Business administrator is an umbrella term for operations professionals who oversee daily business work. They are employed by a wide array of industries, ranging from financial services to consumer goods firms. They generally hold an associate’s or a bachelor’s degree in a related field, such as accounting, finance, or management. At the highest level, a chief operating officer (COO) is a business administrator who reports directly to the chief executive officer (CEO). Chief operating officers typically have extensive expertise in a specific field and some training in business management and leadership. Holding a master’s degree in business administration (MBA) may make a candidate especially competitive.