Farm secretary Job Information | National Careers Service

The work

As a farm secretary (also known as an agricultural or rural business administrator), you would spend a large amount of time on budgets, accounting, recording and monitoring other financial aspects of the farm business. Although some systems may be manual, this increasingly involves very regular computer work, including detailed use of spreadsheets, databases and often tailor-made agricultural business software packages.

Your other duties could include:

• keeping records of livestock and crops, to help with planning future crop and stock levels
• completing forms for government grants and subsidies
• preparing farm business accounts and tax returns
• dealing with wages and personnel records
• costing, ordering and paying for equipment and supplies
• typing, filing and other general administrative tasks
• keeping up to date with farming, health and safety and tax laws.

You might work full-time on a large farm or estate as a resident secretary, or you could be a freelance mobile secretary for more than one farm.

Hours

In a full-time;job you would typically work standard office hours, Monday to Friday. However, part-time or freelance work for more than one employer tends to be more common.

As a resident secretary you might live in accommodation provided with the job. If you were a mobile farm secretary, you would travel between employers and so would need your own transport.

Income

• Employed salaries can be around £15,000 to £20,000 a year.
• Freelance farm secretaries could earn up to £25,000 a year or more (charging £15 to £25 an hour for their services).

Resident farm secretaries may earn less, but may get free living accommodation or other benefits.

Figures are intended as a guideline only.

Entry requirements

To become a farm secretary, you will need good secretarial skills and some knowledge of farming. Previous experience of living or working on a farm would be very useful.

You may find it useful to study for a book-keeping or accounting qualification, such as qualifications from the Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) or The Institute of Certified Bookkeepers. Courses in secretarial work or business administration could also be helpful, and these are widely available full- and part-time at local colleges.

You may also have an advantage with a qualification in agricultural or farm management. There are a range of relevant agricultural qualifications which are available at several agricultural colleges and universities.

Instituteof Agricultural Secretariesand Administrators (IAgSA) has a membership scheme for agricultural secretaries and administrators. They also operate a Continuing Professional Development (CPD) scheme to help members continue to maintain and develop their own skills. Contact the Institute of Agricultural Secretaries and Administrators (IAgSA) for details of these and for information on part-time courses and distance learning opportunities.

Training and development

You will usually develop your skills on the job. Your training may include the use of some specialised agricultural business computer packages.

You may find it helpful to;join the;Institute of Agricultural Secretaries and Administrators (IAgSA), which provides networking opportunities and a Continuing Professional Development scheme for you to update your skills. Contact IAgSA for more details.

Skills and knowledge

• mathematical skills, for working with accounts
• good computer and administrative skills
• the ability to work alone and also as part of a team
• good spoken and written communication skills
• an organised and methodical approach
• accuracy and attention to detail
• an interest in farming and rural life.

More information

Institute of Agricultural Secretaries and Administrators (IAgSA)
The Studio @ The Mill
Mill Lane
Little Shrewley
Warwickshire
CV35 7HN
Tel: 01926 485543
www.iagsa.co.uk

Institute of Certified Bookkeepers (ICB)
Victoria House
64 Paul Street
London
EC2A 4NG
Tel: 0845 060 2345
www.bookkeepers.org.uk

Lantra
Lantra House
Stoneleigh Park
Nr Coventry
Warwickshire
CV8 2LG
Tel: 0845 707 8007
www.lantra.co.uk

City & Guilds
1 Giltspur Street
London
EC1A 9DD
Tel: 0844 543 0000
www.cityandguilds.com

Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA)
www.defra.gov.uk

Opportunities

You could be employed by a large farm or estate, or you could work part-time for several smaller farms on a freelance self-employed basis. Jobs may be advertised in the local press or in agricultural magazines.

With experience, you could become a farm manager, or move into other types of rural business such as stables or countryside management. Alternatively, you could use your business and administrative skills in other industries.

You may find the following link useful for job vacancies and general reading (link open in new window):

• Farmers Weekly
• Farmers Guardian
• Iagsa

Related industry information

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Other sectors and industries relevant to this job

• Agricultural livestock