Chief Operating Officer
What's it like to be a Chief Operating Officer?
A Chief Operating Officer is part of the senior management team of an organisation and is often second in charge. The role involves overseeing the smooth running of all day-to-day aspects of the organisation including business, finance, human resources, and risk management. Sometimes called a COO, a Chief Operations Officer a is typically involved in high level strategising and planning.
Tasks and duties
- Planning and managing a company’s day-to-day operations.
- Reviewing and updating Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
- Maintaining operational quality controls and managing risks.
- Assessing business strategies and their operational impact.
- Devising methods for meeting company benchmarks and goals.
- Reporting on Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) such as turnaround times and accuracy.
- Reducing company operating costs and improving processes.
How to become a Chief Operating Officer
To become a Chief Operating Officer, you need a tertiary qualification as well as wide experience across all aspects of business. Most COOs will have many years or decades of experience.
At the very minimum, complete a degree such as a Bachelor of Business, Bachelor of Finance, or Bachelor of Commerce.
Consider advancing your skills with a Master of Business Administration (MBA) or another post bachelor-level qualification.
Gain extensive work experience across many departments of an organisation.
Develop leadership skills and do ongoing professional development.
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