When businesses grow, so does the complexity of operations, especially when it comes to acquisitions. From sourcing opportunities to coordinating contracts, acquisition management can seem like a high-level task reserved for seasoned professionals. But what if your executive assistant could take it on? With the right training and systems, the answer might surprise you.

Acquisition management refers to the strategic process of identifying, assessing, and securing valuable business opportunities—whether that’s purchasing assets, properties, or forming new partnerships. In real estate, it includes sourcing leads, negotiating deals, and managing documents. While traditionally handled by specialized roles, many businesses are now looking inward to existing team members, like an executive assistant, to fill the gap.

An executive assistant often works closest to leadership, understands the inner workings of the business, and has the organizational skill set needed to handle complex responsibilities. These traits make them well-suited for learning and managing acquisition processes. With guidance, they can begin handling research, scheduling, follow-ups, and even document preparation in acquisition tasks.

Starting with these foundational duties gives your EA an opportunity to gradually grow into the acquisition management space while relieving leadership of time-consuming administrative work.

Your EA doesn’t need to handle negotiations from day one. Instead, they can focus on the backbone of acquisition management, such as:

• Researching potential acquisition opportunities and vendors
• Managing acquisition timelines and calendars
• Drafting emails, follow-ups, and preparing meeting briefs
• Coordinating due diligence documents
• Tracking offers and communication threads
• Maintaining acquisition records and reporting status updates

With enough exposure, they can eventually assist with analyzing deals, reviewing proposals, and managing third-party communications.

If you’re considering upskilling your EA, begin with structured onboarding that includes:

• Introductory courses on acquisitions and deal structure
• Shadowing meetings and reviewing real-world cases
• Familiarization with CRM or acquisition tracking tools
• Templates for outreach, NDAs, and due diligence processes
• Clear SOPs outlining approval workflows

Over time, your executive assistant will build confidence and become a key support in managing your acquisition pipeline.

If your in-house EA doesn’t have the bandwidth—or if you’re a small business or solo operator—you can explore hiring a virtual assistant or a real estate virtual assistant with acquisition experience. These professionals are trained in handling backend acquisition support and can integrate seamlessly into your team using cloud-based tools.

Outsourcing through acquisition management services also gives you flexibility: scale support as needed while reducing costs compared to hiring a full-time employee.

Expanding your EA’s role to include acquisition work isn’t just about delegation—it’s about strategy. Doing so can:

• Streamline workflows by centralizing administrative and acquisition tasks
• Reduce bottlenecks in communication and coordination
• Allow leadership to focus on closing and strategy rather than logistics
• Help you grow your business without increasing headcount

With the right systems in place, an EA can become a bridge between operations and opportunity.

Yes—acquisition management is absolutely a skill an executive assistant can learn and execute. With the right structure, support, and trust, they can be a powerful asset in managing the moving parts of your business acquisitions. Whether you invest in training your in-house team or hire a virtual assistant specialized in acquisitions, the results can transform how you manage growth.