How to Become an Executive Personal Assistant

An Executive Personal Assistant, or EA, provides high-level administrative support to one or more executives within a company or organisation. Their responsibilities include scheduling meetings, writing and editing correspondence, reviewing incoming reports, managing visitors and organising the executive’s daily schedule.

Executive Personal Assistants maintain files, send memos and determine which phone calls, reports and meetings warrant the attention of the individuals they support. This allows the executives to devote more of their time to the larger, more complex issues involved in running a business.

There are some similarities between the role of Executive Personal Assistant and that of a receptionist or secretary. However, an EA is often also involved in activities that can affect the success and profitability of the company.

These duties may include training staff, facilitating meetings or conducting market research, and require that the Executive Personal Assistant clearly understands the goals, ideals and requirements of both the company and the executives they work for.

• Screening and determining importance of phone calls, answering inquiries where applicable.
• Managing appointments and organising travel arrangements.
• Scheduling and attending meetings, keeping notes and serving as secretary when required.
• Conducting research and preparing reports, briefing notes and other documents.
• Processing and filing mail, confidential documents and correspondence.
• Maintaining records, transcribing and taking dictation of letters and other communications.
• Reviewing incoming reports, writing and editing correspondence.
• Training and supervising clerical and secretarial staff members.