Career Planning

Candidates often ask us for advice on career planning and how they could secure jobs in different areas.  They also look for helpful advice on where these jobs could lead and what opportunities open up to them.  Here are some helpful hints for those of you considering a career in the following areas:We have many different sections so please click on the area that you are interested in to go directly there

Banking and Financial Services
Industry and Commerce
Practice
Insurance
Sales
Customer Sevice
Life Sciences
Information Technology
Human Resources and Supply Chain

Banking and Financial Services:

Financial Control / Group Reporting

Every financial institution, in any sub-sector, requires Financial Control/Group Reporting personnel. If you are attracted by the typical accountants' career path within the finance team, this could be a great option given the particular complexities that are attached to the banking and financial services sector. There will be plenty of challenge and intellectual stimulation. 

Salaries should compare well with similar roles in industry, while job security is far greater than in some of the front office banking roles, such as Corporate Finance or Equity Research.  After 12-36 months, candidates can also take up roles in project management, product analysis, business analysis and certain business strategy roles. The experience you gain will also be transferable between other financial institutions, and other industries.  Salaries of course can vary but range between €65-90k.

Internal Audit and Risk

As part of an Internal Audit/Risk Management team, you will be responsible for identification and evaluation of the key risks associated with different areas of the business, ensuring effective controls are in place to mitigate those risks. Given that investment banks and other financial services organisations run a broad selection of increasingly complex operations, this is a key role for safeguarding the future success of your organisation.

You will require strong independence of mind, ensuring that issues you identify are addressed appropriately. In the largest institutions, Internal Audit/Risk Management teams focus on specific areas of the business, such as investment banking, asset management, retail banking, and trading. Specialist teams may also cover support functions such as HR and finance itself.

There are also IT audit roles, which focus on auditing the technology, applications and infrastructure that support the business operations.  Opportunities exist to grow into Audit Manager in Industry or Partner positions in practice.   Salaries can range between €55-65k +

Industry & Commerce:

Financial Planning and Analysis

In a Financial Analysis position, you will be providing financial support to a business unit within a large corporate, or to specific departments such as sales, marketing, R&D, distribution etc. You will be analysing performance with a view to identifying how this can be maintained or improved in future. For example, in a retail organisation you could be required to compare the performance of different stores, in a manufacturing company you could be helping the R&D team prepare next year's budgets, or production teams save costs. 

Given the nature of your work, you will gain detailed commercial experience of the units and departments you support. Your contribution will directly affect decision-making within them. Your work may involve a mix of routine or regular tasks, as well as project-based assignments, allowing for considerable variety.  For this role you will need impressive academics, preferably first time passes and/or a 2:1 from college, a proven high level of numeracy, and the ability to talk convincingly about the financial analysis role; the ability to interpret figures in a business context, identifying what really matters for commercial decision-making. 

A successful career here can lead to a Strategic Financial Manager or Chief Financial Officer position.  Salaries of course vary, depending on sector and size of role but a good range is €50 - 65k. 

Group Reporting / Financial Control

This is a proven route to becoming a finance director.  You could stay within Group Reporting/Financial Control and progress through the ranks. You can move within your organisation, from a group role to a position in an operating business - perhaps as a financial controller. Your skills are also highly transferable between companies in similar industry sectors. If you seek to become a finance director in the future you are much better equipped to gain this relevant experience now rather than later, and then branch out into analysis and planning.

If you enjoy the more technical aspects of accounting and finance, a Group Reporting/Financial Control position could suit you. This is a good role for newly qualifieds, as your technical skills will be particularly sharp. The familiarity you gain with accounts preparation and financial control will stand you in good stead should you aspire to become a finance director.  Salaries range between €70-90k +

Internal Audit / Risk Management / Management Assurance

A move into Internal Audit/Risk Management / Management Assurance offers a fast-track way to learn about the business, understand the risks and opportunities it faces, and make contacts with key decision-makers in a large number of divisions. After a couple of years in this role you will have an excellent understanding of the business in its entirety, both financially and operationally. You should also have enhanced your commercial awareness and understanding.

Internal Audit roles are far removed from ticking and bashing and many organisations have renamed these positions accordingly. They might appropriately be called business process analysis, risk consultancy or management assurance. Internal Audit/Risk is a breeding ground for future financial controllers and finance directors. After 18 months or a couple of years you could move into a range of different roles, including financial planning, becoming financial controller of a business unit or taking on an operational role. Your skills can also be easily transferred between different sectors. Should you choose to stay within Internal Audit, you can expect a stimulating and challenging career, potentially earning a six-figure salary.

