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Executive Virtual Assistant
Donna Whittaker-Oldfield
,
Cambridge, United Kingdom
Experience
Other titles
Skills
I'm offering
I am a resilient and hardworking administration professional with over 20 years’ experience in customer service and administration management, as well as finance, accounting and processing of company payroll within a wide range of industries. I have worked at Director level as Executive Assistant / Personal Assistant both virtually and onsite and have a real thirst for knowledge.
During my working life, I have developed incredibly strong communication and leadership skills. Furthermore, I am experienced in working within a fully confidential environment and delivering consistent high standards. I also have over five years of experience working remotely and I have always worked very successfully in this way (references available to this effect, if required).
Over the last five years I have confidently built my business as a Virtual Assistant, undertaking a variety of admin, finance and business support work for a range of businesses and industries. I am now looking to take on further work within a virtual working environment. I have excellent interpersonal skills coupled with a solid understanding of business and administration needs, qualifying me to become an instant asset to any company.
During my working life, I have developed incredibly strong communication and leadership skills. Furthermore, I am experienced in working within a fully confidential environment and delivering consistent high standards. I also have over five years of experience working remotely and I have always worked very successfully in this way (references available to this effect, if required).
Over the last five years I have confidently built my business as a Virtual Assistant, undertaking a variety of admin, finance and business support work for a range of businesses and industries. I am now looking to take on further work within a virtual working environment. I have excellent interpersonal skills coupled with a solid understanding of business and administration needs, qualifying me to become an instant asset to any company.
Markets
United Kingdom
Language
English
Fluently
Ready for
Larger project
Ongoing relation / part-time
Full time contractor
Available
My experience
2012 - ?
freelance
Self-Employed Freelance Virtual/Personal Assistant
Target Business Support Services.
March 2012 to Current
As a self-employed, freelance Virtual Assistant I have been working with mainly small businesses to provide an
efficient and effective PA and finance management service. I have marketed my services in a variety of ways and am
currently working on building my own website. I have been working part time from my own home office which has
meant that I have been able to spend more time with my family while they were young, whilst also doing something
that I am passionate about.
I have over 20 years' experience in:
• General administration
• Customer Service
• Admin Management
• Executive PA
• Credit Control
• HR Management
• Estate Agency Office Management
• Finance Management
I always work efficiently, confidentially and accurately and I have also experienced the many different ways in which
people work and feel that this has helped me to develop the ways in which I work going forward.
My current workload includes PA support and audio typing for a London Based Solicitor, three Building Surveyors and three Inventory Clerks. I also take on adhoc book-keeping work and act as a Virtual PA to one Company Director
as and when required. I am happy to help my clients out with all manner of administration and finance based duties and also build an excellent rapport with my many colleagues. Having enjoyed the experience of self-employment, I
am now ready to take on a new, more challenging role.
As a self-employed, freelance Virtual Assistant I have been working with mainly small businesses to provide an
efficient and effective PA and finance management service. I have marketed my services in a variety of ways and am
currently working on building my own website. I have been working part time from my own home office which has
meant that I have been able to spend more time with my family while they were young, whilst also doing something
that I am passionate about.
I have over 20 years' experience in:
• General administration
• Customer Service
• Admin Management
• Executive PA
• Credit Control
• HR Management
• Estate Agency Office Management
• Finance Management
I always work efficiently, confidentially and accurately and I have also experienced the many different ways in which
people work and feel that this has helped me to develop the ways in which I work going forward.
My current workload includes PA support and audio typing for a London Based Solicitor, three Building Surveyors and three Inventory Clerks. I also take on adhoc book-keeping work and act as a Virtual PA to one Company Director
as and when required. I am happy to help my clients out with all manner of administration and finance based duties and also build an excellent rapport with my many colleagues. Having enjoyed the experience of self-employment, I
am now ready to take on a new, more challenging role.
Administration, Personal assistant, Customer service, Management, Finance, Service, Website, Audio, Support, Office, ON, ME
2008 - 2012
job
School and Centre Business Manager
Norfolk County Council, County Hall.
As a member of the School and Children's Centre Senior Management Team, I was responsible for the implementation and management of the school office systems, resources and facilities, with line management
responsibilities for up to ten members of the School and Children's Centre support staff team. I was also involved in the supervision of up to thirty members of staff as part of my Senior Management Team role.
I managed three budgets and maintained the accounts on the in house accounting system, providing monthly
reconciliations, management account reports and budgetary control reports with commentaries for the Headteacher and Governing Body following the budget setting process at the start of the financial year. I also had responsibility
for banking of income, raising journals where appropriate, raising invoices and taking on credit control for the day-
care setting (income estimated at £300,000).
