Executive assistants · the role
What does an executive assistant do?
The short answer · updated
An executive assistant (EA) runs the working life of a senior leader: the diary, inbox, meetings, travel and board papers, plus the projects and follow-up the leader hands over. An EA screens requests, handles confidential information and acts for the leader with other teams, so the leader can spend their time on decisions only they can make.
The core duties
The National Careers Service sets out what an executive assistant could do in a typical week. The list is a fair picture of the job in most organisations.
The common thread is judgement. An EA decides what reaches the leader, in what order, and what can be handled without them. The work changes with the leader: an EA to a founder may spend more time on hiring and investors, an EA to a chief executive of a large company more on board and committee papers.
- organising complex diaries and using judgement to prioritise tasks;
- managing projects, working closely with other teams and departments;
- researching and summarising information for senior management;
- assisting with decision-making;
- planning and co-ordinating board meetings, company events and travel;
- handling sensitive information in line with company policies;
- acting as a contact for internal and external clients and managing those relationships.
Executive assistant vs PA vs administrative assistant
The titles overlap, and many organisations use them loosely. The National Careers Service draws the line by task. A personal assistant responds to enquiries, sets up meetings, takes notes, drafts letters and emails, prepares documents and books travel. An executive assistant does that and more: managing projects, researching for senior managers, taking part in decision-making and running board meetings.
An administrative assistant or business administrator usually supports a team or a function rather than one leader. The Business administrator apprenticeship standard describes a role that supports different parts of the organisation, produces accurate records and handles confidential information in line with the organisation’s procedures. It is a common first step towards PA and EA work.
In short: an administrator supports a team, a PA supports a manager, and an EA supports a senior leader and acts on their behalf.
The EA as a strategic partner
At the top end, an EA is less a gatekeeper than an operating partner. They know the leader’s priorities well enough to protect them: reshaping the week when a crisis lands, chasing actions after a board meeting, and spotting the conflict between two commitments before it happens.
Some organisations call a senior EA with project responsibilities an executive business partner, and some have a chief of staff as well. The EA remains the person who runs the leader’s time and information; a chief of staff, where there is one, usually runs cross-team priorities for the leader. The line depends on the organisation, so write it down in the job description.
What the strategic EA needs is access and trust: sight of the leader’s agenda, a say in how their time is spent, and permission to act without asking every time.
Skills and tools
The National Careers Service lists the skills: administration and business management skills, excellent verbal communication, attention to detail, the ability to work well with others, flexibility, calm under pressure, and confident use of a computer and the main software packages. It adds that employers expect excellent IT skills.
In practice the tools are the leader’s email and calendar, a document and spreadsheet suite, video-calling software, expense and travel systems, and often a board-paper portal. Being fluent in all of them matters more than knowing any one well.
An EA handles more personal and confidential data than most staff, and the leader’s inbox is a target. The ICO’s guide to data security explains the organisation’s duty to process personal data securely, and the NCSC’s phishing guidance shows how to spot and report scam emails, texts and calls.
Who an executive assistant reports to
An EA usually reports to the leader they support. In larger organisations there may be a dotted line to a head of executive support or an office manager, who looks after the EA team, cover and development.
Some EAs support two or three leaders, or a whole leadership team. That works when the leaders agree how the EA’s time is shared and who decides when priorities clash. Without that agreement, the EA ends up refereeing.
With experience, the National Careers Service notes, an EA can work for a more senior manager, move to a larger organisation, or take on greater responsibility in business operations.
Fractional and virtual executive assistants
Not every leader needs an EA five days a week. A fractional EA supports a leader for part of the week, often alongside other clients. A virtual EA works remotely. Both suit founders and leaders of smaller companies whose support needs are real but not full-time. Our fractional and virtual EA page covers how that works.
A fractional or virtual EA may be an employee on part-time hours, a self-employed contractor, or supplied by an agency. The employment status decides their rights, and a person may have a different status for tax. Where an EA works through their own company, the off-payroll working rules (IR35) may apply, and status turns on how the engagement runs in practice. Our IR35 guide sets out the tests.
For current fractional EA and PA roles, see fractional EA jobs.
What an executive assistant earns
Robert Half’s 2026 figures put the median executive assistant salary at £50,250 across the UK and £68,250 in London. Experience, the seniority of the leader supported and the size of the organisation move the figure.
Our page on executive assistant salary sets out pay by level and region, each figure with its source.
Questions people ask
What is the difference between an executive assistant and a PA?
A PA supports a manager with enquiries, meetings, correspondence, documents and travel. An EA does that for a senior leader and adds projects, research, a part in decision-making and board meetings. Many organisations use the titles loosely, so read the job description, not the title.
Is an executive assistant a senior role?
It can be. An EA to a chief executive or a board handles confidential information about people, deals and the board, and acts for the leader across the organisation. Robert Half’s 2026 figures put the UK median EA salary at £50,250.
Does an executive assistant need a degree?
No. The National Careers Service lists university, college, an apprenticeship and working your way up as routes in. Employers look for organisation, communication and IT skills. See how to become an executive assistant.
Can an executive assistant support more than one leader?
Yes. Some EAs support two or three leaders, or a leadership team. It works when the leaders agree how the EA’s time is shared and who decides when priorities clash.
What is a virtual executive assistant?
An EA who works remotely, usually for part of the week and sometimes for several clients. The work is the same; the leader has to give remote access to the diary, inbox and documents, and set the security rules. See fractional and virtual EA support.
How do I hire an executive assistant?
Write the brief around the leader the EA will support, choose between permanent, part-time, temporary and fractional, and give every candidate the same practical exercise. Our executive assistant recruitment page sets out the process; we send a shortlist of 3–5, each with pay or day rate, availability and IR35 position set out.
