ROLE Model: Alison Potter

Current job title and role:

I am an Executive Assistant, working primarily with the Managing Director of Strategon, a business and human resources consulting company, though I also handle queries from other Directors locally, interstate and overseas.

I handle:

All office administration: reception, office systems management, administration of supplies, travel and accommodation bookings, filing and archiving, organisation of events such as client breakfasts, communications, customer and associates queries, clerical tasks relating to client projects

Accounts tasks: using MYOB software I prepare accounts payable and receivable for the Managing Director’s trust company and support the company’s bookkeeper as needed

Support role in preparing budgets, proposals and reports – for example I’ll prepare the summaries of data we collect for a project and then help display this creatively within the final report for the client

Website development and maintenance; troubleshooting technical problems others have with the office systems

Support role in marketing and business development – I prepare graphics for documents that the company uses to promote its services.

What do you like/ enjoy about your current role?

The flexibility of my workplace and the variety of work I get in my job, including working on our new website.

What steps led you to this role from secondary school:

Prides Business College – an administration course after Year 11 was my first step. I have had a few positions with finance and administration responsibilities. I took maternity leave from Strategon but returned and now work, study and raise my daughter. My current role began as administration but my Director has asked me to do more advanced tasks including project work, as the time has passed.

The company has supported me to get recognition for my skills and experience by completing a traineeship, which I’m now part way through. I will achieve a Certificate IV in Frontline Management and another in Business Administration this year.

What business related skills/ experience do you use in your current role?

My eye for detail

Organising skills

Aptitude for computer graphics

Knowledge of new technologies

Aptitude for finance tasks

Communications skills – I need to be able to talk to a wide range of people.

If you had some “words of wisdom” for young people/ secondary students considering their career path, or considering a business related career path in particular, what would these comments be?

Enjoy every day... Live to work, don’t work to live.