Records Officer Job Description

Records Officer Job Description


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Job Description

As a records officer you will be responsible for the creation & storage of a company’s recorded information; you are also in charge of retrieving and disposing of this data. This information can come in a number of formats including photos, film, paper or digital.

It is a crucial role in any company because without this data, the organisation will be unable to function properly. Still interested in Records Officer job role? Read on for detailed Records Officer job description.

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Records Officer Responsabilities

Your typical duties as a records officer will generally include the following:

  • Creating & maintaining company databases to ensure quick retrieval of information.
  • Developing record distribution and storage policies.
  • Auditing the information that is created and stored within the company.
  • Analysing your company’s information needs and developing procedures to ensure these requirements are met.
  • Referring to policy & legislative requirements in order to determine the length of time company records are kept.
  • Potentially overseeing the transition from paper to electronic management systems.
  • Providing the necessary support to ensure the accountability, transparency and regulatory requirements of the company are met.

As a records officer you will be required to work closely with all company staff to ensure the organisation’s existing information systems provides them with the data they need to perform their duties.

Records Officer Requirements

If you wish to be hired as a records officer, you need to show evidence of the following:

  • Meticulous attention to detail.
  • Good written and oral communication skills.
  • Analytical and problem solving skills.
  • Strong negotiation skills.
  • Familiarity with information systems and archives.
  • A high level of confidence as you will need to talk with all members of a company ranging from entry level to executive.
  • The capacity to get a clear overview of your company’s activities.
  • Outstanding organisation skills.

Ready to take the next step to becoming a Records Officer? Check these Records Officer jobs and apply!


Records Officer Working Hours

You will typically work traditional 9-5 weekday hours in an office based environment. Most records officer jobs are located in Dublin and Ireland’s other major cities so you may need to commute depending on where you live.

The work is generally project-based and involves meeting set deadlines. As an increasing number of companies are using electronic document and record management systems, you will need a reasonable degree of IT skill and knowledge.

Once you reach management level you may have to travel for meetings, staff training and presentations but you will seldom be asked to stay overnight.

Records Officer Career Path

You can become a records officer without a college degree but this will involve partaking in work experience in the field. If you wish to quickly climb the ladder you should look for a degree in one of the following:

  • Administration
  • English
  • Law
  • Library & Information Studies
  • Archive & Museum Studies
  • History
  • Modern Languages

If you wish to become a records manager, you should get a postgraduate degree as this can ‘fast track’ you into management. In most cases you need a certain degree of work experience in order to be accepted on to any postgraduate programme.

Once you have the right qualifications, there are a host of potential employers:

  • Legal Firms
  • Retail
  • Museums & Galleries
  • Charities
  • Banking & Finance
  • Central & Local Government
  • Public Institutions
  • Academic Institutions

Records management is a relatively new field which means there is no clearly defined career path except for the fact that you want to rise from officer to manager. Most organisations only have one records manager so once you reach this position, future progression depends on your goals.

Records Officer Salary

The typical annual salary for a records officer is in the €18,000-€23,000 range.

What Are The Good Points of being a Records Officer?

As a records officer you will enjoy regular working hours in a familiar environment. Although you will be in charge of a company’s records and assume a fair degree of responsibility, you are able to take your time because meticulousness is a big part of the job description. There are also promotion possibilities; the next step up the ladder is records manager for example.

What Are The Bad Points of being a Records Officer?

If you want a bit of excitement in your work then being a records officer may not be the best career move. Additionally, you may be forced to work in a cramped office depending on the size of your organisation.

If you liked the information provided in this Records Officer job description from the duties to salary to progression opportunities, then a career as Records Officer might be right for you.

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