What is the difference between an office manager and an administrator?

An administrator supports the work. An office manager is responsible for how the whole office runs, often including suppliers, budgets and people, so show that responsibility.

I do office manager tasks but my title is administrator. What should I write?

Keep your real job title and describe the office manager duties you carry out, for example by adding a line such as 'covering office manager duties'.

Do I need a qualification to be an office manager?

No, but a business administration certificate, first aid at work or IOSH can help. Practical experience matters most.

Office manager CV example

A strong office manager CV shows that you keep a whole workplace running: people, suppliers, supplies, safety and the budget. It should give the size of the office and a few concrete examples, such as better supplier terms or a smooth office move, rather than a list of admin tasks.

Ella Richardson

Office manager

ella@example.com 07700 900160 Leeds

Profile

Organised office manager with experience running the day-to-day of a busy professional office of around 20 staff. Confident managing suppliers, budgets, health and safety and onboarding, while supporting directors with diaries and meetings. Calm and practical, with a reputation for solving problems before they reach other people.

Experience

Office Manager – a surveying and property consultancy

Ran the day-to-day of an office of 20 staff, including reception, post, supplies, meeting rooms and building access

Managed an annual office budget of about £35,000, raising purchase orders and checking supplier invoices

Reviewed the cleaning, stationery and IT support contracts and agreed better terms with two suppliers

Acted as a fire marshal, arranged first aiders and carried out display screen equipment checks for new starters

Managed two receptionists and an administrator, including rotas and holiday cover

Senior Administrator – a building firm's head office

Organised diaries, travel and meetings for three directors

Prepared new-starter packs and arranged IT equipment and building access

Kept the contracts and insurance renewal diary up to date

Took minutes at management meetings and followed up actions afterwards

Example · fictional candidate · Statement design · Use this design

Tips for a office manager CV

Give the size of the office and the team you manage, to show the scale of the job
Include a budget figure if you handle one, and say what you did with it
Show that you improve things, for example a cheaper supplier, a better filing system or a smooth office move
Mention health and safety roles such as fire marshal, first aider or display screen equipment assessor
List the systems you use, including Microsoft 365, Excel and any booking or purchasing systems
Lead with results rather than tasks, and keep the CV to two pages at most

Applying with a cover letter? See our office manager cover letter example.