Tax

If you are attracted by a career in Industry rather than Public Practice, and enjoy the problem solving and technical challenges that Tax provides, this could be a good move. The decisions you make can have a direct impact on the success of your business, which can make for great job satisfaction. In addition, a move into Industry can offer an excellent path for progression to a senior position within the firm. There are options to deal with Corporation Tax, VAT and Personal Tax, including Employee Incentive Schemes.

Depending on the size of the Tax department, you could become a specialist in a particular area or get involved in a wide range of Tax issues, making for great job variety. Depending on the size of the company, you may have a significant amount of project-based work. Your input will directly affect decision making within business units and generate Tax savings, thus having a significant impact on company performance.

The role can therefore be highly commercial, with reporting and analytical aspects and a significant amount of communication with non-finance divisions.  Partner positions in Practice can often follow for the right person. You can command salaries of between €55 - 70k in this area. 

Treasury

Usually based at head office, you will be working in what is effectively the company bank. This is a highly commercial role, involving both reporting and analytical aspects. You will be managing cash balances and currency flows to meet business needs, whether to make acquisitions or pay monthly salaries.

You will be involved in cash flow forecasting and hedging strategies, potentially involving hundreds of millions of Euro. Your role will therefore have a huge impact on company performance. Given that Treasury is a specialist area requiring specific skills, your employer may sponsor you through your exams, particularly if you show a high level of commitment to the company and your role. For this role you will need an interest in Treasury and financial markets, and be able to discuss some of the challenges involved.

You have the chance to develop specialist expertise in an industry sector. Your work in Treasury can also have a very direct short, medium and long-term impact on your company's financial performance. The Treasury function is becoming increasingly sophisticated, which can make for interesting work.  Companies will pay between €55-75k+

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Practice:

Assurance and Advisory

Assurance & Advisory work has come a long way. No longer "tick and bash", it is now a risk based, all-year-round business advisory service to clients. The Big 4 are split into industry sector groups such as Telecoms, Media, Entertainment, Banking & Financial Services, Consumer & Industrial Markets, Energy, Utilities & Chemicals.

As a new joiner you have the opportunity to specialize in the sector of your choice. Their clients include large, listed companies with household brand names. Alternatively, dedicated "Growing Business" groups offer the opportunity to advise smaller entrepreneurial clients. In addition to the statutory assurance assignments, the work will also include a high degree of non-recurring project work or channel 2 work. You could become involved in financial analysis, transaction support or investigation work.  For this role you will need a strong academic record (the Big 4 prefer first time passes and an upper second degree although there is a degree of flexibility here).

The quality of the experience you gained during your training is also important. You should have experience of auditing at least one large company and an understanding or knowledge of IFRS. The traditional training and qualification route for Assurance & Advisory roles is the ACA but strong ACCA candidates will be considered.  Senior Management / Director Roles can follow.  Salaries of between €55-75k+ can be expected.

Forensic Accounting

Forensic accounting centers around investigating accounts, financial data and transactions. You will produce a report then will often support (or defend) commercial and civil law suits. The type of cases include fraud investigation, professional negligence, contractual disputes, fraud risk management, asset tracing and recovery regulatory investigations, loss of profit claims and assessment of damages.

Your team may be called in by companies suspicious about certain aspects of their business who want a professional opinion on whether there may be any wrong doing or fraud taking place.  For people with a detective instinct who are attracted by the legal world, forensic accounting will provide plenty of intellectual stimulation.The work can be extremely varied, potentially involving high profile legal cases (such as the investigation into the collapse of Barings Bank) where significant sums are at stake.

The project-based nature of the assignments ensures the roles are varied and challenging. For this role you will need strong analytical/investigative skills; capable of preparing comprehensive and persuasive reports; confidence and ability to perform under pressure and to tight deadlines, strong academics.  The ultimate role here is Partner in a Practice with a 6 figure salary and benefits.

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Insurance:

As an extremely sales and target-focused individual, you will have a proven track record of providing risk management and consultancy advice to a range of corporate clients which may cover Commercial, Fleet and Manufacturing Insurance, Employers and Public Liability Insurance, Professional Indemnity, Risk Management & Assessment and Special Risks. As you drive the business forward through the generation of revenue, you will also need to keep abreast of on-going IFSRA legislative changes, insurance company new product development and complete your ACII qualification. 

Progression in this position is Corporate Manager where you will responsible for overseeing account executives and negotiation of rates with insurers, marketing initiatives and strategy development.  Salaries range from €40-80k + commission.

