The Difference Between Office Manager and Office Administrator
An office manager and office administrator have one thing in common — they both commonly work in an office environment in a supportive role. The roles are similar in name and in some cases the two titles are used interchangeably. But these two types of employees have distinct job descriptions and duties.
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Office Manager
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An office manager has job duties similar in nature to those of an administrative assistant or secretary. An office manager’s job is to keep the office running in an orderly fashion. Duties include ordering supplies, fielding calls, scheduling meetings and organizing the office. This employee might also have to help hire other administrative workers and handle payroll processing duties.
Office Administrator
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An office administrator helps with the administration of specific tasks at a business. He is a service manager who helps “put out fires,” so to speak, at the business. Tasks include managing the business property, security personnel, records department and regulations that apply to the business. When problems arise, the administrator takes action to resolve them for the company, shareholders, customers and other parties involved. He must also communicate with the public and act as a liaison with other important business contacts, like suppliers and government officials.
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The Main Differences
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Though the two roles are similar, an office administrator often has more of a serious and widespread role at the business than an office manager. An administrator often manages other people — he acts in the actual role of a supervisor or manager. An office manager often works at a smaller business and is in charge of managing supplies, office equipment and getting other employees at the business what they need to perform their jobs.
Other Considerations
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While a college degree and advanced education are not always requirements for either role, it does help when applying for a job. Some community colleges offer associate degrees in office administration and office management. Certain types of fields do require some advanced training. For instance, office administrators in the medical field usually need training in medical billing, insurance requirements and patient privacy laws.
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