competent administrator

[blueeye]

"Alhough successful administrative officer, she was a bit rigid, I suppose. After all, Ministry circulars haven't even force of law, so there's no sense in treating them as if they are personally dictated by God Almighty. I doubt whether Miss Bolam would have got much further. Mind you, she was competent, methodical, and highly conscientious officer."
Can anyone help me with the highlighted sentence from P.D. James' A Mind to Kill?

Thanks.

[bhaisahab]

"Alhough successful administrative officer, she was a bit rigid, I suppose. After all, Ministry circulars haven't even force of law, so there's no sense in treating them as if they are personally dictated by God Almighty. I doubt whether Miss Bolam would have got much further. Mind you, she was competent, methodical, and highly conscientious officer."
Can anyone help me with the highlighted sentence from P.D. James' A Mind to Kill?

Thanks.

The speaker is saying that he doesn't think Miss Bolam would have advanced much more in her career. (I presume she's dead?)