Company Functions & Roles

• Study notes on various company functions and their respective roles.
• Each role includes a summary of typical responsibilities and tasks that fall outside their scope.

Sales Function

• Responsible for selling products or services to customers, which generates revenue for the company.

Sales Representative / Sales Associate

• Contacts potential customers through various channels, presents product features, negotiates prices, closes straightforward deals, and maintains customer interaction records in a CRM system.
• Does not manage large accounts long-term, handle high-level negotiations, or develop sales strategies.

Business Development Representative (BDR) / Sales Development Representative (SDR)

• Prospects new leads via cold outreach on multiple platforms, qualifies them with initial questions, and passes qualified leads to higher-level sales reps, focusing on top-of-funnel activities.
• Does not close deals, handle contract negotiations, or manage existing accounts.

Account Executive (AE)

• Works with qualified leads, conducts sales calls and demos, addresses objections, negotiates pricing, closes sales, and manages relationships until handoff, while maintaining a sales pipeline and revenue forecast.
• Does not focus on cold prospecting or provide in-depth customer support post-sale, unless also acting as an account manager.

Account Manager

• Takes over existing clients post-sale to ensure satisfaction, builds long-term relationships, handles renewals, upsells, and acts as the primary contact.
• Typically not responsible for prospecting or setting pricing policies (but may negotiate within guidelines), and has a revenue/sales component.

Sales Manager

• Leads a sales team, sets targets, monitors performance, coaches members, handles escalated issues, and reports forecasts/results to upper management.
• Does not perform day-to-day selling or manage other departments.

Regional Sales Manager / Territory Sales Manager

• Manages sales in a specific area, oversees reps, tracks performance, allocates resources, and builds relationships with regional clients/distributors.
• Does not manage nationwide strategies or handle non-sales functions.

Finance & Accounting Function

• Handles money management, record-keeping, budgets, and financial strategies.

Bookkeeper

• Records daily financial transactions in ledgers or accounting software, reconciles bank statements, and maintains accurate records for accountants.
• Does not perform financial analysis, create complex forecasts, or handle tax planning/audit prep.

Staff Accountant

• Compiles and analyzes financial data, prepares financial statements, manages accounts payable/receivable, assists with tax filings, and ensures GAAP compliance.
• Does not define financial strategy or handle major financial decision-making.

Accounts Payable (AP) Specialist

• Processes and pays invoices, tracks payment deadlines, applies discounts, handles purchase orders, and ensures accurate vendor payments.
• Does not collect money owed to the company or handle strategic budgeting/forecasting.

Accounts Receivable (AR) Specialist

• Invoices customers, tracks payments, follows up on overdue payments, handles collections, and reconciles customer accounts.
• Does not manage outgoing payments or set credit policy/interest rates.

Payroll Specialist

• Calculates and processes employee paychecks, manages payroll taxes/deductions, ensures compliance with wage laws, distributes pay, and maintains records.
• Does not oversee hiring/benefits or create financial reports on company performance.

Financial Analyst

• Examines financial data to create forecasts and reports, provides insights for business decisions, and uses models to predict performance.
• Does not handle day-to-day bookkeeping/payroll or approve spending.

Finance Manager / Finance Director

• Oversees the finance team, sets budgets and policies, ensures compliance, presents results to executives, and guides strategic decisions.
• Does not usually do daily transaction recordings, or manage other non-finance departments.

Human Resources (HR) Function

• Focuses on hiring, developing, and retaining employees, while ensuring legal compliance.

HR Coordinator / HR Assistant

• Supports HR staff with paperwork, schedules interviews, maintains records, helps with onboarding, and answers employee questions.
• Does not usually make hiring decisions, design compensation structures, or lead HR initiatives.

Recruiter / Talent Acquisition Specialist

• Attracts and screens job candidates, writes job ads, sifts resumes, conducts initial interviews, and coordinates with hiring managers.
• Does not handle employee relations issues or oversee benefits/payroll.

HR Generalist

• Handles a broad range of HR tasks, including recruiting, onboarding, benefits, performance management, and employee relations, while ensuring policy compliance.
• Does not specialize deeply or make top-level HR strategy decisions.

Compensation & Benefits Specialist

• Designs and administers pay structures, bonus plans, and employee benefits, and researches salary data.
• Does not usually recruit or handle disciplinary issues, or manage day-to-day HR across areas.

Training & Development Specialist

• Creates and delivers training programs, identifies skill gaps, organizes workshops, and tracks effectiveness.
• Does not typically hire people or manage payroll, or handle performance reviews (but might design the process).

