Page 16 - Office Practice and Accounting -9

d. Arranging modern machines and equipment
In order to cope with the fast increasing needs of information in business, the office
manager has to make arrangement for the requisite machines and equipment and
train the staff to work on them so that the work is performed accurately, quickly and
protected from frauds.

e. Arranging forms, stationery and other supplies
The office work cannot be performed without printed forms or other stationery items
like paper, pins, pencils, pens, etc. All these are arranged beforehand and issued to
staff for use. For properly controlling these items, the office manager has to assess
the requirements and arrange for their centralized purchase, storage and controlling
consumption.
f. Handling personnel matters

For the members of staff working under the office manager, he or she has to keep up-
to-date records about their leave, salaries and other matters. The payrolls are prepared
and salaries are distributed to the staff. All these matters are to be efficiently organized
by the office manager. Proper and timely training of staff needs to be arranged.
g. Developing office procedures and methods

For efficient working and rendering efficient services, the office manager has to
develop new methods and short-cut procedures and apply them in the day-to-day
working. For this purpose, time and motion studies may be conducted or valuable
suggestions may be invited from the staff and these may be implemented in the best
interest of all. It is the duty of the office manager to ensure that all the office services
are rendered efficiently.
h. Coordination
In a big office, the office manager has also to coordinate the efforts or works of
different sections in such a way that there is no duplication or wastage and the office
expenditure remains well within limit. For this purpose, he may arrange meetings,
progress reports or worksheets, etc.

i. Maintaining good human relations
One of the functions of the office manager is to maintain good relations between
workers, superiors, subordinates and the outside public. When cordial relations are
maintained, each and every person cooperates and works happily towards achieving
the goals.
Thus, the office manager has to ensure that the office operations are carried out
smoothly and efficiently under his/her stewardship.

Branch/Section Officer
A branch officer is in charge of the overall management of the affairs of a branch office.
He is the chief or in-charge of a particular branch or department of an organization.

12 GREEN – Office Practice and Accounting 9