What does a business assistant do?
A business assistant is responsible for supporting various office functions, performing administrative and clerical duties to ensure efficient and smooth business operations, and provide high-quality services to the customers and business partners. Business assistants handle data processing procedures, writing business transaction reports, and coordinating with suppliers and third-party vendors for any requests made by the company. They welcome visitors, verify their appointments, and direct them to the appropriate personnel or department for their business concerns. A business assistant also schedules a meeting, assist in accounting and human resources tasks, and support the executives on corporate decisions.
Business assistant responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real business assistant resumes:
- Utilize Salesforce CRM to research, qualify, and organize potential leads.
- Manage personnel administration including hiring, benefits, records management, payroll administration and performance reviews.
- Manage the receptionist area, including greeting visitors and responding to telephone and in-person requests for information.
- Used complex SQL queries for data analysis, create store procedures and Unix scripts.
- Process accurate orders in a timely manner using POS create system for JASON OE.
- Contact physician's office to receive code if missing, ICD-9 coding when necessary.
- Apply associated service charges, ICD-9, insurance, and accounting codes to process bills.
- Ensure that proper documentation are filed in each patient's document center, such as HIPAA.
- Conduct all duties with patient privacy and team member safety in compliance with HIPAA and OSHA guidelines.
- Create administrative SharePoint site for support staff that facilitate efficient downloading of files for easy access and review.
- Review and interpret explanation of benefits (EOB) from insurance carriers to post appropriate payment and denial codes.
- Assist with minor website design/maintenance & PowerPoint presentations.
- Dispense medication, verify insurances medicaid and commercial.
- Verify insurance coverage prior to procedures, including Medicaid.
- Create multiple SharePoint team websites, update several proprietary systems and maintain communication lists.
Business assistant skills and personality traits
We calculated that 18% of Business Assistants are proficient in Customer Service, Patients, and Data Entry. They’re also known for soft skills such as Customer-service skills, Detail oriented, and Organizational skills.
We break down the percentage of Business Assistants that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Customer Service, 18%
Developed and maintained a cohesive customer service team by providing an environment of accountability, flexibility, integrity, and excellence.
- Patients, 12%
Utilize automated computer programs to account for patients' records and maintained extremely accurate records and documentations by filing them accordingly.
- Data Entry, 9%
Performed data entry into various systems including visit entry to initiate and continue enrollment, re-certification and reimbursement.
- Excellent Organizational, 9%
Demonstrated excellent organizational, oral/written verbal communications, critical thinking and problem- solving skills.
- PowerPoint, 6%
Prepared confidential correspondence, PowerPoint presentations, financial outcomes reports, and other complex documents.
- Financial Arrangements, 4%
Sustain office accounts receivable information, making financial arrangements, and ordering administrative supplies.
"customer service," "patients," and "data entry" are among the most common skills that business assistants use at work. You can find even more business assistant responsibilities below, including:
Organizational skills. business assistants are also known for organizational skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to business assistant responsibilities, because "secretaries and administrative assistants keep files, folders, and schedules in order so that an office runs efficiently." A business assistant resume example shows how organizational skills is used in the workplace: "processed organizational invoicing and created purchase orders for internal billing activities as a result of asset tracking and software maintenance renewals. "
Interpersonal skills. A big part of what business assistants do relies on "interpersonal skills." You can see how essential it is to business assistant responsibilities because "secretaries and administrative assistants interact with clients, customers, or staff." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical business assistant tasks: "excelled in customer service and demonstrated strong communication and interpersonal skills. "
Writing skills. Another crucial skill for a business assistant to carry out their responsibilities is "writing skills." A big part of what business assistants relies on this skill, since "secretaries and administrative assistants write memos and emails when communicating with managers, employees, and customers." How this skill relates to business assistant duties can be seen in an example from a business assistant resume snippet: "assist loan officers in the underwriting and closing activities of commercial loans and scheduling appointments. "
The three companies that hire the most business assistants are:
- Deloitte32 business assistants jobs
- Elite Dental Partners20 business assistants jobs
- Acosta14 business assistants jobs
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Compare different business assistants
Business 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.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, business assistant responsibilities require skills like "patients," "excellent organizational," "financial arrangements," and "payroll." Meanwhile a typical clerk's assistant/administrative assistant has skills in areas such as "word processing," "dmv," "computer system," and "meeting minutes." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
Clerks's assistant/administrative assistant tend to make the most money working in the government industry, where they earn an average salary of $37,752. In contrast, business assistants make the biggest average salary, $40,932, in the professional industry.On average, clerks's assistant/administrative assistant reach similar levels of education than business assistants. Clerks's assistant/administrative assistant are 4.1% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.2% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Business assistant vs. Program and administrative assistant
The Program and Administrative assistant work alongside a company's admin to manage all administrative tasks and activities. The program and administrative assistant work in both clerical duties and organizing files and storage. Included are making and receiving calls, setting, reminding, and following-up appointments, meetings, and events. The program and administrative assistant acts as the primary contact person of the administration and may be tasked to do a lot of clerical work. If you are interested in this position, you can start now.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that business assistant responsibilities requires skills like "customer service," "patients," "excellent organizational," and "financial arrangements." But a program and administrative assistant might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "database management," "routine correspondence," "word processing," and "administrative assistance."
Program and administrative assistants may earn a lower salary than business assistants, but program and administrative assistants earn the most pay in the education industry with an average salary of $34,661. On the other hand, business assistants receive higher pay in the professional industry, where they earn an average salary of $40,932.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Program and administrative assistants tend to reach similar levels of education than business assistants. In fact, they're 0.1% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.2% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Business assistant vs. Administrative assistant/technical
An administrative assistant/technical is primarily responsible for performing clerical and support tasks in a company, ensuring efficiency and timeliness. They must produce progress reports, process documentation, receive communication letters, manage schedules, and even greet visitors. There are also instances when an administrative assistant/technical has to answer calls and correspondence, respond to inquiries, address issues and concerns, and resolve them promptly and professionally. Furthermore, it is essential to maintain records of all transactions, coordinate with different departments, and adhere to the company's policies and regulations.
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a business assistant is likely to be skilled in "customer service," "excellent organizational," "financial arrangements," and "customer appointments," while a typical administrative assistant/technical is skilled in "access database," "word processing," "meeting minutes," and "sharepoint."
Administrative assistant/technicals earn the highest salary when working in the manufacturing industry, where they receive an average salary of $42,925. Comparatively, business assistants have the highest earning potential in the professional industry, with an average salary of $40,932.Most administrative assistant/technicals achieve a similar degree level compared to business assistants. For example, they're 3.3% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.7% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Business assistant vs. Accounts payable/administrative assistant
An accounts payable/administrative assistant works alongside the department head. This position focuses on the administrative side of a budgeting department. They are responsible for organizing a company's financial records, which include all documentation of financial transactions, such as invoices and receipts. They also manage all paperwork needed by their department.
Even though a few skill sets overlap between business assistants and accounts payable/administrative assistants, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a business assistant might have more use for skills like "patients," "excellent organizational," "financial arrangements," and "payroll." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of accounts payable/administrative assistants require skills like "vendor invoices," "credit card," "accounts payables," and "general ledger. "
In general, accounts payable/administrative assistants earn the most working in the construction industry, with an average salary of $45,929. The highest-paying industry for a business assistant is the professional industry.accounts payable/administrative assistants reach similar levels of education compared to business assistants, in general. The difference is that they're 4.1% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.8% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Updated January 8, 2025
