Office administrators is focused on the front-desk, data entry, customer service administration while business administration is focussed on

• workflow management,
• procedures,
• rostering and
• scheduling.

Office administration work is about helping to manage the work relating to clients and suppliers and a general trend is that office administrator role descriptions include more mention of customer service, whether that be greeting clients, making sales calls, or solving customer queries.

Business administrators, on the other hand, tend to involve tasks more associated with implementing company initiatives and liaising between management and support staff – these roles can include customer service too.

Business administration ensures that all the administrative activities within an organisation are running efficiently, sometimes by overseeing and supervising other employees within the business.

Business Management Roles and Responsibilities

The business administrator may oversee and be responsible for the management of human resources, budgets and business or financial records. These responsibilities will differ depending on the employer and education level of the office administrator.

Some employees that the business administrator may manage include:

• Receptionists, who are responsible for greeting clients and suppliers, providing customer service, managing and maintaining the office filing system, sorting mail, and other general administrative duties, such as maintaining office supplies and equipment
• Personal assistants, who provide secretarial and administrative support to a senior stakeholder in the business — the chief executive, managing director or other C-level employees.
• Accounts Receivable and Accounts Payable staff – who look after the daily credit management tasks with suppliers and customers

The typical tasks of a business administrator include:

• Accounting tasks, such as reconciling, budgeting and reporting
• Reporting on key performance indicators to senior executives
• Onboarding and training new employees in correct WHS procedures
• Overseeing the building maintenance, such as engaging tradespeople and cleaning services
• Collect and verify employee timesheets for the payroll officer
• Up skilling and performance management of office support team

Software Skill Requirements

Business Management is focussed more on management and reporting than operational tasks like data entry and reconciling. The Business Manager needs to know how to access key data from accounting systems like MYOB and Xero as well as generate meaningful financial reports.

Advanced skills in Microsoft Excel, Word and PowerPoint are important to be able to analyse and present information and financial data in an easy to understand format to business owners and senior executives.

See Business Administration Courses and Training

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