GRADUATE PROFILE: MEET AN OFFICE MANAGER
If you’d like more info on the Certificate IV courses in Building and Construction, check out our courses page or give the team a call on 1300 LEGEND.
This week we caught up with Builders Academy graduate Anthea Brown, who recently finished the CPC40120 Certificate IV in Building and Construction (Building) and is now working as an office manager at @Joncol Building Services. See below for her take on learning the industry, managing accounts and turning enquiries into jobs.
“Joncol is a small residential building company that specialises in renovations and extensions. Our slogan is ‘Making homes more liveable’. We operate predominantly in Melbourne’s inner-west, and we have about five projects going on at the moment. I like this company because we’re not the typical builder – we tend to think outside the box.”
“I’m generally the first point of contact for potential clients. I like talking through what’s driving them to renovate. Renovating is a big deal – even bigger, in some ways, than buying a new home. We’re there to make sure the experience is a positive one.”
“I’ve been in this role for a year, and in that time I’ve learnt more than in my whole life. I deal with enquiries and then turn them into leads and jobs. I do the bookkeeping, the account keeping, invoicing and reconciling, and file management. I deal with staff, uniforms, payroll, print brochures, business cards, payments, profit and loss reporting.”
“I didn’t come from a building background; I was in retail. The Certificate IV gave me a great insight into the technical building stuff, which helped me understand this role. But you also learn about the management side of the industry: scheduling, coordinating trades and running a business. It helped me better understand the whole process.”
“My most used tool is the computer. I use email, our accounting program (Xero) and this little baby here: the calendar. I’ve never been one for a calendar, but once I learnt how to use it, it was amazing. It’s helped me manage my role a lot more. There’s so much to stay on top of, so it’s helped me be more effective.”
“Finishing a project is a great feeling. It’s amazing to see it all come together. Feeling like I contributed is probably the most rewarding part of my job. My other favourite part is learning new things, and having access to these experienced professionals who are always happy to help me. Having that wealth of knowledge at my fingertips is amazing.”
“Sometimes I think I’d like to be a project manager, but then I see the project managers we work with and think, ‘No, I don’t want to do that’ – because their phone is constantly ringing and all the unexpecteds are coming out of the woodwork… I don’t know if I could deal with that! I’d also like to buy a house and work on it myself. But I’m happy doing this for the time being, and maybe I’ll start helping to manage some projects over time.”
Jon, Anthea’s boss: “Anthea is very valuable to the business. I’m scared she’ll take a day off! Her role could be divided into ten. By learning about the way a project works through her studies at Builders Academy, she’s more aware of how building works.”
“There is a lot of red in the office. It’s part of our branding. I like it!”
Legend. Thanks Anthea.
If you’d like more info on the Certificate IV courses in Building and Construction, check out our courses page or give the team a call on 1300 LEGEND.