The Difference Between a Virtual Assistant and a Virtual Executive Assistant

What Is a Virtual Assistant (VA)?

A Virtual Assistant is a versatile professional who takes care of a wide range of operational and administrative tasks remotely.
The profile of a VA is broad: it can be someone with a background in secretarial work, financial administration, project support, online marketing, customer service or sales support.

A VA ensures that day-to-day operations run smoothly. Typical tasks include:

• Managing calendars and inboxes

• Preparing and sending invoices

• Drafting quotes and proposals

• Maintaining social media channels

• Creating presentations or reports

• Updating websites or CRM systems

In short: a VA is a doer — someone who gets things done, relieves the pressure, and keeps everything running smoothly on an operational level. Perfect for entrepreneurs or teams looking for practical and administrative support.

What Is a Virtual Executive Assistant (VEA)?

A Virtual Executive Assistant, also known as a remote Executive Assistant, is also a support professional — but on a different level.
An EA doesn’t work for a team, but specifically for one person: a top manager, entrepreneur, executive, CEO or VP. Someone whose schedule is so full that they simply can’t do without a right hand.

The EA is that right hand — standing beside or behind the executive, ensuring that everything is in order so the executive can focus on their core work.

The work of an EA is often more complex and requires insight, experience and discretion:

• Complex calendar management: back-to-back meetings, constant changes, coordination with multiple stakeholders and time zones

• Inbox management: prioritising, filtering, replying on behalf of the executive

• Forward thinking and anticipating: seeing what’s coming three steps ahead and acting on it now

• Organising travel and meetings: from flights and hotels to board meetings with all the necessary documentation

• Personal support: sometimes also managing private appointments or coordinating with a partner at home

A good EA is a strategic support professional — someone who not only executes but also makes independent decisions and acts proactively.
In the past, this role might have been called a personal or executive secretary. Today, it’s a modern, hybrid profession that fits seamlessly into the world of remote work.

Key Differences at a Glance

Both Are Valuable – but Choose Wisely

A VA and an EA are both essential, depending on what you need.

Do you want to delegate operational tasks and free up your time? Then a Virtual Assistant is the right choice.

Are you (or do you have) an executive who needs high-level, ongoing support — someone with no spare minute, always in meetings and in need of strategic backup? Then you need an Executive Assistant.

The great thing is: you can also combine the two. A VA can take care of broader, hands-on tasks for your organisation, while an EA focuses on supporting leadership. Together, they form a powerful support team.

In Conclusion

Both Virtual Assistants and Virtual Executive Assistants work remotely, yet stay closely connected to your organisation.
They contribute to calm, structure and efficiency — each on their own level.

The difference doesn’t lie in the location or the “virtual” label, but in the level of support, responsibility and experience.

So:

• Looking for someone to execute and manage tasks? Choose a VA.

• Looking for someone who thinks ahead, anticipates and becomes your right hand? You need an EA.

Both are worth their weight in gold – as long as you find the right match.

And that’s exactly where Moneypenny comes in.
We help you identify your needs, find the right fit and provide support that truly works for you and your organisation. Get in touch to discover which match suits you best.