An administrative assistant provides essential day-to-day operational and organizational support - keeping the office or remote team running smoothly through scheduling, communications, documentation, and task coordination.
A great Administrative Assistant does not just complete tasks. They own a function that directly frees you to grow. Here is what that looks like in a scaling business:
01Manage schedules, calendars, and meeting coordination
02Handle correspondence, document preparation, and filing
03Coordinate supplies, vendors, and office or remote logistics
04Support onboarding and HR administrative tasks
05Assist with data entry, reporting, and special projects
How this hire moves your business forward: An administrative assistant brings structure to the work behind the scenes, ensuring administrative tasks are handled so the team can operate without distraction.
Why LatAm
Why LatAm Produces Great Administrative Assistants.
LatAm administrative assistants bring strong organizational skills and experience supporting US teams with scheduling, documentation, and operations.
The timezone overlap with the US is strong. LatAm professionals work within 1 to 3 hours of US Eastern time, so there is no async lag, no late-night handoffs, and no communication gap.
Skills & tools
Know What a Great Administrative Assistant Actually Brings to the Table.
Beyond the resume, here are the skills, tools, and traits that separate strong performers from strong interviewers.
Hard Skills
Calendar and scheduling management
Document preparation
Communication management
Data entry and record keeping
Administrative coordination
Common Tools
Google Workspace / Microsoft 365
Slack
Zoom
Notion / Asana
DocuSign
Soft Skills & Traits
Organized
Reliable
Proactive
Discreet
Clear communicator
Compensation
What You Can Expect to Pay.
Based on Sur market data and regional benchmarks. Figures reflect total cash compensation.
Seniority
US Annual
LatAm Annual
You Save
Entry
$45,000
$18,000
$27,000 / yr
Mid level
$55,000
$22,000
$33,000 / yr
Senior
$78,000
$32,000
$46,000 / yr
Spot the right hire
What to Look For, and What to Watch Out For.
Green Flags
Has a clear system for managing competing priorities
Proactively communicates progress without being asked
Handles confidential information with discretion
Reliable and consistent - never drops the ball on recurring tasks
Red Flags
Waits to be told every next step with no initiative
Poor written English quality
Has no experience with remote work tools
Our process
Our Process for This Role.
We do not post and wait. Every Administrative Assistant search we run is built from scratch around your business, your stage, your team, and your goals. And at every step, we are thinking about how this hire helps you grow.
1
Onboarding Call
We start by understanding what you actually need.
2
Role Scoping and Assessment Design
We build a precise role profile and design the custom skills assessment before we search for anyone.
3
Sourcing
We source actively across LatAm and the Caribbean and through our network.
4
Prescreening and Phone Screen
Every candidate is internally screened then put through an English phone screen.
5
Your Shortlist
3 to 5 candidates delivered early in the process with background, audio clip, and our team's recommendation.
6
Skills Assessment
Shortlisted candidates take a custom assessment built to replicate the actual work of the role.
7
Hire and Guarantee
We support the offer, help structure compensation for retention, and back every placement with a 90-day guarantee.
Common Questions About Hiring a Administrative Assistant.
1-3 weeks typically. Most placements are made within 21 days of the onboarding call.
Most LatAm professionals work within 1 to 3 hours of US Eastern time.
All Sur placements speak fluent English. We screen for language ability on every search. Moderate English acceptable depending on exposure.
A LatAm administrative assistant delivers the same organizational support as a US hire at significantly lower cost. This is one of the simplest and most consistently high-ROI LatAm hires.
If your hire does not work out within the first 90 days for any reason, we replace them at no additional cost.
An admin assistant typically has a narrower, more defined scope within a business. A VA is more flexible and often handles a broader mix of tasks across business functions.
Yes. Many LatAm admin assistants handle basic HR admin including onboarding paperwork, benefits coordination, and employee record management. Sur can design this combined scope for you.
Ready to Hire a Administrative Assistant Who Actually Moves the Needle?
Let us design the role together and find you the right person from LatAm.