Hi, I'm Sue Astley.

I'm an Executive PA who now runs my own business, SJA Virtual PA. I help busy business people to get the most out of their time.

My background includes work in high pressure environments such as business and the NHS.

I have extensive experience of working closely with Operational Leaders, Senior Managers, Directors, and Chief Executives.

I manage workload effectively and I prioritise my work which enables me to meet deadlines and targets.

I am an excellent problem solver. I am able to adapt to different situations in particular within a busy and pressured environment.

I constantly look at new ways of developing processes and systems.

I am confident and outgoing which I believe is a necessity to be effective.

I have excellent communication skills.

I work with a high level of confidentiality.

I have high levels of transferable skills, in particular managing processes, IT systems, Microsoft systems, E-Procurement systems and ESR System.

I have lead, managed and coordinated staff recruitment processes and activities.

I use my own initiative to plan time effectively and prioritise all incoming work on a daily basis, responding quickly, appropriately and communicating clearly in relation to urgent, important and predictable issues ensuring a high quality administrative service.

I always act appropriately under pressure, taken control over situations where necessary. I am also self-motivated and use my initiative when working on my own.

Computer Knowledge

ECDL Basic and Intermediate

Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, Excel

Copy Typing and Audio Typing 85 wpm

• Ability to prioritise and work under pressure
• Strong administrative / organisational skills
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Good team member with positive attitude

My Experience

My experience of providing Executive PA and PA services includes the following:

Executive Assistant to BCA Programme Director with Black Country Alliance

Executive Assistant to Director of Finance and Performance and Director of HR & OD for Walsall Hospitals NHS Trust

Executive Assistant to Director of Finance, Walsall Community Health

PA to Director of Operations and Head of Adult Community Nursing at Birmingham East & North Primary Care Trust.

Secretary/PA to MD at DS Technology (UK) Limited

A Little About Me

So a little bit about me - outside of my business I spend a lot of time with my beloved dog Buster, having recently moved to a leafy village in Warwickshire where I have the beautiful Cotswolds and Stratford upon Avon on our doorstep, we are very busy discovering new walks together, which is usually finished with a nice cold gin and tonic! The theatre is another passion of mine, if I could I would go every week, I especially love the old classics, Top Hat being one of my faves. I am a social animal and love nothing more than a get together with my friends and family for a good old catch up with a few dance moves thrown in for good measure.

I never have a problem describing the important people in my life but find it difficult to write about myself, so I asked my partner and family 5 words they would use to describe me so here goes - loyal, hardworking, creative, dependent, good sense of humour (I know, its 3 words).

I decided to set up my virtual PA business after taking redundancy from the NHS, the years were whizzing by and I decided I wanted to create my own destiny so here I am and I have to say I love it, it gives me the freedom to have that fantastic work/life balance I had been aiming to achieve for a long time, and not only that it allows clients to have exactly the same work/life balance by offloading those niggling, time consuming jobs they do not want/or wish to carry out.

So if you like the sound of me and feel we could have that great working relationship, drop me an email or give me a call and let's chat over a virtual cuppa.