HR Business Partner (HRBP)

• Aligns HR initiatives with business units’ goals and advises managers on talent strategy, workforce planning, and employee performance.
• Does not focus solely on recruiting/benefits or handle purely administrative tasks.

HR Manager / HR Director

• Oversees the HR department, manages staff, develops policies, ensures compliance, and handles escalated issues.
• Does not typically do day-to-day tasks like processing payroll or oversee functions outside of HR.

Marketing Function

• Focuses on promoting the business, building brand awareness, and driving demand.

Marketing Coordinator / Marketing Assistant

• Implements marketing activities, handles administrative tasks, and compiles campaign performance data.
• Does not set high-level strategy or make big budget decisions, or typically manage entire campaigns alone.

Social Media Specialist / Social Media Manager

• Handles social media accounts, creates posts, responds to comments, tracks engagement, plans campaigns, and sometimes runs ads.
• Does not typically do broad marketing campaigns outside social media or handle offline marketing.

Content Marketing Specialist / Content Writer

• Writes and produces articles, blog posts, newsletters, or videos to attract and engage customers, maintains a content calendar, and follows brand guidelines.
• Does not manage the entire marketing department or handle paid ad campaigns/direct sales.

SEO Specialist

• Optimizes websites to rank higher in search engines via keyword research, site structure improvement, and traffic analysis.
• Does not typically design or develop the entire website or handle social media/email campaigns.

Digital Marketing Specialist

• Focuses on online channels—Google Ads, email, digital ads, and analytics—manages campaigns, and tracks conversions.
• Does not typically handle offline events/print ads or social media content strategy (unless specifically handling it).

Marketing Manager

• Oversees marketing projects, manages a team, creates and executes strategies within a budget, and analyzes campaign performance.
• Does not typically produce all content themselves or handle sales negotiations/close deals.

Engineering Function

• Designs, builds, and maintains the technical products or systems of the company.

Software Developer / Software Engineer

• Writes and tests code for various applications, collaborates with product managers, fixes bugs, and optimizes performance.
• Does not handle setting up workstations/fixing hardware or product strategy (though they might provide input).

Front-End Developer

• Specializes in the UI/UX of software or websites, using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript frameworks.
• Does not manage back-end databases/server logic or do IT support.

Back-End Developer

• Focuses on server-side logic, databases, and APIs, and manages data flow.
• Does not usually design the front-end or handle day-to-day infrastructure (DevOps may do that).

Full-Stack Developer

• Works on both front-end and back-end, including databases, server logic, and interface design.
• Does not typically handle system administration/network setups or focus solely on design (though some do light design).

QA Engineer / Software Tester

• Tests software to find and document bugs, develops test plans and automated tests, and ensures quality standards.
• Does not write the main product code or handle deployment pipelines.

Engineering Manager

• Leads a team of engineers, sets deadlines, assigns tasks, participates in hiring, performance reviews, and project oversight.
• Does not exclusively code or handle company-wide product strategy.

Information Technology (IT) Function

• Maintains and supports the company’s technology infrastructure.

IT Support Specialist / Help Desk Technician

• Answers tech support queries, troubleshoots issues, installs updates, resets passwords, and configures devices.
• Does not develop new software features or manage large networks/servers.

Systems Administrator (SysAdmin)

• Manages servers, networks, user accounts, and system security, configures operating systems, and monitors performance.
• Does not usually code customer-facing applications or handle day-to-day user support (though they may assist).

Network Administrator / Network Engineer

• Designs and maintains network infrastructure, monitors traffic, ensures security, and troubleshoots connectivity.
• Does not typically handle individual user software issues or write applications for end-users.

Database Administrator (DBA)

• Manages databases, optimizes queries, and ensures data security/integrity.
• Does not develop entire applications/front-ends or handle general desktop support.

IT Manager / IT Director

• Supervises the IT department, oversees system upgrades, plans technology needs, and sets policies for security, software use, and data backup.
• Does not typically provide direct day-to-day support or code new software products.

Operations Function

• Ensures the company’s core processes run smoothly.

Operations Coordinator / Operations Assistant

• Supports daily operational tasks, monitors workflows, and helps teams stay on track.
• Does not make high-level decisions or solely handle project management.

Operations Analyst

• Analyzes operational data to suggest improvements and generates reports on productivity.
• Does not usually supervise frontline staff directly or handle HR/finance tasks (though they might collaborate).

Project Manager

• Plans, executes, and closes projects on time and within budget, coordinates teams, maintains schedules, and manages risks.
• Does not decide product features/strategy or supervise regular operations staff outside projects.

Operations Manager

• Oversees the processes for delivering goods/services, manages daily activities/budgets/teams, and looks for ways to improve efficiency.
• Does not handle sales/marketing strategies or purely financial reporting.