I managed recruitment and induction of new staff following the implementation of my School and Children's Centre
Induction Plan (a project which was created as part of my Certificate in School Business Management training course). I had HR and payroll responsibilities across the whole Centre taking advice from Norfolk County Council HR
consultants and implemented a system for recording of staff overtime, allowing easy authorisation of monthly claim
forms.
As line manager to our Site Manager / Caretaker and Cleaner I took an active role in Premises Management, taking
responsibility for the safety and security of the building on a day to day basis, as well as ensuring the health and safety of the staff and children using the setting (Named Health and Safety Representative for the Centre). My role
involved:
• Strategically planning for continuous School and Children's Centre improvement, in conjunction with the rest
of the Senior Management Team, setting priorities and ensuring resources are allocated and available to meet those priorities
• Ensuring efficient and effective systems are in place for the smooth running of the School and Children's
Centre, including administrative functions and the physical environment
• Establishing positive working relationships with all stakeholders and external agencies, including contractors
and external providers
This was a varied role covering all aspects of School Business Management.
Ltd, Park,
responsibilities for up to ten members of the School and Children's Centre support staff team. I was also involved in the supervision of up to thirty members of staff as part of my Senior Management Team role.
I managed three budgets and maintained the accounts on the in house accounting system, providing monthly
reconciliations, management account reports and budgetary control reports with commentaries for the Headteacher and Governing Body following the budget setting process at the start of the financial year. I also had responsibility
for banking of income, raising journals where appropriate, raising invoices and taking on credit control for the day-
care setting (income estimated at £300,000).
I managed recruitment and induction of new staff following the implementation of my School and Children's Centre
Induction Plan (a project which was created as part of my Certificate in School Business Management training course). I had HR and payroll responsibilities across the whole Centre taking advice from Norfolk County Council HR
consultants and implemented a system for recording of staff overtime, allowing easy authorisation of monthly claim
forms.
As line manager to our Site Manager / Caretaker and Cleaner I took an active role in Premises Management, taking
responsibility for the safety and security of the building on a day to day basis, as well as ensuring the health and safety of the staff and children using the setting (Named Health and Safety Representative for the Centre). My role
involved:
• Strategically planning for continuous School and Children's Centre improvement, in conjunction with the rest
of the Senior Management Team, setting priorities and ensuring resources are allocated and available to meet those priorities
• Ensuring efficient and effective systems are in place for the smooth running of the School and Children's
Centre, including administrative functions and the physical environment
• Establishing positive working relationships with all stakeholders and external agencies, including contractors
and external providers
This was a varied role covering all aspects of School Business Management.
Ltd, Park,
Implementation, Manager, UP, Site manager, Office, Safety, Health, Supervision, Support, Budget, Recruitment, Banking, Security, Management, Business Management, REST, Training
2005 - 2006
job
Executive PA to Managing Directors/Operations Manager
Inbound Solutions Ltd, South Fens Business Park.
February 2005 to March 2006
Working as part of a small team I was responsible for line management of all call centre and administration staff,
leading performance management meetings and reviews on a six-monthly basis. I worked closely with the two
Managing Directors of the business as their Executive PA and Operations Manager, setting up new systems and processes for this new telecommunications company to ensure an efficient, well managed environment.
I was responsible for diary management and travel arrangements for both Managing Directors and for arranging
telecommunication conferences for up to fifty delegates. I also created an Excel spreadsheet programme that was
used to simplify the quotation process for the Directors.
School, Drove, Christchurch, Wisbech,
Working as part of a small team I was responsible for line management of all call centre and administration staff,
leading performance management meetings and reviews on a six-monthly basis. I worked closely with the two
Managing Directors of the business as their Executive PA and Operations Manager, setting up new systems and processes for this new telecommunications company to ensure an efficient, well managed environment.
I was responsible for diary management and travel arrangements for both Managing Directors and for arranging
telecommunication conferences for up to fifty delegates. I also created an Excel spreadsheet programme that was
used to simplify the quotation process for the Directors.
School, Drove, Christchurch, Wisbech,
Excel, Administration, Operations, Performance Management, Management, Operations manager, ON, Processes, UP, Manager
2001 - 2005
job
School Secretary
Townley School, Crown Drove, Christchurch.
General administration duties within the School office.
My role in this small village School included:
• Maintenance of the school's database system
• School financial accounts, including reconciliations and payroll
• Dinner money collection, banking and reconciliation, including a small element of credit control
• Other bank reconciliations
• Weekly banking of all School income
• Secretarial support to the Headteacher and Governing Body
• Attendance at Governing Body meetings for the purpose of financial presentation, discussion and minute
taking.
