02.09.2026
The Value of Having the Right People Around You
Why the people behind the scenes can make all the difference.
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A practical guide to how Family Offices work, the services they provide, the people behind them and when a family might need one.
A Family Office is a private organisation set up to manage the financial, personal and operational affairs of a wealthy family. It brings together the people, expertise and systems needed to manage everything from investments and tax planning to property, philanthropy, travel and day-to-day administration.
For some families, this might mean a small team providing highly personalised support. For others, it can involve a sophisticated organisation with investment professionals, accountants, lawyers, property specialists, operations teams and dedicated Private PAs.
The structure and responsibilities of a Family Office vary considerably depending on the family’s wealth, complexity and requirements. At its heart, however, the purpose is the same: to provide a centralised, trusted resource for managing the family’s affairs.
Single-Family Office vs Multi-Family Office
There are two broad types of Family Office: Single-Family Offices (SFOs) and Multi-Family Offices (MFOs).
What is a Single-Family Office?
A Single-Family Office is dedicated to the affairs of one family. The family has greater control over how the organisation operates and can build a team specifically around its requirements.
An SFO might employ investment professionals, accountants, operations specialists, PAs and other experts directly, while outsourcing certain functions where specialist expertise is required.
A net worth of £100 million or more is sometimes cited as a point at which a Single-Family Office may become economically viable, although the decision depends on much more than wealth alone. The family’s level of complexity, investment strategy, privacy requirements and desire for control can all play a part.
What is a Multi-Family Office?
A Multi-Family Office provides services to several families. Rather than each family building its own dedicated team, they can access a shared pool of expertise and infrastructure.
MFOs may provide services including investment management, financial planning, tax advice, estate planning and administration.
For families that don’t require a fully dedicated team, a Multi-Family Office can provide access to specialist expertise while sharing the associated costs across multiple clients.
What Does a Family Office Do?
Family Offices can oversee a remarkably broad range of responsibilities. These might include:
The exact mix will depend on the family. Some Family Offices focus primarily on investment and financial management, while others take a much broader approach, effectively acting as the central operational hub for the family.
A Family Office is only as strong as the team running it. At Biscuit Recruitment, we specialise in
sourcing the elite, highly-discreet support personnel – from Private PAs to Chief of Staff professionals – that keep modern estates running flawlessly.
Who Works in a Family Office?
The people working within a Family Office can vary significantly depending on its size and structure.
A larger Family Office might include:
Not every Family Office will employ all of these roles in-house. Specialist legal, tax, investment or property services may be outsourced, while a smaller Family Office might rely on a small number of highly capable individuals who cover a broad range of responsibilities.
This is one of the defining characteristics of Family Office environments: roles are often shaped around the needs of the family rather than fitting into a standard corporate structure.
What Does a Family Office PA Do?
A Family Office PA can play a particularly important role in keeping the family’s personal and professional affairs running smoothly.
Unlike a traditional corporate PA, a Family Office PA may support a much broader range of responsibilities. This could include managing complex diaries, arranging international travel, coordinating multiple properties, organising private events, managing household suppliers and dealing with highly confidential personal matters.
The role often requires exceptional discretion, attention to detail and the ability to anticipate what is needed before being asked.
Depending on the family, a PA might work alongside other members of the Family Office team, including the Chief of Staff, Operations Manager, House Manager, Private Office Manager or investment professionals.
For this reason, Family Office PAs tend to be highly adaptable. They need to be comfortable moving between professional and personal priorities while maintaining a consistently high level of service.
When Might a Family Need a Family Office?
There is no single level of wealth at which a family automatically needs a Family Office.
For some families, the complexity of their investments, properties, businesses and international affairs can make a dedicated structure valuable. For others, external advisers and professional service providers may be sufficient.
A Family Office may become particularly useful when a family is managing:
The value of a Family Office isn’t simply in managing wealth. It is about bringing together the right people and expertise to make a complex family ecosystem easier to manage.
How is a Family Office Structured?
There is no standard Family Office structure.
A smaller operation might consist of a Family Office Manager, Accountant and PA, supported by external lawyers, investment advisers and other specialists.
A larger Family Office could operate much more like a business, with a senior leadership team overseeing dedicated departments covering investments, finance, operations, property and private support.
The structure will usually evolve as the family’s needs change. As wealth becomes more complex, a Family Office may bring additional expertise in-house or introduce more formal processes and systems.
This means Family Office professionals need to be comfortable working in environments where priorities can change quickly and where there may be little separation between personal, financial and operational matters.
What Skills are Important in a Family Office?
Family Office environments require a combination of technical expertise and exceptional interpersonal skills. For operational and support professionals in particular, some of the most important qualities include:
Discretion and Confidentiality
Family Office professionals regularly have access to highly sensitive financial, personal and family information. Absolute discretion is essential.
Organisation
With multiple properties, diaries, travel arrangements, investments and personal commitments to coordinate, exceptional organisational skills are fundamental.
Commercial Awareness
Understanding how decisions affect budgets, suppliers, assets and the wider family operation can be particularly valuable in senior Family Office roles.
Adaptability
Priorities can change quickly. Successful Family Office professionals are comfortable responding to new requirements without losing sight of existing commitments.
Anticipation
The best professionals don’t simply react to requests. They understand the family’s preferences and routines and anticipate what will be needed next.
Communication
Family Office professionals work with a wide range of people, from family members and senior executives to lawyers, investment managers, household staff and external suppliers. Clear, confident communication is essential.
The People Behind a Family Office
A Family Office may be responsible for managing substantial wealth, but its effectiveness ultimately depends on the people behind it.
The right team creates structure around complexity, protects the family’s time and ensures that financial, personal and operational matters are handled with consistency and discretion.
For support professionals, working in a Family Office can offer an unusually broad and rewarding career. Roles can combine executive support, private client service, operations, property management and project coordination, often with significant levels of responsibility and trust.
At Biscuit Recruitment, we specialise in identifying exceptional PAs, EAs, Chiefs of Staff and operational professionals for private individuals, Family Offices and UHNW environments. The right appointment isn’t simply someone who can manage a diary or organise travel – it’s someone who understands how to operate with discretion, judgement and initiative in a highly personal environment.
From new Family Office setups to long-standing family structures, success usually depends on the people behind the scenes. The right mix of judgement, discretion, and cultural alignment makes a real difference. Biscuit Recruitment works with clients to find executive and private support professionals who are used to operating in these more sensitive spaces.
Where sharp thinking meets bite-sized reading...
Why the people behind the scenes can make all the difference.
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