All roles/Interior/Assistant Purser
Interior
Assistant Purser
The Assistant Purser runs the paperwork, money and logistics behind the interior on a large yacht, so the Purser and Captain can keep guests, crew and the owner's office looked after without gaps.
- Department
- Interior
- Reports to
- Purser
- Yacht size
- 70m to 150m+
- Contract
- Permanent or rotation
- Starting pay
- €4,000 per month
What the job is
You are the Purser's right hand on a large yacht. That means crew admin, cash, provisioning orders, guest logistics and a lot of spreadsheets. You process invoices, reconcile the petty cash and card statements, code expenses to the right budget lines and keep receipts filed for the management company. When the Purser is off or busy with the Captain, you are the person suppliers, agents and the owner's office call.
Crew admin takes a big share of the week. You keep crew files current, track certificate and ENG1 expiry dates, prepare crew lists for port clearance and book flights for joiners and leavers. You help with visas, rotation calendars and payroll inputs. On charter you build the guest preference sheets, confirm transfers, restaurant bookings and excursions, and liaise with the yacht agent so cars, helicopters and deliveries turn up on time.
Most yachts expect you to step into service when the guests are on board. You might run a lunch, cover a bar shift or help with turndown on a busy night, so solid interior standards matter. The role suits someone organised and discreet who likes numbers as much as hospitality. Expect a desk in the purser's office, long hours in season and a steady trust built with the Captain, Chief Steward and management.
What makes a good one
- Confident with Excel and accounts
- Clear, polite written English
- Calm under logistical pressure
- Discretion with owner and guest information
- Interior service to a high standard
A day in the life
- 07:30Breakfast with the interior team, then check overnight emails from the management company, the charter broker and the agent.
- 08:15Reconcile yesterday's petty cash and card receipts, scan them and code each one to the correct budget line.
- 09:30Meet the Purser and Chief Stewardess to go through the incoming guest preference sheet and split the open tasks.
- 10:30Confirm car transfers and a dinner booking in Saint Tropez with the agent, and chase a florist delivery that is running late.
- 12:00Check in provisions on the dock against the order, flag shortages and log the invoices before they reach the galley.
- 14:00Prepare the crew and guest lists for the next port, and book flights for a deckhand leaving at the end of the week.
- 16:00Guests arrive. You greet them alongside the interior team, then help with welcome drinks and luggage.
- 19:30Cover a service shift at dinner on the main deck, then update the APA spreadsheet with the day's charter spend.
- 22:30Send a short handover note to the Purser covering tomorrow's bookings and open queries, and finish for the night.
Pay by country
Monthly salary for 70m to 150m+ yachts, usually paid in EUR or USD. Charter yachts add tips, typically 5 to 15% of the charter fee shared among crew.
- France and Monaco
- €4,000 – 5,500
- Spain
- €4,000 – 5,500
- Italy
- €4,000 – 5,500
- United Kingdom
- £3,400 – 4,700
- USA (Florida)
- US$4,300 – 6,000
- Caribbean
- US$4,300 – 6,000
- UAE
- AED 16,000 – 22,000
- Australia
- A$6,600 – 9,000
- New Zealand
- NZ$7,300 – 10,000
Required
- STCW Basic Safety Training
- ENG1 medical
- PDSD
- Food Safety Level 2
Recommended
- PYA GUEST interior courses
- Ship Security Officer
- Medical First Aid
- WSET Level 2
- AAT bookkeeping qualification
- Second language
Visas
- Schengen visa
- US B1/B2 or C1/D
- Australian MCV
Where it leads
Assistant Purser jobs open now
Questions crew ask
Do I need an accounting background to become an Assistant Purser?
Not always, but you must be comfortable with spreadsheets, budgets and reconciling cash. Many come from senior stewardess roles, while others join from hotel front office, events or finance with a short spell of interior experience.
Will I still work in service?
On most yachts, yes. When guests are on board you are expected to help with meal service, bar shifts or turndown, especially on charter.
How long until I can move up to Purser?
Two to three years is typical if you take on more of the budget and management communication. Some move up on a smaller yacht as sole Purser first.