• Taking minutes at meetings and distributing these for action
• Chasing meeting actions
Inn,
My role in this small village School included:
• Maintenance of the school's database system
• School financial accounts, including reconciliations and payroll
• Dinner money collection, banking and reconciliation, including a small element of credit control
• Other bank reconciliations
• Weekly banking of all School income
• Secretarial support to the Headteacher and Governing Body
• Attendance at Governing Body meetings for the purpose of financial presentation, discussion and minute
taking.
• Taking minutes at meetings and distributing these for action
• Chasing meeting actions
Inn,
Administration, Database, Banking, Support, Office
1999 - 2001
job
Front of House Manager
The Crown Inn.
I was initially employed as a server in this family public house during a period of sickness of the existing Bar Manager.
However, my role quickly progressed to Bar and Front of House Manager. My role included:
• Assisting with recruitment and training of all new staff
• Managing bar, kitchen, cleaning and reception staff
• Serving bar and restaurant customers and dealing with any complaints in a calm and efficient manner
• Ensuring that customers are served with a smile at all times
• Ordering of stock
• Enforcing health and safety and food hygiene rules
• Quality control of cleaning and kitchen standards
• Managing rotas and holiday cover
• Bookkeeping and payroll duties
• Delegating duties where necessary
• Ensuring the bar and restaurant area is organised with the necessary equipment and ingredients
• Performance management of more junior staff and arranging staff training for new processes
Estates, Centre, March,
However, my role quickly progressed to Bar and Front of House Manager. My role included:
• Assisting with recruitment and training of all new staff
• Managing bar, kitchen, cleaning and reception staff
• Serving bar and restaurant customers and dealing with any complaints in a calm and efficient manner
• Ensuring that customers are served with a smile at all times
• Ordering of stock
• Enforcing health and safety and food hygiene rules
• Quality control of cleaning and kitchen standards
• Managing rotas and holiday cover
• Bookkeeping and payroll duties
• Delegating duties where necessary
• Ensuring the bar and restaurant area is organised with the necessary equipment and ingredients
• Performance management of more junior staff and arranging staff training for new processes
Estates, Centre, March,
Training, Performance Management, Management, Recruitment, Reception, Health, Safety, Bookkeeping, Server, Processes, Manager
1996 - 1999
job
Office Manager
Robert Hale Estates, The Wheel Centre, March, Cambridgeshire.
My role within this independent Estate Agency included:
• General management and administration duties
• Creation and marketing of property details in the appropriate manner
• Advertising all properties in the local press and online on a rota system
• Dealing with members of the public and assisting them with their property requirements
• Direct dealings with vendors, purchasers, contractors and Conveyancing Solicitors on a daily basis
• Contacting vendors, purchasers and contractors on a regular basis and maintaining a working relationship as
their first point of contact
• Ensuring all property transactions progress efficiently and effectively
• Chasing and follow up on sales progress
• Chasing and follow up on lettings progress
• Arranging property viewings with vendors
• Attending properties to accompany clients on viewings
• Checking and responding to phone calls, emails etc
• Logging all information onto a management system and maintaining such
• Creation of all reports for the Managing Director
• Liaising with contractors and landlords when dealing with maintenance issues
• Carry out set procedures for check ins and check outs
• Creation of new contracts and legal documents and keeping management system up to date with such
• Monitoring contract and tenancy agreement expiry, gas certificates, electric certificates and general
housekeeping
My position very quickly progressed to more of a management role, with line management duties for three members of my team.
Grovebury
• General management and administration duties
• Creation and marketing of property details in the appropriate manner
• Advertising all properties in the local press and online on a rota system
• Dealing with members of the public and assisting them with their property requirements
• Direct dealings with vendors, purchasers, contractors and Conveyancing Solicitors on a daily basis
• Contacting vendors, purchasers and contractors on a regular basis and maintaining a working relationship as
their first point of contact
• Ensuring all property transactions progress efficiently and effectively
• Chasing and follow up on sales progress
• Chasing and follow up on lettings progress
• Arranging property viewings with vendors
• Attending properties to accompany clients on viewings
• Checking and responding to phone calls, emails etc
• Logging all information onto a management system and maintaining such
• Creation of all reports for the Managing Director
• Liaising with contractors and landlords when dealing with maintenance issues
• Carry out set procedures for check ins and check outs
• Creation of new contracts and legal documents and keeping management system up to date with such
• Monitoring contract and tenancy agreement expiry, gas certificates, electric certificates and general
housekeeping
My position very quickly progressed to more of a management role, with line management duties for three members of my team.
