Personal Assistant
Henry Budd
When the phone won’t stop ringing and your unread emails outnumber the read ones, you need someone like Louisa Keegan. As a personal assistant for two of KPMG’s Information Communication and Entertainment (ICE) audit partners, Keegan helps organise their working day.
A PA’s job is more than answering the phone and scheduling meetings.
“It is what you make of it,” Keegan says. “It is easy to sit and type letters or answer phones but each role you go into you can make your own.”
Keegan, 30, says she is responsible for managing the partners’ diaries and organising travel.
“You get involved in a lot of client workshops and liaise with marketing on client events,” she says.
Working with two people is not unusual and in previous roles she has worked with up to four people.
“I think after 10 years’ experience you get used to being able to juggle schedules and it is something that motivates you,” Keegan says.
“You [have to] prioritise your work and I delegate to other staff but it works out pretty well.”
Irish-born Keegan has an executive secretary diploma from the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry and a certificate in personnel practice from the Institute of Personnel and Development.
After migrating in 2003 and three years in Cairns she moved to Sydney, landing at KPMG the next day.
As if helping organise the working days of two people isn’t enough, Keegan’s role also includes providing administrative support to the ICE audit team.
Work is made easier by the bond she has with the partners and co-workers.
“You have to build relationships with everybody, from catering and the mail room through to partners and teams you work for, clients and external people you make contact with,” she says.
How to be a personal assistant
Qualifications: TAFE NSW has several courses for people considering a career in office administration. Those looking at becoming a personal assistant should do a more advanced course such as the Certificate IV in Business Administration.
Course description: The Certificate IV course aims to provide students with administrative skills and a broad knowledge base in a wide variety of administrative roles. By the end of the course students will be able to apply solutions to a defined range of unpredictable problems, and analyse and evaluate information from a variety of sources. Graduates may also provide leadership and guidance to others with some limited responsibility.
Assumed knowledge: Students will have to demonstrate competency in the key units of the Certificate III course and will have had some on-the-job experience providing administrative or operational support to individuals or teams.
Cost: $890 per annum
From the inside: Many personal assistants start as an administration assistant or secretary and work their way up, says KPMG personal assistant Louisa Keegan.
“There is nothing better than actual practice and work experience in different industries,” Keegan says. “You need good communication skills, good time management and you need to be able to prioritise your workload.”
More information: tafensw.edu.au
