Joanne Mills
Little Stoke,United Kingdom
Summary
Accomplished professional with extensive expertise in office management and executive support, demonstrating exceptional communication skills and a proactive approach to problem-solving. Proven track record in C-suite collaboration, stakeholder engagement, and event coordination, with a strong emphasis on discretion and high-level confidentiality. Adept at managing complex schedules, travel arrangements, and diary management across multiple time zones. Skilled in Microsoft Office Suite, CRM systems, and cloud-based collaboration tools. Committed to enhancing organisational efficiency through strategic planning and process improvement while maintaining resilience under pressure.
Overview
37
37
years of professional experience
Work history
Executive Assistant to the Director of Housing Transformation and Building Safety
Bristol City Council
Bristol
06.2025 - 09.2025
- This is a new Directorate within Bristol City Council, in this new role I have set up the Sharepoint Directory for the Directorate, set up the SLT Meetings and Committee Meetings to fall in line with other reporting responsibilities, set up procedures, forms, 121’s and office systems to ensure that we have seamless and efficient ways of working.
- Complex diary management, also working with local MP’s and Councillors and external stakeholders, including WECA and Homes England arranging workshops, meetings, meetings tenants.
- Adding value and improving efficiency and effectiveness and saving the Director I support valuable time by streamlining their calendar and meetings and managing their inbox effectively.
- Hybrid Role (contractor)
- Liaised with other departments to maintain smooth flow of information across the organisation.
Business Support Officer
Bristol City Council
Remote
04.2025 - 06.2025
- Temporary role at BCC in their SEND team during their busy period which is to the end of this current school year.
- I finished in the position earlier as I moved to another job within Bristol Council an EA to a Director in the Local Housing Department.
- Remote
Executive Assistant to the Joint CEO
North Bristol & UHBW NHS Trust
Southmead Hospital
01.2025 - 01.2025
- Interim role for the joint CEO of two large acute NHS Trusts, working for the Joint CEO at Trust HQ whilst they were waiting for the new EA to start in the position.
- High level inbox management, diary management, dealing with queries, collating paperwork for meetings, liaising and working closely with the other EA’s in the HQ.
- Liaised with other departments to maintain smooth flow of information across the organisation.
- Streamlined administrative processes to increase efficiency at work.
- Improved executive workflow through management of schedules and itineraries.
- Handled confidential documents securely maintaining privacy and trustworthiness within the firm.
- Scheduled meetings, conferences and appointments.
Executive Assistant to the CEO
WECIL
09.2024 - 11.2024
- Interim role whilst the Charity were recruiting for the permanent role, supporting the CEO with diary management, inbox management, line-management of admin team, supporting the Trustees and SLT, attending board meetings to transcribe the minutes.
- Interim Role
- Maintained an up-to-date database ensuring easy retrieval of information when required.
- Streamlined administrative processes to increase efficiency at work.
- Took minutes during meetings accurately preserving crucial details for future reference.
- Facilitated efficient office operations by managing correspondence, filing systems and organisational procedures.
- Implemented new document management systems, improving data accessibility and security within the organisation.
PA to 3 Heads of Function/Deputy Directors
HPC NNB (EDF)
Bristol/Gloucester/Hinkley Point
12.2022 - 07.2024
- Extensive diary and inbox management for all three HOFs
- Working across multiple time zones
- Complex travel arrangements and itineraries, when required arranging the relevant visas particularly for travel to China
- Arranging company events, away days, training days and Christmas parties
- Expenses and mileage claims
- Delegated authority to approve job offers, purchases, timesheets and expenses on behalf of the HOFs
- Dealing with clients and multiple stakeholders across the project and with the Regulatory Body
- Arranging site visits and ensuring all the security clearance and paperwork was on order
- Arranging complex meetings across multiple time zones at often very short notice
- Fast paced and very high-octane environment need to be able to think on your feet and work at high intensity when needed
- Preparing board packs and slides
- Ensuring HOFs compliance and training was up to date in accordance ONR and company safety guidelines
- Providing ad hoc admin support for the HOFs SLTs when required
- Maintaining and updating the functions SharePoint site
- Posting the HOFs weekly blogs/vlogs on SharePoint and via email
- Other ad hoc tasks this role was very varied and demanding with every day being different.
- Ensuring Director’s and HOFS visited the different sites on a monthly basis
- Efficient use of time and keeping travel costs within required parameters
- Contractor - Hybrid
- Scheduled appointments with stakeholders, fostering better relationships.
- Organised high-level meetings for productive collaboration.
- Assisted in event planning, leading to successful corporate gatherings.
