A front office executive is an individual who works in a company’s front office, serving as the company’s “face” while also overseeing a variety of tasks and, in some cases, managing staff. Beyond this basic definition, the exact duties of a person in this position can vary widely, depending on the nature of his company. Companies which commonly employ front office executives can include hotels, medical treatment offices, advertising agencies, construction companies, and commercial retail businesses. In addition to interfacing with customers or clients, the duties of this person may include attending to accounts, scheduling appointments, processing payroll and insurance forms, and managing other front-of-house employees. Those who wish to become front office executives generally must have relevant educational experience as well as good interpersonal and management skills.
In general, a front office executive may be employed by any company which requires an individual to act as a liaison between clients or customers and the company itself. As the job title suggests, this type of executive is usually physically positioned in a company’s front office, or the area of that company where clients or customers are received. Companies which commonly need the services of front office executives include medical treatment offices, construction companies, hotels, advertising agencies, and commercial retail businesses.
The exact duties of a person in this position can vary widely, depending on the nature of the company that employs him. In general, this position requires some level of interaction with customers. Depending on the business, this interaction may include such tasks as greeting customers in person and on the phone, scheduling appointments or reservations, taking product orders, providing information about available services, and processing insurance paperwork. Often, a front office executive balances these client services with a number of other duties, such as managing accounts, invoicing, and payroll, and overseeing other front-of-house staff.
Precise educational qualifications needed to become a front office executive are dictated by the business type. Those who wish to work in a medical treatment office, for instance, may find that training in medical terminology and accounting is helpful, while those who want to work in a hotel may be required to have an educational background in hospitality and management. In addition to relevant educational experience, front office executives generally must also have excellent interpersonal skills, the ability to competently manage several diverse tasks at once, and a professional appearance.