Accenture to create 100 Dublin jobs

A LEADING management consultancy firm which is directly linked to 75% of the Fortune 500 companies is set to create 100 jobs in Dublin over the next four years.

In a rare positive announcement for employment in Ireland, Accenture — which already employs 1,300 people in this country — said the positions would become available between now and 2014.

The move is the first job creation announcement since the world’s attention turned to discussions over the bailout of Ireland by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the European Central Bank (ECB) more than a fortnight ago.

A major management consultancy of global renown, Accenture provides technology services and outsourcing to clients in 120 countries and has an international workforce of more than 200,000 people.

While the company’s headquarters is in New York, since 2009 it has been incorporated in Ireland.

Accenture has six other centres based around the world with clients including 75% of the Fortune 500 firms.

The new jobs will be based at a soon to be opened research and innovation centre in Dublin and will involve advanced statistical modelling for companies and various governments.

Speaking after the jobs announcement, which is backed by IDA Ireland, Enterprise Minister Batt O’Keeffe claimed the move was proof the Government is continuing to seek investment in the country.

“The creation of 100 jobs in Accenture’s new analytics innovation centre demonstrates that the Government’s approach to investing in our research and development capacity is the right one for economic recovery,” the minister said. “Investment in research and development underpins indigenous industry, strengthens our foreign-owned multinational corporation base and creates high-quality knowledge-based jobs that can outlast shifts in economic trends,” he added.

The decision by Accenture to increase its investment in Ireland comes at a time when the country is facing increasing pressure from other nations to raise its corporation tax levels.