copied, and organized confidential documents Data entry; handwritten and typed
- Phone Calls, 7%
Handled incoming telephone calls and provided information of verifying health insurance and assistance as required and connected caller with desired party.
- Payroll, 5%
Completed financial transactions, delivered documents to clients, and monitored and calculated payroll.
- PowerPoint, 4%
Experienced in creating spreadsheets, PowerPoint presentations and navigating within Outlook and the internet, operate general office business equipment.
- Database Management, 4%
Utilized computers for various applications, such as database management, Microsoft software applications and word processing.
Common skills that an administrative office assistant uses to do their job include "customer service," "data entry," and "phone calls." You can find details on the most important administrative office assistant responsibilities below.
Interpersonal skills. The most essential soft skill for an administrative office assistant to carry out their responsibilities is interpersonal skills. This skill is important for the role because "secretaries and administrative assistants interact with clients, customers, or staff." Additionally, an administrative office assistant resume shows how their duties depend on interpersonal skills: "demonstrated appropriate interpersonal skills when dealing with patients and their personal information. "
Writing skills. Another essential skill to perform administrative office assistant duties is writing skills. Administrative office assistants responsibilities require that "secretaries and administrative assistants write memos and emails when communicating with managers, employees, and customers." Administrative office assistants also use writing skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "experience with filing, letter writing, data entry and staff meetings. "
Organizational skills. administrative office assistants are also known for organizational skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to administrative office assistant responsibilities, because "secretaries and administrative assistants keep files, folders, and schedules in order so that an office runs efficiently." An administrative office assistant resume example shows how organizational skills is used in the workplace: "assisted in scheduling appointments, filing documents and organizational maintenance. "
The three companies that hire the most administrative office assistants are:
- Northpoint14 administrative office assistants jobs
- Kettering Health Network5 administrative office assistants jobs
- Express Employment Indy South4 administrative office assistants jobs
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Administrative office assistant vs. Office services assistant
An office services assistant is in charge of performing clerical support tasks in an office. Their responsibilities often revolve around preparing and processing documents, answering calls and correspondence, greeting visitors, answering inquiries, relaying messages, receiving and disseminating letters, and devising strategies to optimize office procedures. They may also participate in procuring supplies, keeping them organized at all times. Furthermore, they must maintain an active communication line with staff, coordinating with them on different activities to maintain an efficient workflow.
While similarities exist, there are also some differences between administrative office assistants and office services assistant. For instance, administrative office assistant responsibilities require skills such as "phone calls," "database management," "financial statements," and "provides administrative support." Whereas a office services assistant is skilled in "office services," "conference room," "mass mailings," and "office space." This is part of what separates the two careers.
Office services assistants really shine in the government industry with an average salary of $33,596. Comparatively, administrative office assistants tend to make the most money in the government industry with an average salary of $43,009.office services assistants tend to reach similar levels of education than administrative office assistants. In fact, office services assistants are 0.3% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.0% more likely to have a Doctoral Degree.Administrative office assistant vs. Office support assistant
An office support assistant is in charge of performing clerical support tasks to keep offices running smoothly and efficiently. Their responsibilities typically include answering calls and correspondence, preparing and processing documents, organizing and disseminating files, and coordinating with different departments. There are also instances where they must attend meetings and take down information, greet visitors, and monitor the inventory of office supplies, processing procurement requests when necessary. Furthermore, they may assist the staff when it comes to programs and projects.
In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, administrative office assistant responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "database management," "word processing," "purchase orders," and "financial statements." Meanwhile, an office support assistant has duties that require skills in areas such as "general supervision," "clerical tasks," "travel vouchers," and "routine correspondence." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.
On average, office support assistants earn a higher salary than administrative office assistants. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, office support assistants earn the most pay in the transportation industry with an average salary of $35,834. Whereas administrative office assistants have higher pay in the government industry, with an average salary of $43,009.office support assistants earn similar levels of education than administrative office assistants in general. They're 0.3% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.0% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Administrative office assistant vs. Administrative support
Administrative support specialists provide different types of governmental assistance. They carry out varied clerical duties in almost all industries. Most of these duties revolve around supervising and distributing information within an organization. This typically includes taking memos, answering phone calls, and managing, storing, and organizing files. They are also responsible for receiving and sending correspondence and greeting customers and clients. Some administrative support may be required to have vast professional knowledge as their duties are more specialized than the others.
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from administrative office assistant resumes include skills like "hr," "office procedures," "office administration," and "hard copy," whereas an administrative support is more likely to list skills in "patients," "excellent organizational," "human resources," and "basic math. "
Administrative supports earn the best pay in the technology industry, where they command an average salary of $40,623. Administrative office assistants earn the highest pay from the government industry, with an average salary of $43,009.administrative supports typically earn similar educational levels compared to administrative office assistants. Specifically, they're 2.1% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Administrative office assistant vs. Clerk's assistant/administrative assistant
A clerk's assistant/administrative assistant is responsible for supporting the company's operations and customers' needs by performing administrative and clerical duties as needed. Clerk's assistants/administrative assistants respond to customers' inquiries and concerns, acknowledging and processing orders, and posting their payments. They also sort company documents, manage office supply inventory, submit business transaction reports, schedule appointments, and operate office equipment. A clerk's assistant/administrative assistant must be very organized. They must also have excellent time-management and multitasking skills to perform office duties with high accuracy and efficiency under minimal supervision.
Even though a few skill sets overlap between administrative office assistants and clerks's assistant/administrative assistant, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, an administrative office assistant might have more use for skills like "phone calls," "payroll," "database management," and "office support." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of clerks's assistant/administrative assistant require skills like "dmv," "clerical tasks," "ex," and "real estate. "
In general, clerks's assistant/administrative assistant earn the most working in the government industry, with an average salary of $37,752. The highest-paying industry for an administrative office assistant is the government industry.clerks's assistant/administrative assistant reach similar levels of education compared to administrative office assistants, in general. The difference is that they're 0.6% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.3% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Types of administrative office assistant
Updated January 8, 2025











