Assistant manager vs. executive assistant—which one does your growing Aussie startup actually need?

A business operations specialist oversees daily operations. Meanwhile, an executive assistant caters to an executive’s administrative needs.

Looking at it, they’re not vastly different from each other as they organize priorities and facilitate coordination. Also, both assistant types can be virtual assistants. They can operate remotely and streamline workflows while significantly reducing overhead and boosting productivity.

Nevertheless, one specific assistant is simply a better fit for your business needs. Find out more about these roles and dive further into these questions:

• Difference between executive assistant and assistant manager
• When to hire an executive assistant in a growing startup
• Cost of hiring an EA vs. an assistant manager in Australia

The Startup Dilemma: Who Should Be Your First Right-Hand Hire?

Assistant manager vs. executive assistant—It is a classic dilemma entrepreneurs and business owners face, especially as the company starts to fly.

To meet the growing demand, you add more capable hands to man the trenches. But what kind of help do you really need to make the most of every opportunity?

The answer to this question depends on you and your company. Do you need more time to work on the business as an executive? Or do you need someone to tackle full-scale operations?

Understanding how each assistant type can help you in different ways will lead you in the right direction for hiring.

For an Aussie startup, hiring an executive assistant (EA) first is generally recommended to free up founder time for strategic growth. These professionals act as a "growth multiplier," creating structure to chaos.

Conversely, an assistant manager focuses on day-to-day team operations. They provide key administrative support for AU startups, serving as the backbone for organizational success.

What Does an Executive Assistant (EA) Do for a Founder?

An executive assistant is a proactive, strategic partner for business owners. They can take accountability for the best administrative roles for founders, maximizing their boss’s time and productivity. This includes creating meeting agendas, managing event logistics and coordinating key projects.

EAs serve as the visible force that makes executives highly efficient and successful.

Here, at VAV, you can work with English and French-speaking personal assistants, rigorously vetted to meet your expectations. They have skills and extensive experience working across several industries.

Our excellent executive assistants can be your sidekick, 24/7. They’re reliable collaborators who are trained to anticipate your needs and when. They continually evolve, delivering more effective services in the areas that founders like you require.

Experience our excellent executive support in Australia today.

What Is the Role of an Assistant Manager in a Scale-up?

An assistant manager provides direct support to business managers. As associate managers, they handle daily workflows, ensure standards are met, and identify areas of improvement.

This position combines organizational expertise and strong leadership. AMs are expected to nurture a positive working environment for the whole workforce during the growth phase.

VAV has a lineup of effective assistant managers who can be a dynamic force behind your high-performing team. They are trained to be operational engines with practical experience and knowledge to help you with long-term growth.

Assistant Manager vs. Executive Assistant: A Side-by-Side Comparison

Here are key details that will uncover the significant differences between assistant managers and executives.

Responsibilities

At first glance, the duties of executive assistants and assistant managers may seem interchangeable. However, one exists mainly to support business leaders, while the other drives smooth business operation in all situations.

Assistant Manager

• Greenlight and manage promotional campaigns
• Ensure smart allocation of employee resources
• Manage the activities of the staff and monitor their progress
• Assist managers and make key decisions in their absence
• Support recruitment activities and direct training for new employees
• Monitor procedures and ensure quality standards are met for each position
• Represent managers, when necessary, to keep the operations going
• Coordinate departments and team members
• Review employee performance and oversee improvement plans

Executive Assistant

• Plan executive events and manage logistics to ensure their success
• Facilitate communications so that executives only receive important calls or emails
• Assist with strategic planning by conducting research and assigning tasks to the right person
• Support projects by tracking timelines, coordinating tasks and addressing issues without micromanagement from the executive
• Perform market analysis and transform information into actionable insights

Skills

Because EAs and AMs handle different responsibilities, these positions don’t share the same skill requirements. The former offers specialized support to company heads, while the latter provides managerial assistance to employees.

Here are the main qualities that make each of these positions tick:

Assistant Manager

• Office management
• Time management
• Communication
• Digital knowledge
• Critical thinking
• Cultural awareness
• Time management
• Personal effectiveness

Executive Assistant

• Prioritization (Manage an executive’s time for high-value work)
• Organizational (serve as the main contract between the executive and stakeholders)
• Decision making (decide and seize opportunities without asking for an executive’s permission)
• Strategic planning (gather and analyze data and make smart recommendations so executives can make data-driven decisions)
• Leadership (act decisively and lead the team within the authority given by the executive)

Costs

Bringing in a new assistant can be steep, especially for a small-scale business. Between salary and overhead, can you afford to hire either an executive assistant or an assistant manager?

Assistant Manager

In the U.S., assistant manager roles are among the most in-demand jobs. As such, the position pays around $20-$25 per hour, based on expertise and skills.

Like remote executive assistants, most offshore AMs charge less than their local counterparts. Their asking price per hour is between $10 and $20.

Executive Assistant

EAs typically charge $20 to $50 per hour, based on experience, skills and industry. Yes, hiring a local executive partner can be expensive because they carry the usual employee-associated expenses. Plus, they’re not easily scalable.

Offshore EAs from the Philippines or Madagascar, however, are easier on the wallet. They cost less than local assistants or employees, typically ranging from $5 to $10, depending on location, skills, job complexity and more.

The costs of hiring a new assistant can vary widely. If you’re considering enlisting additional help, understand the cost drivers to help you budget smartly.

What you ought to know about an administrative assistant vs. a secretary.

