• Night managers need to stay alert.Manager. image by Blue Moon from Fotolia.com
  
  Depending on the industry, a night manager's job can differ in slight ways. However, for the most part, managing the night shift entails making sure that everything is cleaned up, closed up and ready for the start of the next business day. Whether the term is night auditor, night lead or night manager, the duties of those in charge of the night shift are similar across the industries.
  
  

Managing Night Shift Personnel

• The night manager is in charge of making sure night shift personnel take breaks and lunches according to state laws and regulations. Sometimes night shift personnel want to "get in and get out" by skipping lunches and breaks. Night managers must make sure this doesn't happen. The night shift or "graveyard" shift is not a time to sleep. They need to be on their toes and alert in order to keep their staff productive.
  
  

Balancing Accounts

• Making night bank deposits is part of many night managers' duties. In some industries, such as retail, the night people may handle customers through their shifts. Nonetheless the night manager must make time during that shift to make an accounting of business through balancing a ledger or making a "night drop" of money from registers or the safe. This is sometimes a daunting responsibility, since many industries require two people to a handle a night deposit. When a night manager must use another staff member to assist, there needs to be a consideration of scheduling to make sure things are covered in their absence.
  
  

Replenishing Stock

• Often it's the job of the night manager to assure that stock is replenished during their shift. In some cases they must prepare orders, handing both shipping and receiving responsibilities. This, in addition to managing personnel and late night customers, can make it additionally challenging for night time managers or auditors, as the position is sometimes called.
  
  

After Hour customer Care

• In some industries such as hotels, the night managers must be available for a variety of night-time duties. They must be able to handle late-night housekeeping, room check-in, and check-outs, while also making sure other hotel tenants are not disturbed by bustling front desk activities. Night hotel managers must handle maintenance emergencies such as broken ice machines and non-working door keys. They have to also be alert in case of activities that require them to call the authorities.
  
  

Managing Night Time Healthcare Needs

• One of the more challenging night managerial positions comes in health care. ER rooms and assisted-living facilities are often fraught with night-time emergencies. It is lot of responsibility to manage personnel, handle discreet management of patient records, clean rooms, receive guests, and deliver competent and professional patient care, which could include medication disbursement. Nonetheless these responsibilities all fall under the duty list for night health-care management.