The executive assistant's role in a Swiss company
The executive assistant manages the diary of a CEO or executive committee, prepares board meetings and drafts minutes. In a Swiss public limited company, they also know the general meeting calendar and the requirements of the commercial register.
The federal executive assistant diploma
This higher vocational qualification, officially translated as Executive Assistant, Federal Diploma of Higher Education, is obtained through a federal exam in German, French or Italian. All papers are based on a single company case study, reflecting real working practice.
Admission requirements for the exam
The 2023 regulations require a personal portfolio submitted with the registration and assessed by experts. Without a prior commercial diploma, the exam board may admit a candidate on file if they prove eight years of work, at least five in commerce.
Preparing while you work
Schools in Valais, Lausanne, Geneva or Fribourg offer preparatory courses for the diploma, usually in the evening or on Saturdays over one to two years. Some employers, notably cantonal banks and insurers, contribute to costs in exchange for a loyalty clause.
Foreign diplomas and equivalence
The occupation is not regulated: a French management assistant diploma or a German Kaufmann qualification is accepted without compulsory recognition. Recruiters mainly assess your experience supporting senior executives and the quality of your German or English, more than the title itself.
Three languages for the best positions
At the headquarters of a Basel group, a Geneva trading company or a sports federation in Lausanne, the assistant writes in English, talks in German and replies in French. A Cambridge C1 or Goethe C1 certificate immediately reassures a headhunter.
International Geneva and multinationals
International organisations, NGOs, foundations and regional headquarters of multinationals based in Geneva employ many executive assistants. Some organisations follow a special regime, with a legitimation card from the FDFA instead of a cantonal permit, and their own salary rules.
Banks, insurers and wealth management
In the Swiss financial sector, executive assistants work for partners of Geneva private banks or Zurich management board members. Absolute discretion, banking secrecy and knowledge of compliance procedures are required, sometimes along with a criminal record extract.
Executive assistant, office manager or HR
In an EPFL start-up or a Vaud SME, the role often merges with that of an office manager in Switzerland: premises, suppliers and onboarding new staff. Some later move into human resources by earning a federal HR specialist diploma.
French cross-border workers in Geneva management teams
Many executive assistants in the cantons of Geneva, Vaud and Basel live in neighbouring France with a G permit. This status requires a weekly return home; tax and health insurance rules are covered on our page about cross-border work.
What sets an executive assistant's salary
The seniority of the executive supported, group size, canton, federal diploma and number of languages all affect pay. A role on the executive committee of a Zug multinational bears no comparison with a Jura SME; check the Salarium tool.
Permits for non-EU candidates
A third-country national can only be hired if no suitable Swiss or European candidate was found and their profile is qualified. For an executive assistant, the cantonal employment office rarely accepts such requests, so seek information before taking any steps.
Roadmap to an executive assistant position
- Review your experience supporting executives and quantify it: number of management members, budgets, board meetings prepared.
- Validate your languages with a recognised certificate, ideally C1 in English or German depending on the target region.
- Prepare a Swiss CV with photo and references from executives willing to be called by the recruiter.
- Contact recruitment firms specialising in assistant roles in Geneva, Lausanne and Zurich, which handle many of these mandates.
- Consider enrolling in federal diploma preparatory courses to stand out after your first years in Switzerland.
- Once the offer is signed, check with the employer on the B, L or G permit application at the cantonal population office.
Salaries and expenses linked to executive assistant roles
| Item | Benchmark | What makes it vary |
|---|---|---|
| Executive assistant salary | Indicative, well above an administrative post | Canton, sector, languages, federal diploma and executive level |
| Federal diploma preparatory courses | Several thousand francs | School, length and any employer contribution |
| Federal exam fee | Set by the responsible body | Federal subsidies possible for preparatory courses |
| C1 language certificate | A few hundred francs | Cambridge, Goethe or Alliance française |
| LAMal health insurance | Variable monthly premium | Canton of residence, deductible and insurance model chosen |
Application file expected for an executive assistant post
- Swiss CV with photo and personalised cover letter
- Employment references naming the executives supported
- Commercial CFC, federal diploma or equivalent foreign qualification
- Language certificates at B2 to C1 level
- Reachable references from direct superiors
- Criminal record extract, often required in banking
- Passport or residence permit
Mistakes that cost you an executive assistant job
- Presenting a list of generic tasks without showing the seniority supported or the confidential files handled.
- Giving references from colleagues rather than the executives you supported, whom Swiss recruiters systematically call.
- Overstating your English or German when the interview often switches into that language without warning.
- Discussing a former employer's information during an interview, which casts doubt on your discretion for the recruiter.
- Neglecting your Swiss employment references, whose coded wording is read very closely by Geneva headhunters.
Common questions about executive assistant work in Switzerland
Is the federal executive assistant diploma compulsory?
No, no law requires it. It does, however, set candidates apart in large companies, banks and administrations, as it certifies skills in project management, communication and organisation, assessed through a demanding federal exam.
Can you take the federal diploma exam without a CFC?
Yes, the exam board may admit a candidate on file if they prove eight years of professional experience, five of them in commerce. The required personal portfolio must also be submitted. Check the conditions in force in the exam regulations.
Do Geneva international organisations hire French-speaking assistants?
Yes, but they almost always require excellent English and sometimes a third official UN language. Posts are advertised on their own portals, following internal procedures and salary scales distinct from the regular Swiss market.
Can an executive assistant work remotely from France?
It is possible within certain limits set by Franco-Swiss agreements on cross-border teleworking and social security. Beyond a certain percentage, social insurance affiliation or taxation may change. Clarify the situation with your employer before signing.