All organisations need a robust back office department to support the client-facing roles in the front office. The more you know what back office and the duties that back office executives carry out, the better understanding you will have about the company’s operations.
The back office department handles a wide range of critical tasks. In this write-up, we discuss what back office work is and why being a back office executive is an excellent career option choice.
What is back office work?
As the name suggests, back office work refers to positions in the organisation that do not face the client, rather they support the front office department to carry out their work efficiently. Typically, a back office executive handles various administrative tasks, such as maintaining records and data management.
For example, at a bank, most of the jobs may be client-facing. However, the back office gives them vital support in terms of maintaining and sorting the records, providing software and system management support, creating a database, etc.
Typically, the back office department generates less income for a company than a front-office does. You must also note that the back office staff does not directly interact with the company’s clients, rather they interact with the front office staff who face the clients.
If you are looking for a job in the back office department, it is advisable to find a job in an industry that suits your interest and has a back office position to suit your skills.
Here is a list of departments that are part of the back office, irrespective of the industry:
- IT
- HR (Human Resource)
- Compliance
- Accounting
- Operations
Is back office a good career choice?
Back office can be an excellent career option for individuals who like to be organised, and work in an office rather than going out and meeting new people. Back office tasks are versatile but it usually takes place during the business hours.
It gives you the scope to be consistent in your schedule and does not require extensive travel and being away from your friends and family. This type of work is great if you have family obligations and you do not want to have an unpredictable schedule.
Some of the perks of working in the back office department are discussed below:
As discussed earlier, back office executives do not interact with the clients directly. Instead they work with their colleagues from various departments to provide necessary support. If you don’t like to meet new people, or handle customer requests, you may enjoy working in the back office department.
The clients rarely see back office staff, and they rarely represent the face of the company at events or conferences. So, generally, the back office department has a more relaxed work environment in terms of dress code or etiquette.
As a back office executive, you may play a vital role in competent running of the business and their progress.
Today, the advancements in technology has allowed many back office jobs to be completed remotely by using online database systems, network software and other tools. This gives you the freedom to work from home.
Depending on the type of role you take up within the back office department, your qualification and experience, you can earn a decent income. For example, the national average annual salary for a back office executive in the finance department is Rs. 4, 20,633. As you gain more experience, you can take higher positions and your salary would increase accordingly.
Final Word
Thus, a decent salary, flexibility to work from home, and no obligation to follow a strict professional code makes back office jobs an excellent career option for all.
