A Personal Assistant (PA) is more than just a right-hand support within an organisation. In addition to managing schedules and organising meetings and events, a PA often takes on personal tasks as well. This can include arranging birthday gifts, organising family events, booking medical appointments and managing personal insurance.
A Personal Assistant is therefore more broadly deployable than the typical business support provided by secretaries or management assistants.
The roles of Personal Assistant and Executive Assistant have a lot in common, particularly in the nature of their work. The key difference lies in the level within the organisation they support. A Personal Assistant supports managers and employees across different levels, while an Executive Assistant works with senior executives or leadership.
The core remains the same: taking work off your hands, organising and thinking ahead. The difference lies in their position within the organisation and the level of responsibility.
There’s no single answer to this. The role is highly varied. What a Personal Assistant does depends on the type of organisation and the needs of the employer. That’s also why many people choose this role—it offers challenging, varied work.
The main goal of a PA is to relieve their client of tasks so they can focus on more important matters. Some examples of tasks include:
To manage such a broad range of tasks effectively, a Personal Assistant needs a diverse skill set:
A typical nine-to-five mindset doesn’t usually fit this role. A PA thinks ahead, anticipates needs and ensures everything runs smoothly without you having to think about it.
You might picture a Personal Assistant as someone working in the office, handling everything on-site. But a PA can also work remotely. In that case, the role falls under Virtual Assistant.
A VA performs (largely) the same tasks as a PA but works from any location and offers flexible support (at Moneypenny from as little as 8 hours per month). Read more about what a Virtual Assistant is.
Interested in becoming one yourself? Take a look at how to become a Virtual Assistant. Looking for your own Personal Assistant? Read on.
Personal Assistant services at Moneypenny
One of the key benefits of hiring a Personal Assistant through Moneypenny is continuity. Even during holidays or illness, you can rely on consistent, high-quality support. Our VAs work remotely and offer flexible availability.
We ensure the perfect match between client and remote Personal Assistant. After selection, an introduction takes place, where enthusiasm from both sides is essential. If there’s a mutual fit, we establish clear agreements on communication, working hours, availability and tasks.
Would you like to explore how we can support you? Feel free to schedule a call—we’d be happy to think along with you.
This article was written by Marianne Sturman, founder of Moneypenny. For over 20 years, she has been a pioneer in virtual assistance in the Netherlands, helping organisations and entrepreneurs work more efficiently with Personal Assistants and Virtual Assistants.
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