There are many roles within a veterinary practice beyond the vet surgeons and vet nurses, including the role of the veterinary practice manager. Here we will be looking at what a practice manager does in a veterinary practice, the skills required and the path to becoming a veterinary practice manager.
What is a veterinary practice manager?
Veterinary practice managers oversee and develop the work of a veterinary practice or group of practices. The role involves running the practice in a way that ensures a caring and professional service is provided for clients and patients, while also strategising ways that the business can grow, develop and become more involved with the local community.
While not directly responsible for animal care, the decisions made by veterinary practice managers will determine how effectively patients can be treated.
Veterinary practice manager duties
The practice manager role will vary from practice to practice, but in general, the role may include the following responsibilities:
- General practice management.
- Financial management and reporting, including accounts payable, income reconciliation, accounts payable, budgeting and setting fees.
- Ensuring and facilitating staff training and development.
- Managing patient medical records.
- Strategic management and implementing a public relations strategy.
- Managing personnel.
- Marketing the business and promoting products and services.
- Various client services such as client communication, education, grief protocol, and patient comfort.
- Community involvement and fundraising.
Useful skills for a veterinary practice manager
A good practice manager will have the following skills:
- Business management skills – the veterinary practice manager is responsible for the operation of the practice as a business.
- Interpersonal skills – an essential part of managing a business is managing employees, which requires good interpersonal skills.
- Communication skills – practice managers need to communicate effectively with many people, including employees, clients and potential business partnerships or sponsors.
- Organisational skills – practice managers need to oversee and organise important records and files
- Leadership skills – Veterinary practice managers need to motivate employees and keep everything running smoothly so that patient care continues to be of the highest quality.
What is the path to becoming a veterinary practice manager?
Unlike veterinary surgeons or veterinary nurses, there are a number of paths available to someone looking to become a practice manager. Veterinary practice managers come from a range of backgrounds – they do not necessarily have to be qualified veterinary professionals.
While there are no specific qualifications required to become a practice manager, applicants are often educated to a degree level, usually with either a business or veterinary-based degree.
However, it is also possible for prospective practice managers to work their way up the ladder through the practice, joining at an administrative level and then working their way up to management. In such cases, their development can be supported by external training, such as the Veterinary Practice Administration Certificate provided by The Veterinary Practice Management Association (VPMA).
The VPMA also offers the Certificate in Veterinary Practice Management, which is aimed at anyone looking to progress into a veterinary management role, whether they are new to the veterinary industry or not.
The certificate aims to develop managerial skills in the areas of general management, financial management, strategic management, personnel, communication, and marketing.
The role of a practice manager encompasses a wide range of responsibilities that are sure to provide an exciting challenge for anyone interested in animal care from a wider perspective. Now that you know what a practice manager does in a veterinary practice, do you think it might be the right career move for you? If so, you can browse our vacancies here.