- Facilitated communication between departments with professional liaison skills.
- Ensured timely responses to emails to enhance communication flow.
- Improved output quality by proofreading documents before distribution.
- Prioritised tasks for improved productivity.
- Optimised time management by creating effective work schedules.
- Streamlined office processes to increase efficiency.
- Coordinated travel arrangements, resulting in smooth business trips.
- Participated in team meetings for insightful contributions and idea generation.
- Managed complex diaries, ensuring seamless executive schedules.
- Maintained confidentiality of sensitive information by implementing strict file management systems.
- Increased operational efficiency through meticulous record keeping.
- Drafted correspondence, enhancing corporate image.
- Managed expense reports accurately for budget control purposes.
- Facilitated smooth office operations by maintaining office supplies inventory.
- Processed mail, email and phone enquiries, minimising correspondence backlogs.
- Coordinated and secured meetings for management teams, distributing relevant resources ahead of time.
- Took detailed, accurate meeting minutes, collating and promptly distributing to relevant staff for swift action.
- Coordinated flight, accommodation and travel arrangements, maintaining strict compliance with budgets and schedules.
- Received and processed staff business expenses, maintaining excellent cash flow and budget management.
- Drafted correspondence, compiled reports and prepared presentations with keen attention to detail.
- Received requests for meetings and appointments, updated calendar and organised spaces and materials.
- Updated executive diaries with daily appointments, set reminders, and added key details.
EA to the CEO and Board
Bristol Zoo
08.2022 - 12.2022
- Temporary position during Zoo closure in Clifton and relocation to New Bristol Zoo Project Premises
Regional Office Manager/EA to Regional MD
Avison Young, Bristol
Bristol/Cardiff
03.2022 - 07.2022
- Oversaw regional operations for a firm of Chartered Surveyors at Bristol Office.
- Supported Regional MD and Chair of UK Executive Board in administrative tasks.
- Provided administrative assistance to Planning team, addressing operational needs.
- Managed hybrid responsibilities of Regional Office Manager and Executive Assistant.
- Improved office efficiency by streamlining administrative procedures.
- Enhanced team productivity by organising training sessions and workshops.
- Assisted in recruitment processes for hiring top talent.
- Managed all aspects of facility maintenance to ensure a safe working environment.
- Oversaw inventory management, minimising waste whilst maximising availability of essential items.
- Optimised resource allocation for cost-effective operations.
- Managed daily office operations to ensure smooth functioning.
- Collaborated with senior management, contributing to strategic planning sessions.
- Spearheaded process improvements leading to significant time saving.
- Promoted positive employee morale through incentive programs.
- Executed company policies to maintain workplace standards and ethics.
- Coordinated staff meetings for efficient communication.
- Maintained well-organised work environment, promoting enhanced workflow and efficiency levels.
- Liaised with vendors to secure office supplies at competitive prices.
- Registered visitors, guests and contractors upon arrival, providing access passes.
- Utilised Microsoft Excel to manage spreadsheets and deliver specialised reports on company metrics.
- Worked to facilitate positive, productive working environments through reliable administrative support.
- Greeted and directed incoming visitors and clients to reduce wait times and increase satisfaction.
- Monitored and proactively replenished office supply inventory for seamless operations.
- Worked with HR to maintain accurate and confidential employee records, enforcing compliance with regulatory standards.
- Produced and distributed monthly reports using Excel knowledge, enabling improved business analysis.
- Scheduled meeting spaces and catering for board meetings, client consultations and contract negotiations.
- Coordinated office workflow and implemented improvements to drive efficiency and productivity.
- Prioritised high-volume competing tasks to complete simultaneous projects within stringent timeframes.
- Liaised with external vendors and service providers to address on-site maintenance and repair needs.
- Reviewed existing procedures and systems for inefficiencies and recommended actionable initiatives for improvement.
- Streamlined office procedures, implementing new systems to address bottlenecks and disruptions.
- Managed schedules for C-level executives, coordinating daily meetings and travel arrangements.
- Liaised with security personnel to monitor on-site access and approve authorised visitors to enter premises.
- Identified and resolved operational issues impacting productivity, performance or profitability.
- Maintained organisational compliance with applicable legislation and regulations.
- Allocated resources to teams and projects based on need, performance and availability.
PA/Office Manager
PG Group
03.2021 - 02.2022
- PA and Office Manager for a property developer based in Central Bristol, I worked for the Director of the Construction Wing of the company, so I was based on active building sites throughout the Southwest.
- Organised high-level meetings for productive collaboration.