Grovebury
Marketing, Advertising, Administration, Contracts, Management, Sales, Monitoring, Office, Online, Contracts, UP, Manager
1994 - 1996
job
Office Manager
Grovebury Construction, Grovebury Lodge.
Grovebury Construction was a company that myself and my husband started together. My husband was a building
contractor and my role involved:
• General management of all administrative duties
• Payroll
• HR
• CSCS registrations for Sub-Contractors
• Ordering of supplies to coincide with the schedule of works set out
• Visiting site in my husband's absence to ensure that all Sub-Contractors / Contractors were happy with how
the work was progressing
• Delivery of payslips to site
This was a challenging, but very rewarding role.
Co, Road, Cambridge,
contractor and my role involved:
• General management of all administrative duties
• Payroll
• HR
• CSCS registrations for Sub-Contractors
• Ordering of supplies to coincide with the schedule of works set out
• Visiting site in my husband's absence to ensure that all Sub-Contractors / Contractors were happy with how
the work was progressing
• Delivery of payslips to site
This was a challenging, but very rewarding role.
Co, Road, Cambridge,
Management, Office, Manager
1989 - 1993
job
Accounts Assistant
Touche Ross & Co.
General accounts administration duties within a well-known accountancy firm in the city of Cambridge. I was
provided with extensive in-house training during my time here which stood me in good stead for my future
employment
INFORMATION:
OTHER INFORMATION
I am hard working, organised and highly motivated. I have excellent attention to detail and am always eager to learn
new skills. I have a friendly and approachable personality meaning that I work well in a team environment, but my
previous roles have given me the experience and confidence to work efficiently and methodically alone.
I have always enjoyed my time working in office management and finance and have obtained relevant training and
qualifications to help me in these roles. However, my role as Bar Manager in a family pub in Wales also gave me the opportunity to work in a different environment with little supervision. This meant that I really had to find my feet
and build on my knowledge and experience to achieve customer satisfaction. I am always happy to teach myself the requirements of a role, either through research or training.
I have also attended training in Food Hygiene and Healthier Food and Special Diets to help me to understand the
work of other members of my team. This also helped me to work in partnership with the School Catering Team to create new menus to ensure that all meals provided are adequate in nutrition and work within a set budget.
I have mentored members of my administration team through Level 3 qualifications in Business Administration and Customer Services, as well as Food Hygiene and Nutrition courses for catering staff. Through professional
development of my team, I enjoy coaching and mentoring staff through relevant training and qualifications to enable
them to progress within their roles, as well as managing my own professional development.
All breaks in my employment have been to enable me to have my children, after which I have returned to the workplace.
provided with extensive in-house training during my time here which stood me in good stead for my future
employment
INFORMATION:
OTHER INFORMATION
I am hard working, organised and highly motivated. I have excellent attention to detail and am always eager to learn
new skills. I have a friendly and approachable personality meaning that I work well in a team environment, but my
previous roles have given me the experience and confidence to work efficiently and methodically alone.
I have always enjoyed my time working in office management and finance and have obtained relevant training and
qualifications to help me in these roles. However, my role as Bar Manager in a family pub in Wales also gave me the opportunity to work in a different environment with little supervision. This meant that I really had to find my feet
and build on my knowledge and experience to achieve customer satisfaction. I am always happy to teach myself the requirements of a role, either through research or training.
I have also attended training in Food Hygiene and Healthier Food and Special Diets to help me to understand the
work of other members of my team. This also helped me to work in partnership with the School Catering Team to create new menus to ensure that all meals provided are adequate in nutrition and work within a set budget.
I have mentored members of my administration team through Level 3 qualifications in Business Administration and Customer Services, as well as Food Hygiene and Nutrition courses for catering staff. Through professional
development of my team, I enjoy coaching and mentoring staff through relevant training and qualifications to enable
them to progress within their roles, as well as managing my own professional development.
All breaks in my employment have been to enable me to have my children, after which I have returned to the workplace.
Coaching, Administration, Research, Budget, Training, Mentoring, Management, Finance, Supervision, Development, Office, Detail, ME, Manager
My education
2011
-
2012
School Business Management Anglia Ruskin University
Certification, N/a
Certification, N/a
2011
-
2012
Anglia Ruskin University
Unspecified, Administration Management
Unspecified, Administration Management
Cromwell Community College
Secondary, Level 3 Business Administration
Secondary, Level 3 Business Administration
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