Deborah Ann Potts

PROFESSIONAL PROFILE

• 34 years’ work experience gained in the UK and Zimbabwe - Attention to detail and good sense of humour
• Office Administration – Legal PA and School Business Manager
• DLA Solicitors; Sidley Austin LLP; Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea; Air Zimbabwe
• NCSL Certificate of School Business Management & Clerks’ Development Programme; Advanced English
• English – native language; Swedish – intermediate

EXPERIENCE

Aug 2020 – Present (Executive Virtual Assistant and Online Business Manager)
Founder and CEO, DAP VA Limited, London UK

Supporting clients in various professions in the US, Sweden and the UK encompassing the following:

• Creating and formulating Standard Operating Procedures and Organisational Structures
• Assisting with onboarding
• Creating client contracts and invoices
• Updating SEO and UX and maintaining client websites
• Course creation including collaborating with content
• Assisting clients with forecasting and strategies
• Formatting and redrafting document proposals
• Creating presentations
• Diary and email management
• Travel arrangements
• Social Media support

Jan 2008 – Aug 2021 (School Business Manager)
St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School
St Francis of Assisi Catholic Primary School
Holy Cross Catholic Primary School, London UK

• Managing the financial, administration and premises of a school of 250 students; 54 staff; £1,340,000 (1 500 000 €) annual budget
• Effective front of house office by restructuring the office layout and streamlining procedures by moving online and cashless, GDPR compliant
• Introducing electronic communication and cash-free payments for improved parental engagement
• Preventing deficit budget by involving all staff in closer budget monitoring, with senior leaders taking ownership of curriculum budget areas
• Promoting and planning events such as parent workshops, council meetings, staff leadership and vision days, training days, international evenings and summer fairs
• Strengthening links and partnerships with stakeholders – Department for Education, Local Authority, the Diocese and parent body
• Working closely with the school’s Site Manager to ensure all aspects of premises are safe, secure and in line with health and safety legislation

Feb 2006 – Dec 2007 (Project Manager / Administrator),
The Isaac Newton Professional Development Centre, London UK

• Administrative and project management support to the Head of CPD
• Assisted with staff events, training days and conferences
• Assisted with remodelling projects
• Updated the centre’s web page
• Promoted safeguarding and health & safety

Jul 2004 – Jan 2006 (Personal Assistant / Legal Secretary)
Mark Taylor & Company, Solicitors, London UK

• Personal Assistant to Principal Solicitor
• Administrative support
• Diary management and overseas travel arrangements

Jul 2003 – Jul 2004 (Document Production Specialist) Sidley Austin Brown & Wood, US Law Firm, London UK Feb 2001 – Jun 2003 (Document Production Specialist) DLA, Solicitors, London UK

• Produced and reformatted large legal documents

Dec 1994 – Feb 2001 (PA/Legal Secretary)
Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea, Legal Services, London UK

Mar 1989 – Dec 1994 (Legal Secretary)
Kaufman Kramer Shebson Solicitors, London UK

Sep 1985 – Mar 1989 (Legal Secretary)
Atherstone & Cook Solicitors, Harare, Zimbabwe and Air Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe

• Provided full secretarial and administrative support

REFERENCES Available on request.