3 Signs Your Aussie Business Needs an Executive Assistant

Everything about running a company is demanding. You’re constantly putting out fires in every direction and still not making any progress.

If you’re seeing these signs, you could really benefit from teaming up with an executive support specialist.

• You are overwhelmed. Are your days in the office dominated by operational, administrative or scheduling details? These tasks, while essential to daily operations, rip you apart from the tasks that matter.

  This is perhaps the strongest sign that you’re in desperate need of an executive support lead to win back more time.

• Strategic focus is lost. Are you losing focus on high-level business development or product innovation? If you’re paying more attention to activities that don’t move the needle for your business, you need an EA.

  When your focus is scattered, it is difficult to lead with clarity and reach your goals.

• There’s a need for efficiency. Are scheduling appointments and email management constant sources of inefficiencies?

  If you can’t maximize your productivity and produce your desired results, let an EA implement systems and sort your calendars and communication. With their support, you can avoid wasting time and do more with less.

3 Signs You Actually Need an Assistant Manager

As the demand grows, you have to admit that it’s getting harder to manage day-to-day activities. When you experience the following, you know it’s time to let go because things are no longer effective.

• Operations are stable: You already have systems in place, but need someone to manage the day-to-day execution. An assistant manager strengthens your business processes and ensures flawless execution. They offer on-the-ground support to ensure operations stay consistent and scalable.
• Team is growing: You’re entering the growth phase with a team that requires direct supervision and support with tasks. Rather than just supporting the founder, AMs provide direct team leadership. They can manage team coordination and communication, ensuring everyone is aligned with company objectives.
• Time is widely distributed. The core team spends most of its day polishing the little details, which delays critical decisions. Associate managers remove the bottlenecks in the workflow that slow growth. They give the in-house crew more time to pursue strategic initiatives.

In the initial, chaotic stages of a startup, an EA is often the better investment to directly impact growth by freeing up the founder. Conversely, an assistant manager becomes essential as the team scales.

The Remote Solution: Why Australian Founders are Looking Offshore

Australian companies’ business position is pretty tight. From scarce local talent to standard employment entitlements (Fair Work Act), these challenges keep you from advancing. Turning to offshore workers is a smart staffing solution designed to overcome these hurdles.

Offshoring is not just about passing responsibilities to someone else—it’s about assembling a team that can scale with you. This creative solution perfectly aligns with AU startup goals of sustainable, long-term growth.

• Access to Global Talent. Australia has a rampant skills shortage across industries, from healthcare to technology, which is alarming. Finding the right local candidates for the right job is like finding a needle in a haystack.

  Outsourcing companies like VAV enable you to tap into a global talent pool in the Asia Pacific and beyond. Offshore teams from countries like the Philippines are not only proficient in English but also provide a new set of eyes for innovation.

  You can work with professionals with niche expertise who can complete tasks more quickly and precisely. This shortens turnaround times and streamlines operations, maximizing efficiency.

• Cost-Effectiveness. Hiring Australian-based workers is expensive, driven by high salaries and overhead expenses. By offshoring, you can significantly reduce up to 70% of operating costs in a year without compromising quality results.

  This cost advantage gives you extra resources to reinvest in other growth projects, such as product and technology development. As a result, you can maintain a strong competitive advantage over your competitors.

• Scalability and Flexibility. Offshore staffing empowers your Australian startup to keep up with the changing business climate.

  Remote teams are impressively flexible, which local employees can never match. Whether you're ramping up for holiday demand or launching a new product, they can efficiently scale with you.

• Global Market Reach. With an international team by your side, you can better cater to the needs of your global clientele. The time zone difference can be used to your advantage, extending operating hours and providing unmatched convenience and availability.

At VAV, you can outsource to a wide pool of skilled virtual professionals who can be mobilized on short notice. We can fill open positions quickly, preventing wasted time and minimizing business disruption. We keep you agile through the peaks and dips of the market without long-term commitments.

Working with a Remote Assistant Manager or a Remote Executive Assistant

Whether you’re a small-time business or a big enterprise in Australia, working with remote assistants gives you the leverage to…

• Drive efficiency and innovation
• Save costs
• Access skilled expertise in various domains

These advantages unlock a world of opportunities that you never thought possible in today’s price-pressure era.

Remote Working Works

Executives who operate without a sidekick of some sort end up wasting 16 hours a week, completing menial tasks that don’t contribute to growth.

The rise of cloud-based collaboration apps such as Slack, Trello and Microsoft Teams enables real-time collaboration. These tools allow remote workers to organize detailed itineraries, manage schedules, create comprehensive reports and more.

Here are some practical steps to build a successful partnership with your virtual assistant:

• Perform regular check-ins to address issues and monitor progress.
• Design a standard operating procedure to maintain consistency and hold your assistant accountable.
• Instead of micromanaging, utilize key performance indicators to measure productive time.
• Build a healthy relationship with your online assistant managers or executives.

Yes, it is possible to work with a remote EA or AM without the disconnect prompted by geographical divide. Just remember to treat your offshore partner as a valuable team member, and not just a service provider.

Get Started With VAV

If there’s one thing you do best as a business owner, it’s owning every work possible in the company. Of course, we admire your relentless drive to do it all. However, this way of thinking can very much be your downfall.

The best way to conduct your business is to push low-value activities to someone else and focus on the important matters.

VAV is a leading recruitment company that believes in hiring for scale-ups. We connect you with a virtual assistant for entrepreneurs who can function as your assistant manager or executive assistant. They can be your operations specialists or strategic partner who opens a pathway for your true leadership potential.

Get in touch and take the first step with us today.