Sekretäri

Sekretäri is a professional role in organizations that provides administrative and organizational support, enabling managers and teams to function effectively. The term is Finnish and is used for a range of positions from office secretary to executive secretary or administrative assistant, depending on the organization and level of responsibility.

The word’s origin lies in its linguistic relatives such as sekretär/sekreterare in Swedish and secretary in English, all tracing back to the Latin secretarius. In Finnish usage, sekretäri typically denotes a clerical or administrative professional who handles a variety of tasks to support daily operations, rather than a personal assistant to a single individual.

Typical duties include managing calendars and scheduling meetings, arranging travel, drafting and formatting correspondence and reports, and maintaining filing and records systems. A sekretäri may also handle phone and email communications, process invoices or procurement, assist with project coordination, and organize events or trainings. In larger organizations, the role may be specialized for an executive or department, while in smaller ones it may cover broader administrative duties.

Workplaces span the public and private sectors, including government offices, corporations, educational institutions, and non-profit organizations. Career paths often lead from general administrative roles to positions such as executive secretary, office manager, or administrative coordinator, with further advancement depending on experience and additional training.

Skills and education commonly include a secondary education or vocational qualification in administration, strong organizational and communication abilities, discretion and confidentiality, and computer literacy (word processing, spreadsheets, databases, email). Proficiency in relevant languages and familiarity with information management systems are increasingly valued as well.