Susie King
Executive Assistant
Darlington,Co Durham
Summary
My career has focussed on roles as a Personal or Executive Assistant, with many years of Office Management and business administration in both the private and public sectors, mainly in short term contracts which I have preferred.
During 2021 I went back to working as front of house for a local restaurant as I missed the personal contact and practical side of this work and did not wish to work from home. My early working years were spent as a self-employed fashion designer and retailer followed by travelling around Europe and working in restaurants and hotels abroad. I have also lived and worked in London for many years as well as other cities and have diverse sector experience including Telecoms, Construction, Biotechnology, Software Testing, Property, Recruitment, Legal, Higher Education, Health Informatics and Primary Care.
I have an extremely conscientious yet flexible approach to work and am happy to take on new challenges with the minimum of training and supervision. I also love interior design and project managed the renovation and refurbishment of our family cottage in the lake district during 2017 which is now an investment property.
Overview
37
37
years of professional experience
Work history
Administrator to the VC's Office
Leeds Arts University
Leeds
02.2023 - 02.2024
- Professional administrative support for Senior Management Team (SMT) including diary management, organisation and booking of travel, accommodation, meetings, and events.
- Convenor/minutes secretary for 5 key committees, formatting and combining papers and high level minute taking, follow-up on actions.
- Tracking, monitoring and raising purchase orders and credit card payments, ensuring correct paperwork is filed.
- Standing in for EA during annual leave and assisting Compliance Officer in their role with freedom of information requests, compliance monitoring and other ad hoc duties as required.
- Achievements: Created an 'Annual Business Planning Schedule' for the Director of Finance for use by SMT following thorough analysis, so that weekly meetings throughout the year factored in regular academic, board and operational items.
Faculty Executive PA
University of Leeds
Leeds
02.2022 - 11.2022
- Diary management for very busy senior members of the faculty, including a new professor whom I walked to meetings on the on-site days until she found her way around campus.
- Secretariat support for up to 4 faculty level committees, purchase order processing and expenses reconciliation. Providing cover for other PA's and assisting in inductions, ensuring adequate support and smooth running of the faculty office.
Front of house team member
The Cow and Calf, Bistrot Pierre
Ilkley, Bradford
04.2021 - 02.2022
- Full-time front of house assistant for these local busy hotels/pub/restaurant, serving up to 500 customers per day over 3 shifts. Also working as a housekeeper when short staffed
- Using various systems to check guests into rooms, ensuring queries or any issues were resolved, answering queries and bookings by telephone as well as organising staff for shifts and opening up in the mornings, ensuring the restaurant is fully stocked and ready for service.
PA to Head of School, Senior Faculty PA
University of Leeds
Leeds
06.2019 - 04.2021
- Diary Management for Head of School and previously, 3 Senior Pro Deans
- Complex School calendar scheduling throughout year, assisting Business Manager as necessary
- Logistical arrangements for on-site meeting facilities, setting up and trouble-shooting equipment and VC calls, catering and refreshments
- Secretariat duties for three informal Committees
- Complex travel organisation for Pro Dean International for multi-city hotel and flight bookings across Asia.
- Achievements: I created and published an internal 'newsletter' style update as opposed to minutes, from a more informal regular meeting, to encourage cross faculty engagement.
Business Support Officer
Darlington Borough Council
Darlington
01.2019 - 03.2019
- Performed general administration for busy Safeguarding Unit, primarily responsible for liaison and co-ordination of 10 meetings each month, including 2 Board level meetings. Minuting and follow up communications.
- Taking calls and signposting enquirers to correct departments, administering all bookings and dealing with enquiries for external safeguarding training courses, invoice processing using various in house systems, updating website.
General Assistant
Drunken Duck Inn
Cumbria
07.2016 - 10.2016
- A full-time employee, my time was split between serving customers in both the bar and restaurant area as well as working on reception, occasional house-keeping and supporting the busy management team with whatever occurred in this beautiful family run hotel and restaurant
- A confident approach, sense of fun and knowledge of both the area and our menu and wine list helped our lovely customers enjoy a memorable stay.
