To excel in the business field and master English, many individuals encounter difficulties while learning the names of different positions within a company. This topic is deemed crucial and commonly encountered in daily life, as various papers and documents now incorporate these fundamental words. Have you ever wondered about the English term for ‘board of directors’? Or what word the manager of a department should use in English? Let’s collaborate with Goodheathplan.com to enhance our knowledge of common job titles in English and work more effectively!
Vocabulary for Types of Companies in English
In addition to familiarizing ourselves with positions in the company, such as ‘English board of directors,’ we should also be acquainted with the following terms:
- Company: company
- Consortium/Corporation: corporation
- Limited Liability Company: limited liability company
- Private Company: private company
- Subsidiary: subsidiary
- Joint Stock Company: joint stock company
- Affiliate: affiliate company
Facilities and Departments in the Company
Here is a list of various facilities and departments commonly found in a company:
- Headquarters: headquarters
- Branch Office: branch office
- Representative Office: representative office
- Regional Office: regional office
- Department: department
- Research & Development Department: research and development department
- Accounting Department: accounting department
- Audit Department: audit department
- Financial Department: finance department
- Administration Department: administrative department
- Personnel Department/ Human Resources Department (HR): personnel department
- Wholesaler: wholesale store
- Outlet: retail store
- Purchasing Department: purchasing department
- Sales Department: sales department
- Shipping Department: shipping department
- Customer Service Department: customer service department
- Quality Department: quality management department
Apart from familiarizing yourself with the departments, it’s essential to learn more vocabulary related to department heads to facilitate communication and interaction, not just limited to understanding the English board of directors.
Vocabulary for Department Head Positions
Here are some terms indicating the positions of department heads:
- Section Manager (Head of Division): Head of Section
- Department Manager (Head of Department): head of department
- Accounting Manager: head of accounting department
- Personnel Manager: head of human resources department
- Production Manager: head of the production department
- Finance Manager: head of finance department
- Marketing Manager: head of marketing department
Words for Management Positions and the Board of Directors
Here are the terms for various management positions, including those in the board of directors:
- Director: Director
- Board of Directors: board of directors
- Executive: member of the board of directors
- President (Chairman): President
- Founder: the founder
- Chief Executive Officer (CEO): chief executive officer
- Chief Financial Officer (CFO): chief financial officer
- Chief Information Officer (CIO): chief information officer
- Deputy/Vice Director: Deputy Director
- Vice President (VP): vice president
- Chief Operating Officer (COO): Chief of Operations
- Shareholder: shareholder
- Manager: Manager
It’s important to note that there are other management positions that hold even higher authority than the director’s role, which you should be aware of beyond the scope of the English board of directors.
Tips for Using Job Titles in an English-Speaking Company
In addition to understanding “what is the English board of directors” and familiarizing yourself with basic positions in a company, to enrich your vocabulary and use it effectively, take note of the following:
Director, managing director, executive director
In English, both British and American variations, the titles of “General Director” and “Director” differ, so it’s essential to be cautious when translating.
- Director: Refers to a member of the board of directors or an individual who owns capital in the enterprise or company.
- Managing Director: This term can be synonymous with “Chief Executive Officer (CEO)” in some contexts, indicating the highest-ranking executive responsible for managing the company’s operations.
- Executive Director: Typically refers to a senior-level director who holds a strategic position in the organization and has significant decision-making authority.
Manager: In this context, “manager” no longer signifies a position in management but rather an outsourced director.
- Director General: In American English, this term is equivalent to “General Director” if the individual holds a position on the board of directors.
- General Manager: In American English, this term corresponds to “General Director” if the individual is an outsourced manager.
Managing Director (MD): General Director
If you frequently wonder about the English term for the board of directors, you should certainly not overlook the position of the General Director. This is a commonly used position in an English-speaking company, and there are some related terms as follows:
- Chairman of the Board of Directors: Chairman of the Board of Directors
- Acting General Manager: Acting MD
- Current CEO: Incumbent MD
- Newly Elected General Manager: MD-elect
- Incoming CEO: Incoming MD
- Alternate Director: Alternate director
- Outgoing General Manager: Outgoing MD
- Former General Manager: Late MD
For those in senior management positions such as directors, evaluating work and employees can be considered their primary responsibility. So, what is “assessment” in English? Let’s find out in the article: “What is an English assessment? Common assessment cases.
What is a CEO (Chief Executive Officer)?
While you may often wonder about the English term for the board of directors, have you ever considered attaining a higher position than that? That’s the CEO (Chief Executive Officer). However, it’s essential to note that this title can vary in the US, UK, and some other countries, leading to different names and interpretations:
In US companies and other countries: The highest position, commonly referred to as the top position, is usually designated as President or Chairman, followed by Vice President, Officer (or Director). Lower ranks include General Manager and Manager, who are responsible for specific departments.
In British companies: The positions are arranged from top to bottom as follows: Chairman, Chief Executive Director, or Managing Director, Chief Officer/Director, Manager. Further down the hierarchy, there is the head of the department or department, referred to as the Director.
In US companies and many other countries, the highest executive position, often referred to as the top position, is usually designated as President or Chairman, followed by Vice President, Officer (or Director). Lower-ranking positions include General Manager and Manager, who hold responsibilities for specific departments.
In British companies, the hierarchical order of positions is as follows: Chairman, Chief Executive Director, or Managing Director, Chief Officer/Director, and then Manager. Further down the hierarchy, there is the head of a department, commonly referred to as the Director.
It is crucial to be aware of these distinctions in job titles across different regions to understand the roles and responsibilities associated with each position, particularly when aspiring to higher leadership roles like the CEO, which stands for Chief Executive Officer. The CEO is the individual holding the highest executive position within a corporation, company, or organization.
English addresses come with their set of rules, and making a mistake in addressing may lead to work-related issues. To enhance your knowledge of address-related vocabulary, consider reading two articles: “What is an English commune? All the vocabulary to write a complete address” and “What is the English ward? Rules to know when writing a home address.”
Vice, Deputy
When working, your interest goes beyond understanding the English board of directors to encompass other hierarchical levels.
Deputy titles in the corporate context are often accompanied by the word “Vice” if they possess the same powers as the General Director when the latter is not present.
“Deputy” is used when deputy titles have limited powers.
“Assistant” is used in cases where there is a lawful power of attorney, meaning they do not engage in any contract.
For example:
- Vice Managing Director/Deputy MD: Refers to the Deputy General Manager, having similar powers to the General Manager in their absence.
- Assistant to the MD: Denotes the Assistant General Manager, with distinct and more restricted powers.
These two titles have entirely different levels of authority and responsibility.
Some basic English communication sentences used in the company
Certainly! Here are some basic English communication sentences commonly used in the company:
- I’m honored to meet you.
- Let’s start the business discussion, shall we?
- The copier is jammed.
- The printer is not working (broken).
- She’s in a meeting.
- Can I see the monthly report?
- She’s off sick today.
- He’s not at the office today.
With knowledge of job titles in English, including the understanding of “What is the English board of directors?”, you probably already have the necessary vocabulary. Pay attention to the phrasing that we introduced at goodheathplan.com, as well as important differences to handle various situations. Good luck!
Johnny Jacks was born in 1985 in Texas, USA. He is the founder of Good Health Plan and is passionate about helping people improve their health and physical well-being. With over a decade of experience working in the healthcare industry, he currently works at Goodheathplan.com – a blog that shares knowledge on beauty and health.