Farm secretary

Career path and progression

With experience, you could become a farm manager.

You could also move into other types of rural business, like stables or countryside management, or use your business and administrative skills in other industries.

What it takes

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

• administration skills
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• the ability to work well with others
• the ability to work on your own
• sensitivity and understanding
• to be flexible and open to change
• excellent verbal communication skills
• customer service skills
• to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

Related subjects

Most relevant

• Accounting - Farm secretaries prepare farm business accounts, handle tax returns, and manage bookkeeping on a daily basis. They need to understand profit and loss, balance sheets, and how to track income and expenses across different areas of the farm.
• Business - Farm secretaries run the business side of a farm, including managing budgets, ordering supplies, and applying for government grants and subsidies. Understanding how businesses operate – from cash flow to staffing – is central to keeping a farm financially healthy.
• Mathematics - Farm secretaries work with numbers constantly, whether calculating wages, costing equipment and supplies, or preparing tax returns. They also use maths when analysing crop yields, livestock records, and financial forecasts for the farm business.
• English Language - Farm secretaries write letters, complete grant applications, and communicate with suppliers, government agencies, and staff. Being able to write clearly and accurately is essential for producing professional correspondence and keeping precise records.

Also relevant

• Computer Science - Farm secretaries use tailor-made agricultural business software to manage records of livestock, crops, and finances. While they don't build software themselves, understanding how databases and digital systems work helps them get the most out of these specialist tools and troubleshoot issues.
• Environmental Science - Farm secretaries need to stay up to date with environmental regulations, government subsidies linked to land management, and sustainability schemes. Understanding how farming interacts with the environment helps when applying for grants or ensuring the farm meets its legal obligations.
• Biology - Farm secretaries keep records of livestock health, breeding, and crop planning, so a basic understanding of animal and plant biology is useful. This knowledge helps them make sense of the data they manage and communicate effectively with farmers and vets.
• Geography - Farm secretaries benefit from understanding land use, weather patterns, and rural economies, all of which affect farm planning and business decisions. Geography also covers topics like food production and sustainability that are directly relevant to the agricultural industry.
• Law - Farm secretaries need to keep up to date with farming regulations, health and safety laws, employment law for farm staff, and tax legislation. Understanding how legal frameworks work helps them ensure the farm stays compliant and avoids costly mistakes.