Personal Assistant Job Description

Personal Assistant

Salary range: $40,000-$150,000
Sweet spot: $65,000-$95,000
Hourly: $20-$80/hour
Sweet spot: $35-$50/hour
Major cities: $65,000-$150,000
Other markets: $40,000-$85,000
Bonus: Customary

A personal assistant is the “go to” person for individuals or families, and is indispensable for the proper functioning of daily life for those who work with one! As such, the role can be very intense, with a variety of ad hoc projects and emergencies emerging daily. The role keeps these professionals on their toes!

A personal assistant provides assistance to an individual or family and is entrusted with a range of complex duties and information. Personal assistants are tasked with ensuring that every facet of their employer’s life runs smoothly. They are often responsible for organizing travel and activities, paying bills and managing family finances, coordinating with vendors and other staff, paying external vendors and staff, managing calendars, managing assets, researching special projects, managing lists and maintaining contacts, and coordinating special events or functions, among other activities. Personal assistants are given extraordinary access to privileged information and, as such, must have discretion and be exceptionally professional.

Personal assistant roles offer rewarding full-time as well as part-time work. A part-time personal assistant may work with a number of employers or clients, or take on one employer while achieving another career goal.

Job Description

Arrange travel including flights, ground transportation, lodging, dining and other activities
Maintain a calendar and update the schedule accordingly
Run errands, as requested
Source, manage and pay external vendors and household staff / staff members
Maintain lists and help the individual or family accomplish key goals
Help to coordinate functions, events and other activities
Maintain a rolodex, update when necessary
Engage in the completion of school, camp, healthcare, special programming forms
Coordinate and effectuate mailings such as holiday cards, invitations
Research and execute special projects
Be responsible for “gifting” and delivery of said gifts
Maintain comprehensive and accurate records on a range of subjects including those of a financial matter
Engage in light finance and finance coordination for planning and tax purposes
Create files, spreadsheets and other documentation of certain matters, as necessary
Prepare reports, presentations and other materials
Manage healthcare reimbursement if necessary
All in all, engage in tasks that support the proper functioning of an individual or family personal life, including children schedules, travel, wellness activities, asset maintenance, among other categories

Critical Soft Skills

Adaptable
Organized
Excellent communicator
Detail-oriented
Discreet
Problem solver / resourceful
Excellent interpersonal skills
Multitasker
Self starter / takes initiative
Efficient time manager
Comfortable with complexity / ambiguity

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