Customer Support / Customer Service Function

• Responds to customer inquiries, resolves issues, and ensures customer satisfaction.

Customer Service Representative (CSR)

• Answers calls/emails/chats, solves problems, processes returns/refunds, and documents interactions.
• Does not handle technical issues or engage in proactive outreach/upselling.

Technical Support Representative

• Troubleshoots technical issues, walks customers through setups/fixes, and escalates product bugs.
• Does not handle billing inquiries or manage development/product changes.

Customer Service Supervisor / Team Lead

• Manages a small team of CSRs, monitors performance, and handles escalated issues.
• Does not run the entire department or make company-wide policy decisions.

Customer Support Manager

• Leads the support team, sets service standards, recruits/trains, monitors metrics, and handles escalations.
• Does not typically manage product changes/marketing initiatives or negotiate contracts/handle major B2B accounts.

Legal Function

• Ensures legal compliance, protects from lawsuits, and manages legal documentation.

Legal Assistant / Legal Secretary

• Provides clerical support and helps attorneys stay organized.
• Does not give legal advice or handle complex research/court arguments.

Paralegal

• Conducts legal research, drafts documents, and assists with case prep under attorney supervision.
• Cannot represent clients in court or provide final legal opinions.

Contract Administrator

• Prepares and reviews contracts and tracks deadlines/compliance.
• Does not offer broad legal counsel or negotiate deals themselves (unless within policy).

Corporate Counsel / In-House Attorney

• Provides legal advice, reviews contracts, ensures compliance, and represents the company in disputes.
• Does not run other departments or handle day-to-day paralegal/administrative tasks.

Product Management Function

• Defines what products to build, for whom, and why.

Associate Product Manager (APM)

• Assists a product manager with research and backlog grooming.
• Does not own product strategy or make final decisions on major features.

Product Owner (in Agile/Scrum)

• Manages the product backlog, defines user stories, and sets sprint priorities.
• Does not develop marketing plans/pricing strategies or code/design product UIs (but specifies requirements).

Product Manager (PM)

• Defines product vision and roadmap, decides what features to prioritize and build, conducts user research and coordinates with various other departments.
• Does not typically write code or design user interfaces or handle day-to-day project scheduling.

Technical Product Manager

• Similar to a PM but with deep technical expertise, dealing with APIs and system architecture.
• Does not necessarily manage marketing campaigns or do people management of engineers.

Data & Analytics Function

• Collects, analyzes, and interprets data to inform decision-making and forecast trends.

Data Entry Clerk

• Inputs and updates data and verifies accuracy.
• Does not analyze/interpret the data or create reports/visual dashboards.

Data Analyst

• Collects and examines data for trends and produces reports/dashboards.
• Does not typically build advanced predictive models or manage databases/infrastructure.

Data Scientist

• Uses machine learning to model and predict outcomes.
• Does not usually do basic reporting or data entry or manage the entire data pipeline setup.

Data Engineer

• Builds and maintains data infrastructure.
• Does not typically create dashboards or interpret data or model or make predictions.

Supply Chain & Logistics Function

• Deals with sourcing, manufacturing, distribution, and delivery of goods.

Purchasing Agent / Buyer

• Buys goods and materials and negotiates prices.
• Does not plan the supply chain flow or handle shipping logistics.

Procurement Specialist

• Focuses more on contracts and supplier evaluation.
• Does not usually physically manage warehouse operations or supervise production schedules.

Supply Chain Planner

• Forecasts demand and schedule inventory levels.
• Does not handle day-to-day shipping or vendor negotiations.

Logistics Coordinator

• Organizes transportation.
• Does not decide which products to purchase or handle demand forecasting.

Warehouse Associate

• Handles physical goods.
• Does not negotiate with suppliers or manage schedules.

Supply Chain Manager

• Oversees the entire supply chain.
• They’re not solely responsible for final pricing to customers or handle minor administrative tasks like data entry.

Administration Function

• Provides organizational and clerical support.

Receptionist

• Welcomes visitors and answers phone calls.
• Does not manage executive calendars or typically handle project-related tasks or administrative tasks for entire teams.

Administrative Assistant

• Supports a team with scheduling and paperwork.
• Does not usually make departmental decisions or strategies or handle specialized tasks.

Executive Assistant (EA)

• Provides high-level support to senior executives and manages schedules.
• Does not typically assist entire teams or decision-makers for company strategy.

Office Manager

• Oversees office operations and ensures equipment is maintained.
• Does not manage individual department budgets or strategic decisions or handle hiring/firing outside the admin staff unless specifically assigned.