Trade guide
Executive secretary
At the heart of the company’s organisation, the executive secretary plays an essential role in the day-to-day support of senior managers. By coordinating activities, facilitating communication and managing strategic priorities, they contribute directly to managerial efficiency. This is a job that combines organisation, discretion and versatility, while offering excellent prospects for advancement to positions of responsibility.
The business
What is an Executive Secretary?
Its role
The executive secretary is the right-hand man of the company’s directors. You are responsible for strategic administrative management and coordinate all managerial activities. Your mission: to facilitate decision-making and optimise the organisational efficiency of management.
Its field of action
As an executive secretary, you will work at the heart of the company, interfacing directly with managers, executives and external partners. You will manage strategic priorities and orchestrate communication between all levels of the hierarchy. Your remit ranges from managing complex diaries to preparing confidential files. You will work in companies of all sizes, from SMEs to large groups, where your versatility and discretion are particularly appreciated.
The functions
What are the duties of an Executive Secretary?
Your daily professional life will be punctuated by varied and stimulating responsibilities.
You manage the complex diary of senior executives and plan their travel
You organise strategic meetings and prepare presentation materials
You will draft official correspondence and minutes of meetings
You coordinate the department’s internal and external communications
You handle confidential files with discretion and professionalism
You welcome visitors and screen telephone calls
You will supervise the administrative management and monitoring of cross-functional projects
You act as an interface between management and the company’s various departments
Qualifications
The qualities and skills needed to be a good Executive Secretary
Mastery of office automation tools
Your expertise in management and communication software is fundamental. You have a perfect command of Office suites, planning tools and document management systems to optimise day-to-day organisation.
Organisational skills and discretion
Your ability to prioritise is essential in this role. You will manage a number of sensitive files simultaneously, while respecting the absolute confidentiality of the company’s strategic information.
Interpersonal and communication skills
Your ease with people makes it easy to get on with business. You adapt your communication to the people you are dealing with and represent the company’s image with professionalism in every interaction.
The benefits
What are the advantages of working as an Executive Secretary?
This job puts you at the heart of the company’s strategic decisions. You will play an active role in the success of the organisation and develop a global vision of how companies and administrations operate. This privileged position gives you a direct impact on managerial effectiveness.
Your expertise in management and organisation opens up a wide range of career prospects. You could become an office manager, assistant to the CEO or specialise in human resources. This career as an executive secretary offers attractive and rewarding career progression.
Remuneration
Executive secretary: salary and career development
Executive secretaries earn attractive salaries that increase with experience. At the start of your career, you can expect to earn €24,000 gross per year. After a few years’ experience, this salary rises to €37,000 gross per annum and then to €50,000 gross per annum.
In addition, there are often significant benefits: luncheon vouchers, company health insurance, performance bonuses and reduced working hours. Your career prospects could take you to assistant general manager or office manager positions in larger companies.
Up to
50 000€
Salary per year
Training courses
How do I become an Executive Secretary?
Our training courses
To become an executive secretary, join a recognised school like INSEEC. Our teaching combines academic excellence and professional immersion to prepare you for the responsibilities of this strategic profession. For example, you could opt for the BTS in Small and Medium-sized Enterprise Management (GMPE).
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