Client Services Administrator, LA

About Bonhams
Bonhams is an international auction house, founded in 1793, which holds more than 400 specialist sales a year in 60 different categories at our flagship salerooms in London, New York, Los Angeles, and Hong Kong.

Our employees are passionate about their work, and we pride ourselves on a bespoke approach that aims to make every client feel important. It is an exciting time for our business and our global leadership team of art world professionals are now ready for a People focused team to help them develop their talent strategy, strengthen our people brand globally, build organizational capability and drive process improvement.

Bonhams is an Equal Opportunity Employer. As part of our commitment to fight for equality, we work to ensure a fair and consistent interview process. We celebrate diversity and we are committed to an inclusive work environment.

About the Role

We are seeking a passionate and energetic Client Services Administrator to join our Los Angeles, California team on a full-time basis, to provide an outstanding experience to our visitors and clients. We are looking for individuals who are positive, quick problem-solvers who thrive in a busy and highly visible role, have a passion for the arts and are looking to gain an excellent foundation for understanding how an international auction house builds client relationships and conducts its auctions. 

Key tasks and responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Manage the front desk and ensure that the lobby area is always clean and tidy


• Liaise with operations department to ensure smooth property drop off and pick up


• Ensure that our visitors and clients feel acknowledged, welcomed, and well informed, and are quickly connected to appropriate Bonhams department and staff members


• Sort through the mail and alert appropriate recipients of deliveries


• Stay informed and aware of the preview and auction schedule for each of our locations


• Service client queries by phone, team email inbox, and in person quickly and accurately


• Assist with pre and post-sale administration, processing registrations, entering bids and answering any sale-related queries


• Manage clients’ accounts, updating internal systems with client details and ensuring appropriate documentation is on file in line with Bonhams’ KYC policy


• Engage in cashiering responsibilities, handling cash and recording payments accurately


• Provide shipping quotes to clients post-sale and coordinate with the operations and shipping departments for collections


• Adapt your schedule as needed, as this role requires extra hours during special events, weekend sale previews, and offsite auctions


• Maintain a supply of current auction details and schedule at the front counter


• Demonstrate a positive and supportive team player attitude


• Retain knowledge of departments, personnel, names and titles of senior management and executive officers, as well as branch locations


• Support ongoing training initiatives


• Develop new training materials for new recruits


• Be available and interested in assisting with ad-hoc projects as they arise

In addition to the tasks and responsibilities listed, you may be required to perform other duties as assigned by your manager.

Qualifications and Skills

• Bachelor’s degree with 2 years of relevant client -facing work experience


• Comfortable working in a fast-paced environment with multiple competing deadlines


• Great attention to detail


• Consistent and proactive communication with clients and internal departments


• Excellent demonstration of first-class customer service skills and experience dealing with a diverse range of people


• Possess an interest and thorough knowledge of art history and art market


• Proficiency in Microsoft and Outlook programs and database software


• Must be flexible to cover a fluid and growing sales schedule, inclusive of evenings and weekends

What We Offer

In addition to an active and progressive work environment, Bonhams offers a competitive benefits package to encourage work/life balance, including:

• Excellent medical, dental and vision insurance – HMO, EPO, PPO with FSA and HSA


• 20 days paid time off (PTO)


• 12 paid holidays and holiday break from Christmas to New Years Day


• 16 weeks fully paid parental leave and flexible work arrangements


• 401(k) retirement plan with company contribution


• Life insurance with AD & D


• Short- and long-term disability


• Paid cellphone and data service


• Tuition reimbursement


• Commuter benefits (transit and parking)


• Employee assistance program (EAP)


• Professional development: free online training and expansive content library


• Onboarding buddy: 90-day mentor to welcome and orient new joiners


• Employee resource groups: social club, diversity committee, mentorship program


• Sponsored socials: annual staff art exhibition, annual summer and holiday parties, monthly birthday treats, weekly breakfast

Applicants who best match the position skills and qualifications will be contacted.

Bonhams participates in E-Verify.

Bonhams is an Equal Opportunity Employer. As part of our commitment to fight for equality, we work to ensure a fair and consistent interview process. We celebrate diversity and we are committed to an inclusive work environment.