- Managed expense reports accurately for budget control purposes.
- Maintained confidentiality of sensitive information by implementing strict file management systems.
- Facilitated smooth office operations by maintaining office supplies inventory.
- Developed filing systems, improving document accessibility and security.
- Increased operational efficiency through meticulous record keeping.
- Drafted correspondence, enhancing corporate image.
- Prioritised tasks for improved productivity.
- Scheduled appointments with stakeholders, fostering better relationships.
- Ensured timely responses to emails to enhance communication flow.
- Streamlined office processes to increase efficiency.
- Coordinated travel arrangements, resulting in smooth business trips.
- Improved output quality by proofreading documents before distribution.
- Facilitated communication between departments with professional liaison skills.
- Handled incoming calls professionally, ensuring excellent customer service delivery.
- Optimised time management by creating effective work schedules.
- Processed mail, email and phone enquiries, minimising correspondence backlogs.
- Coordinated and secured meetings for management teams, distributing relevant resources ahead of time.
- Took detailed, accurate meeting minutes, collating and promptly distributing to relevant staff for swift action.
- Received and processed staff business expenses, maintaining excellent cash flow and budget management.
- Completed ad-hoc personal errands, including laundry collection, gift ordering and restaurant reservations for well-rounded personal support.
- Drafted correspondence, compiled reports and prepared presentations with keen attention to detail.
- Received requests for meetings and appointments, updated calendar and organised spaces and materials.
- Organised and maintained filing system for easy staff access.
- Updated executive diaries with daily appointments, set reminders, and added key details.
- Scanned and uploaded documents into digital filing system.
- Kept office spaces organised and workflows streamlined for team success against challenging daily objectives.
- Maximised team productivity by maintaining adequate levels of office supplies.
Executive Assistant to Director of Operations
Planning Inspectorate
11.2020 - 03.2021
- Five-month assignment to cover for an EA on secondment to another part of the organisation
- COVID role remote only
05.2020 - 08.2020
- I was furloughed by the agency I was working for from May to August 2020 due to the Pandemic.
Senior Executive Assistant
Weston Area Health NHS Trust
01.2020 - 05.2020
- Temporary Role due to Weston Area NHS Trust was merging with Bristol & Bristol Universities NHS Trust
- Working for the Director of HR and the Director of Finance for the Trust Board.
Senior PA
Office for Students
04.2019 - 12.2019
- Senior PA working for three Directors and two Heads of Departments with Line Management Duties for a team of six admin staff.
Senior Executive Assistant
Bristol University
11.2018 - 02.2019
- Senior EA for the Dean of the Faculty of Science
- Temp role for four months
EA/Team Administrator
BNP Paribas Real Estate
03.2018 - 10.2018
- EA Team Administrator for the Head of Department and a Senior Director plus two Senior Associates
- Short Term Contract
Senior Executive Assistant
Deloitte LLP
01.2008 - 09.2017
- Senior EA for two partners (one who was a member of the board and a Vice Chairman), four directors and ad hoc support for the senior management team when needed working in the restructuring Practice within the Corporate Finance Department, often dealing with highly sensitive information so confidentiality and best practice is second nature, my main role and duties consisted off:
- Dealing with the mail and flagging any important or time sensitive correspondence
- Diary management and arranging meetings
- Monitoring their inboxes and responding on their behalf where appropriate or flagging important emails if the partner or director was out of the office and unable to remotely access their emails.
- Deleting and filing mails where appropriate
- Updating social media on behalf of the Partners
- Sending out email bulletins, papers and invites to events or trading on behalf of the partners and directors
- Monitoring general enquiry inboxes
- First point of contact for clients and visitors from other Deloitte offices
- Travel arrangements and itineraries
- Completing time sheets and expenses on behalf of the partners
- Proxy rights on behalf of the partners to approve, expenses, holidays and engagement take and reports following strict protocols when doing so
- Arranging team away days and training sessions
- Ensuring the whole team from partner level to entry level completed their mandatory training
- Organising client events for which included sporting events, private dinners, seminars, sourcing venues, golf days, tables at various Gala Dinners, this also included drafting up the invites, checking the venues had the relevant level of public liability insurance, catering and anything else pertinent to the event.
