Office Administrator jobs in the United Kingdom
This role is about operational accuracy: calendars, inbox discipline, tidy records, and “small fixes” that keep a UK office running smoothly. Strong Excel basics and clear written English matter as much as speed.
Short candidate portrait
- Writes clear emails and keeps a professional tone with clients and colleagues.
- Comfortable with calendar coordination, meeting minutes, and document formatting.
- Works carefully with spreadsheets (sorting, filtering, basic formulas, data checks).
- Understands confidentiality and handles personal/company data responsibly.
- Can prioritise: urgent requests, recurring admin, and deadlines without losing accuracy.
- Enjoys operational order: tidy shared folders, consistent naming, and traceable records.
What you will do (practical scope)
- Calendar management: meetings, reschedules, room booking, agenda preparation.
- Document control: templates, filing, versioning, scanning, and structured archiving.
- Spreadsheet work: trackers, basic reporting, data entry with quality checks.
- Office coordination: suppliers, stationery, couriers, visitor handling, simple logistics.
- Support for HR/finance admin: onboarding packs, timesheets, invoice routing, purchase requests (varies by site).
- Team support: follow-ups, action lists, and making sure the “small tasks” are actually closed.
Requirements (detailed)
- English CV (mandatory) and clear written English for email coordination.
- Office tools: Outlook/Teams, Word, Excel (basic formulas + filters), PDF handling.
- Experience: admin/office support or demonstrable transferable work (customer service + documentation).
- Accuracy mindset: you check names, dates, references, and file versions.
- Confidentiality: comfortable handling personal data and sensitive documents.
- UK work rights or confirmed eligibility route where sponsorship is possible.
UK working conditions (snapshot)
- Working week: many office roles run ~37–40 hours, typically Mon–Fri.
- Paid holiday: statutory baseline is 5.6 weeks per year (often expressed as 28 days for a 5-day week, inclusive of bank holidays if the employer chooses).
- Working time cap: 48 hours/week average limit may apply unless you opt out (opt-out must be voluntary and written).
- Payroll norms: PAYE taxation, payslips, and auto-enrolment pension duties are standard in most employment contracts.
Employers may offer more generous holiday or flexible policies, but the statutory baseline above is widely used for reference.
Pay: gross (brutto) clarity
| Band (indicative) | Gross / year | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Starter / junior | £24,000–£26,000 | Often aligned to legal pay floors and local market demand. |
| Typical scope | £25,000–£30,000 | Broader coordination + stronger Excel + reliable diary control. |
| London / higher responsibility | £28,000–£35,000+ | More common when duties include finance/HR admin controls or executive support. |
| Legal reference point | NLW changes annually (April) | From 1 April 2026 NLW (21+) is £12.71/hour; full-time annual depends on contracted hours. |
Pay varies by sector (construction admin, healthcare admin, legal office, logistics, public sector), software stack, and compliance scope.
What MaViAl provides
- Role matching based on your CV: office admin, business support, coordination roles.
- Clear application steps and practical expectations (tools, duties, schedule norms).
- Support communication via the MaViAl contact channel when you need guidance.
A realistic “day in the role”
Your morning is usually triage: inbox, calendar changes, meeting prep, and quick fixes. Midday often shifts to documentation (PDFs, trackers, minutes). Late day is follow-ups and closing open actions so tomorrow starts clean.
FAQ (Office Administrator — UK)
Do I need a UK qualification to work as an Office Administrator?
Not always. Many employers prioritise proven admin experience, good written English, and confidence with office software. Some regulated environments may ask for background checks or role-specific training.
What Excel level is expected?
For most office admin roles: sorting/filtering, formatting, simple formulas (SUM, IF basics), and keeping trackers clean. Advanced reporting is typically a separate analyst role.
Is sponsorship common?
For this occupation, sponsorship is generally uncommon. The safest approach is applying if you already have UK work rights, or where the employer explicitly states sponsorship is available.
What improves my chances quickly?
A focused CV with measurable admin outcomes (tracking accuracy, document control, coordination volume), plus a short tools list (Outlook/Teams/Excel/SharePoint or equivalents). Add examples of confidentiality and process discipline.
What documents should I prepare?
An English CV, references if available, and clear proof of work eligibility. If you have certificates (GDPR awareness, admin training, bookkeeping basics), include them.
Can this role lead to higher positions?
Yes. Strong performers often move into office coordination, executive assistant roles, HR admin, finance admin, or operations support—especially if they build systems skills and reliability under pressure.
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