Farm secretary jobs

THE WORK AND ALL THAT IS INVOLVED IN IT

Farm secretaries are responsible for managing the financial aspects of a farm or estate. They are responsible for a variety of administrative tasks and the management of the paperwork that is produced as a result of contemporary agricultural methods and rural business procedures. They could also be referred to as an agricultural administrator or a rural business administrator.

The role requires maintaining a tight working relationship with farmers as well as farm and estate managers in order to guarantee that all regular administrative duties are completed in a timely and effective manner. Completing legislative and management records are examples of the more sophisticated work that farm secretaries could be expected to do.

It's probable that these will be their primary responsibilities:

Keeping records of crops and animals, in order to keep track of stock levels and assist with future planning.

Filling out applications for grants and subsidies from the government.

Putting together agricultural budgets and accounting records.

Managing everything related to VAT and tax returns.

completing documents pertaining to management and legislation.

determining how much money to pay workers and maintaining employment records.

coordinating the gathering of bids for the purchase, rental, and upkeep of agricultural machinery and equipment.

Work on the telephone, composition of letters and emails, and upkeep of both manual and electronic file systems are examples of general administrative responsibilities.

A significant amount of a farm secretary's work is dedicated to the preparation of budgets, the maintenance of accounting records, and the management of other parts of the company's finances. Even if there are certain office processes that are still done manually, the majority of the job now entails using computers on a consistent basis. This often involves the use of databases, spreadsheets, and specialized software programs designed specifically for use in agricultural businesses.

Farm secretaries may work for one major farm or estate or move between farms, spending some time in each location. Alternatively, they may work on many farms simultaneously. Some mobile farm secretaries choose to go into business for themselves and operate on a freelance basis.

The hours that farm secretaries put in are often those of a conventional full-time job. Work may need to be done in the evenings and on weekends depending on the tasks that need to be completed on the farm as well as the season. There are chances for employment on a full-time, part-time, and even self-employed basis.

The majority of the job is performed in an office setting and requires extended hours of sitting at a desk. The offices of farms and estates are often situated in rural regions and are frequently situated in isolated places. When working on a freelance or self-employed basis and moving from one farm to another, it is often required to possess both a driver's license and a means of transportation. This is especially true when traveling between farms.

Beginning pay are typically somewhere in the region of 14,000 pounds per year.

A farm secretary with years of experience may potentially make up to £28,000 per year.

It is possible for experienced secretaries to earn more than £28,000 a year working for big estates or as self-employed individuals.

There are certain farms and estates that will give living quarters on the property for the secretary, most of the time for a nominal rental fee that will be taken from the pay.

HOW TO BEGIN THIS OPTION FOR A PROFESSIONAL CAREER

There is a need for farm secretaries throughout the whole of the United Kingdom, particularly in more rural regions. They may work for farmers or estate managers on a full-time, part-time, or self-employed basis, depending on the nature of the position. Some farm secretaries labor for many employers during the day.

In some regions, there are farm secretarial agencies that not only provide temporary employment opportunities, but also full-time and part-time positions. There is a possibility that some of this work will be completed using agricultural accountants and consulting firms.

When a position opens up for a farm secretary to work full-time in a single place, it does not happen very frequently, thus there is often a lot of competition for it.

The local newspaper, Farmers Guardian or Farmers Weekly magazine, or both may publish advertisements for available jobs.

EDUCATIONAL AND SKILLS DEVELOPMENT

Although there are no required academic credentials to become a farm secretary, companies often look for candidates who have earned a minimum of four GCSEs (grades A*-C), including English and arithmetic, or qualifications that are equal to these grades. In addition to that, you'll need solid IT abilities to be successful in this profession. It is beneficial to have previous experience working or living on a farm.

There is a possibility that the Diploma in Environmental and Land-Based Studies, as well as the Diploma in Administration, Business, and Finance, might be useful in this line of employment.

It would be beneficial to have a qualification in accounting or bookkeeping since the vast bulk of the job includes some kind of record keeping. Organizations such as the Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) and The Institute of Certified Bookkeepers both provide educational opportunities in the form of classes (ICB).

A HANDFUL MORE TESTS MAY BE REQUIRED OF YOU.

There is a good chance that individual farm managers and estate managers will give their employees with specialized training while they are working.

The Institute of Agricultural Secretaries and Administrators (IAgSA) is able to give information on a variety of alternatives for online learning and classes that are taken on a part-time basis.

Additional general criteria include the following:

- Bachelor's degree with a foundation in business and finance

- BTEC Level 3 Certificate and Diploma in agriculture

- Level 4 Diploma in administration

IAgSA also offers a membership program for agricultural secretaries and administrators in addition to a continuous professional development (CPD) program that assists members in updating and expanding their skill sets on an ongoing basis. Both of these programs may be found on the IAgSA website.

SKILLS AND PERSONAL QUALITIES NEEDED

A secretary of agriculture should:

It is important to have information about the operation and administration of a farm.

Have solid abilities in information technology, including spreadsheets and databases.

Have strong numeracy skills.

You should be comfortable working both alone and with others.

Have the ability to organize and prioritize their own work load independently.

Have great communication abilities.

Have the ability to successfully communicate with a wide variety of various organizations, such as agricultural bodies and auction houses, among others.

Maintain a high level of organization, personal responsibility, and self-motivation.

Have the ability to operate effectively under time constraints and to manage sensitive and secret business topics with sensitivity and confidentiality.

Have the ability to keep track of sales and settle disagreements with customers.