- Keeping our clients’ database and contacts up to date
- Line management for 2 admin staff
- Managing the partners CPD Requirements
- Organising the staff annual balls for the Bristol & Cardiff offices for 1500 staff
- Manging the Deloitte Women’s Network
- Charity, Community & Green Champion for the Bristol Office
Personal Assistant
Fleuret Chartered Surveyors
10.1999 - 01.2008
Legal Secretary
Veale Wasbrough Vizards
12.1997 - 10.1999
Legal Secretary
CWS Legal Department, Manchester
09.1994 - 12.1997
Legal Secretary
Kennedy & Donkin, Civil Engineers, Manchester
09.1990 - 11.1994
Legal Secretary
Slater Heelis Solicitors, Manchester
09.1988 - 12.1990
Education
HND Legal Secretary/Para Legal -
A Levels - English Lit – A, Law – B, History – A, English Language – A, Geography – A
O Levels - English Language – A, English Lit – A, History – A, Law – A, Geography – A, Religion – B, Economics – B, French –B, Maths – C
Skills
- Communication skills
- Self-motivation
- Interpersonal skills
- Office management
- Diary management
- Time zone coordination
- Inbox management
- Travel planning
- Expense and timesheet management
- Line management
- High-level proxy rights
- Event organization
- Marketing event coordination
- Microsoft Office proficiency
- C-suite collaboration
- Stakeholder engagement
- AI notetaker proficiency
- Cloud-based collaboration
- Advanced spreadsheets
- Familiarity with crm systems
- Influential communication
- Board meeting preparation
- Knowledge of hr laws
- Office software mastery
- Decision-Making proficiency
- Resourcefulness in crisis
- Discretion handling
- Prioritisation expertise
- Time management mastery
- High-Level confidentiality
- Microsoft Office Suite
- Performance reviews
- Document preparation
- Travel arrangements
- Executive support
- Professional networking
- Event coordination
- Recruitment processes
- Clear communication
- Business correspondence
- IT troubleshooting
- Report drafting
- Resilience under pressure
- Initiative taking
- Communication finesse
- Organisational awareness
- Proactivity
- Communication proficiency
- Time efficiency
- Critical evaluation
- Typing speed and accuracy
- Stress resilience
- Interpersonal savvy
- Customer relationship management software
- Telecommunication etiquette
- Policy adherence
- Health and Safety Compliance
- Customer Service
- Cultural awareness
- Interpersonal communication
- Invoice processing
- Team Leadership
- Product knowledge
- Business administration
- Strategic planning
- Schedule management
- Resourcefulness
- Conflict Resolution
- Project Management
- Interdepartmental collaboration
- Process Improvement
- Microsoft Office
- Regulatory compliance
- Letter writing
- Emotional intelligence
- Project coordination
- Strategic thinking
- Office resource management
- Cross functional collaboration
- Manual dexterity
- Positive attitude
- mondaycom
- Proactive approach
- Market research
- Effective communication
- Data entry and database management
Hobbies and Interests
During my free time I enjoy reading, cooking, going to the theatre, cycling, walking, quizzing, music, travelling, cycling and volunteering., I am an avid reader and at the moment I am doing the Kindle Reading Challenge I have set a myself a target of reading 120 books this year.
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Executive Assistant to the Director of Housing Transformation and Building Safety
Bristol City Council
06.2025 - 09.2025
Business Support Officer
Bristol City Council
04.2025 - 06.2025
Executive Assistant to the Joint CEO
North Bristol & UHBW NHS Trust
01.2025 - 01.2025
Executive Assistant to the CEO
WECIL
09.2024 - 11.2024
PA to 3 Heads of Function/Deputy Directors
HPC NNB (EDF)
12.2022 - 07.2024
EA to the CEO and Board
Bristol Zoo
08.2022 - 12.2022
Regional Office Manager/EA to Regional MD
Avison Young, Bristol
03.2022 - 07.2022
PA/Office Manager
PG Group
03.2021 - 02.2022
Executive Assistant to Director of Operations
Planning Inspectorate
11.2020 - 03.2021
05.2020 - 08.2020
Senior Executive Assistant
Weston Area Health NHS Trust
01.2020 - 05.2020
Senior PA
Office for Students
04.2019 - 12.2019
Senior Executive Assistant
Bristol University
11.2018 - 02.2019
EA/Team Administrator
BNP Paribas Real Estate
03.2018 - 10.2018
Senior Executive Assistant
Deloitte LLP
01.2008 - 09.2017
Personal Assistant
Fleuret Chartered Surveyors
10.1999 - 01.2008
Legal Secretary
Veale Wasbrough Vizards
12.1997 - 10.1999
Legal Secretary
CWS Legal Department, Manchester
09.1994 - 12.1997
Legal Secretary
Kennedy & Donkin, Civil Engineers, Manchester
09.1990 - 11.1994
Legal Secretary
Slater Heelis Solicitors, Manchester
09.1988 - 12.1990