Administration Manager/Administrative Manager

Education and Training: High school diploma, associate degree, or bachelor’s degree—depending on the company
Average Salary: $23,903 to $55,120 annually
Job Outlook: Fair

Administration managers, who are also known as administrative managers or admin managers, are assigned several important responsibilities for a company. In general, they supervise business operations and ensure that the employees are able to work efficiently.

In most companies, especially the smaller ones, an administration manager is given administrative support duties like filing, data entry, proofreading, and communicating with internal and external parties. In most cases, he/she may supervise a team of administrative assistants who do the aforementioned tasks.

Apart from administration work, an admin manager and his/her staff are expected to produce, check, and dispatch all written documentation involving the company. All documents must be well-written and should adhere to company standards. The information contained must be consistent and accurate. In addition, an administration manager should maintain a filing system of all documents sent by and to the company.

As mentioned above, an administration manager may manage a group of administrative assistants. As such, he/she is responsible for ensuring that they work effectively and deliver high-quality output. He/she is expected to hold staff meetings, delegate duties fairly, and oversee each team member’s output.

Another duty of an administration manager is to manage the order and upkeep of the company’s facilities. One of his/her primary jobs is to ensure that the office is adequately equipped in an energy, time, and cost-effective manner. He/she approves office purchases based on the budget approved by management, as well as reorganize the layout of the workspace. In addition, he/she may be asked to update safety and health measures and direct the implementation of these procedures.

Finally, an administration manager is tasked to respond to admin-related requests of other departments. Examples of these are extracting files or replacing old equipment. Reports on employee performance and finances for submission to senior management may also be required.

Education and Training Requirements

Depending on the complexity and size of the firm, education and training requirements for administrative managers vary widely. In smaller organizations or those with administration managers with lower-level responsibilities, a high school diploma may be the only education requirement. However, these small organizations are increasingly searching for candidates with related technical training or an associate degree at the least.

For bigger firms that operate in different locations and utilize more complicated technologies and equipment, an administration manager must have, at the minimum, a bachelor’s degree that would take about four years. A prospective admin manager would benefit most from the course that’s related to the field that he/she wishes to enter upon graduation. Examples of these courses are business administration, accounting, finance, human resources, office technology, information technology, and business law.

There are also some administrative managers who hold a master’s degree in administration management, business administration, or other related fields. A master’s degree usually takes one to two years to complete, depending on the load assumed by the student. Like in undergraduate programs, it may also require students to undergo on-the-job training to prepare them for actual work.

Most employers require that an administration manager possesses relevant and actual work experience that would showcase leadership and managerial skills. Most acquire their work experience by initially specializing in one field then boosting their qualifications by moving to other fields before undertaking managerial work.

Getting the Job

In order to land a job as an administration manager, one needs to meet the education and work experience requirements of the employer.

Most employers are searching for candidates with a degree that is related to their business or to the department with an opening. Hence, if you have a bachelor’s degree in, say, human resource management, then your target companies must be recruiting agencies and HR consultancy firms. You may also send in your CV to non-HR-related companies whose human resources department has an opening.

You may also boost your chances of getting hired as an administration manager if you possess work-related experience. This can be acquired via internships through your undergraduate or postgraduate program and also through entry-level positions. On top of technical knowledge, seek to develop the following attributes: communication, confidence, leadership, good work ethics, and flexibility. These traits are what recruiters are eyeing.

Finally, you may consider attaining certifications and further education. For those who want an edge in the field, the International Facility Management Association provides certifications such as Facility Management Professional (FMP) or Certified Facility Manager (CFM). In order to accomplish any of these, one needs to meet the minimum education and experience requirements, as well as pass the certifying exam. One may also acquire a postgraduate degree in a field related to his/her industry.

If you’re searching for a job, check online listings and join professional associations. You may also contact the career services department of your alma mater, your personal network, and your past employers.

Job Prospects, Employment Outlook and Career Development

Job growth for administration management positions is average, with the rate of increase seen at 12% from 2008 to 2018. This is a normal growth rate, but there’s an expected huge influx of new graduates looking to get jobs in this field. Higher level positions will face stiff competition. Lower level positions, on the other hand, will experience less competition. Applicants with higher education and with the capability to handle a wider range of tasks will experience better job prospects than those with specialized functions.

Businesses are increasingly seeing the significance of efficient operations. Because of this, the demand for administration managers will increase. However, this demand will be curbed by advancements in office technology that reduces the need for manpower.

From an administration manager position, one can move further up the corporate ladder through experience, and in most cases, additional education. Experienced administrative managers may become a director of admin services, a consultant for a private company, or an owner of a consulting firm that subcontracts administrative management services to other organizations.

Working Conditions and Environment

An administration manager is expected to render work for the typical 35 to 40 hours per week. But being a member of the management team, he/she may work for an additional few hours, if needed. This is true if the project deadlines are tight and if some problems occur during non-working hours.

The bulk of the work is accomplished in an indoor office environment. However, there may be times when an administration manager has to make site visits to other business locations to oversee the operations there. Travel may thus be required, except in instances wherein facilities can be monitored remotely and meetings can be conducted via teleconferencing.

Salary and Benefits

June 2011 salary data garnered from 18,353 individuals reveal that the average base salaries range from $26,133 to $59,480 a year. Bonuses range from $200.99 to $5,055, while profit sharing is between $506 and $6,945. Some also receive commissions that range from $494.05 to $12,220. With all of these factors added up together, the total pay spans from $23,903 to $55,120 annually.

While educational requirements differ by company, employment opportunities may be higher for those with a bachelor’s degree. Some who don’t have a college degree may need work experience before they can get promoted as administrative managers. Those with a college diploma may earn salaries ranging from $19,197 to $79,892 per year. Having a certification may also affect how much one gets paid. It was found that those who have attained National Association of Security Dealers (NASD) Series 7 License earn anywhere from $27,148 to as high as $74,190. Administration managers holding a Notary Public commission come in second, receiving $29,532 to $63,425 a year.

The skills of an admin manager may also affect compensation because abilities can determine the variety of tasks that can be undertaken. Those with organizational development skills get between $26,445 and $62,499 a year. This expertise enables administration managers to cater to the needs of staff members and motivate them. Bookkeeping comes at a close second with earnings from $25,666 to $60,233.

Compensation can also vary based on industry. Those in the healthcare field receive the highest, with salaries spanning $29,697 to $67,629 yearly. Next is software development, wherein administration managers receive between $28,808 and $65,207.

Administration managers receive standard company benefits such as health insurance, life insurance, and retirement plan membership. The also get paid vacation and sick leaves.

Where to Go for More Information
American Association of Healthcare Administrative Management
11240 Waples Mill Rd., Ste. 200
Fairfax, VA 22030
(703) 281-4043
www.aaham.org

Association of Professionals in Business Management
980 North Michigan Ave., Ste. 1400
Chicago, IL 60611-7500
(657) 549-2726
www.apbm.org

International Facility Management Association
1 E. Greenway Plaza, Ste. 1100
Houston, TX 77046-0194
(713) 623-4362
www.ifma.org