PA to the Director of Finance & Planning
Leeds Trinity University
Leeds
01.2016 - 06.2016
- Diary Management for Executive Team and Vice Chancellor, travel and hotel arrangements, reconciliation of expenses, minute taking, email management and enquiries on behalf of the ET
- Board Secretariat duties such as organisation of offsite Away Day Meetings, preparation and circulation of all board papers on a monthly basis
- Achievements: I took the lead for the trialling and testing a new virtual platform for board paper management, including uploading of documents, feedback to external contractors to ensure a successful initial phase.
Executive Assistant & Office Manager
One Medical Group
Leeds
02.2015 - 12.2015
- Working alongside the CEO and a small hardworking team at the head office of this independent healthcare solutions provider
- Diary and email management for the CEO and leadership team, Board secretariat support, ad hoc project support for CEO and leadership team
- Ordering supplies, general office management
- I was often the first point of enquiry for the business and my multi-tasking skills were put to good use, offering valuable assistance and support to IT, HR or Finance as and when needed
- Achievements: Co-ordinated, filed, and liaised with Solicitors and other parties pulling together long detailed reports on behalf of the whole company and answering numerous queries and emails during a complex case involving CQC.
Executive Assistant, PA to Director
Lucy Walker Recruitment & Hays Specialist Recruitment
Leeds
06.2014 - 02.2015
- Continuous temporary roles of between 2 - 8 weeks, supporting a variety of Directors in extremely busy roles; Executive Assistant to HR Director at Bradford University, PA to Partner at Adair Paxton, (Property specialist) and PA to Director at CIHM (Health & Social Care) at Leeds University.
Executive PA
NHS Digital
Leeds
10.2011 - 05.2014
- Prioritised Directors' needs equally, anticipating last minute changes and re-scheduling to extremely tight deadlines in challenging and pressurised circumstances
- Organised multiple in-house meetings, external workshops and off-site speaking events for both Directors as well as full secretariat support of monthly technical and senior management meetings
- Co-ordinated lifecycle of all recruitment activities within Directorate.
- Achievements: After being recruited as a Senior Business Support Officer for this national health data and information provider, I was approached to work in the Executive office to cover a long-term absence in March 2012. I very quickly became a valued member of the team, carrying out complex diary management and project support for both Director of Clinical & Public Assurance and Director of Data & Information Services and stood in for CEO's PA during her annual leave.
Skills
- Complex diary management and travel arrangements at CEO level
- Board level secretariat and related governance
- Planning, budgeting and management of internal and external events
- Customer Service - proactive and cheerful approach, problem solving
- Management, mentoring and recruitment and training of staff
- MS Office skills: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook
- Implementation and improvement of new and existing business systems as well as re-writing of key processes
- Basic financial management including invoice and purchase order processing, managing budgets, compiling management reports
- Facilities and resource management, overseeing and directing office moves
Timeline
Administrator to the VC's Office
Leeds Arts University
02.2023 - 02.2024
Faculty Executive PA
University of Leeds
02.2022 - 11.2022
Front of house team member
The Cow and Calf, Bistrot Pierre
04.2021 - 02.2022
PA to Head of School, Senior Faculty PA
University of Leeds
06.2019 - 04.2021
Business Support Officer
Darlington Borough Council
01.2019 - 03.2019
General Assistant
Drunken Duck Inn
07.2016 - 10.2016
PA to the Director of Finance & Planning
Leeds Trinity University
01.2016 - 06.2016
Executive Assistant & Office Manager
One Medical Group
02.2015 - 12.2015
Executive Assistant, PA to Director
Lucy Walker Recruitment & Hays Specialist Recruitment
06.2014 - 02.2015
Executive PA
NHS Digital
10.2011 - 05.2014
Education and Training
- Open University Level 1: Data, Computing & Information
- ISEB Certificate in Software Testing
- MS Windows 2003 Network Administration
- NVQ II Secretarial & Business Administration
- RSA Typing 1&2 (Distinction)
- DATEC Certificate in Fashion & Design
- GCE A level: Art
- GCE O levels: English, Maths, Eng lit, Geography, Art
Attributes
- Extremely Conscientious
- Reliable and Trustworthy
- Hardworking and Organised
- Cheerful with a good sense of humour
- Team Player
- Confident and Stylish
General Interests
- Yoga, Swimming, Keeping fit
- Walking in Cumbria
- Volunteering with Yorkshire Wildlife Trust
- Interior Design
- Property Investing
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