Pensions Consultant

Having started your career within pensions administration, progression to the provision of pensions technical advice to clients directly or through the intermediary channels, business development and the generation of revenue is the natural next step. As a Pensions Consultant, you will be responsible for developing potential pensions, investment and wealth management opportunities through the SME and high net worth sectors.

You will undertake strategic financial reviews and provide expert advice on all aspects of a client's financial, legal and taxation requirements. You will need to be a strategic thinker, a results and target-focused individual with graduate qualification and have a thorough understanding of the pensions business. A proven track record of new business development and high numerical capabilities, which in line with your QFA or PMI qualification, will see you drive the business forward and determine your own income levels.

You will be a dynamic individual who can work on their own initiative, adhering to compliance and investment processes. Progression from this role would be to a Pensions or Wealth Manager giving more detailed technical knowledge to corporate clients.  The area is broad, but the salary range is between €60-80k + bonus and benefits. 

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Sales:

Business Development

In every market, particularly today's challenging one, every Organisation needs to identify new business opportunities within current clients and source new forms of revenue in order to grow their business. The Business Development Executive is an integral member of any organisation as he/she helps to increase revenue and bring on board key accounts for the future existence of the company. 

To secure a role here you will need 2-4 years in a new business development role, face to face and b2b exposure complimented by strong communication skills and the ability to cope under pressure.  Individuals must be target driven, natural communicators and enjoy people facing roles.  This role can be found in almost every type of organization including ICT, Insurance, Medical Sales, Professional Services, Product / Retail and many more.

A successful Business Development professional will have excellent career opportunities including progression to Business Development Director with overall responsibility for a BD Team.  Salaries typically start at €25,000, €38,000 with 2+yrs experience and ultimately is unlimited if you find a company with big ticket sales and uncapped commission structures.  

Channel Manager

Channel Manager roles are quite prominent in the Irish market, particularly Dublin.  This job can be found predominantly in IT, Telecoms and Financial Services.  Channel Sales can be described as selling products or services through other companies.  On successful hire into a role like this you will assume responsibility for growing and developing new business opportunities within designated channels and developing new accounts with a view to exceeding growth and revenue targets. 

The key skills required are Exceptional commercial negotiation and influencing skills with a high level of energy and ability to cope in a fast paced environment.  A typical profile is a candidate with 5 years account management experience complimented by experience operating in a wider cross functional team.  You will have an exceptional drive for results, excellent time management skills and self nurtured business acumen.  An average salary ranges from €65k plus commission and can grow to €200k + in company with a favourable commission structure and incentive offers.

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Customer Service:

Customer Service Supervisor

Most companies who are selling products or services will have a customer service function.  The quality and product can vary from Telephone Support to a dedicated call centre.  Starting at quite a junior level, the mid range in this role is a Customer Service Supervisor.  Your department is key to the success of any large organization where quality customer service is of vital importance to the running of their business. Ensuring high productivity, monitoring calls and providing each staff member with effective feedback will motivate each team member to produce quality results.

To secure a supervisory role you will have 3 plus years experience in a supervisory capacity in a customer service environment.  Your skills will be tried, tested and refined in Conflict resolution skills, People leadership skills, Strong online and technical knowledge and an ability to cope in a pressured environment.   General Management and Operations role are the likely career progression options.  This is an area that generates a lot of interest in Ireland as many companies have located their Call Centres here, so plenty of rewarding opportunities can be found for individuals who are passionate about the customer experience and getting the most out of people in the workplace. 

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Life Sciences:

Process Engineer / Manufacturing Engineer

Every manufacturing organisation, in every sector requires an Engineering team. An Engineering team's function is to apply technical & scientific knowledge to design & implement machines, materials, structures, processes etc to realise a desired objective.  There are many different areas of specialization available, from chemical engineering to electrical, mechanical, automation, controls, facilities, utilities etc.

Technician positions are available in these specialist areas also. If you have a strong technical aptitude coupled with an analytical & inquisitive mind this could be the role for you.   For engineers, after 5-7 years experience, candidates generally move into a lead/senior engineering, engineering management, or project management role. Technicians can move into a lead technician, maintenance management position or alternatively into an engineering position.  Salaries across most industries are broadly similar. In general engineering roles within chemical organisations may offer slightly higher salaries than average, with engineering positions in the Food industry coming in slightly below average.

Starting salaries for Engineers are approx €28-€30k, starting salaries for technicians are approx €24-€26k Engineering experience gained in one industry is easily transferable to other industry sectors.  For people who prefer a role as an Individual Contributor you can become a Project Manager / Contractor or those of you who prefer to manage, you career can lead to an Engineering Management function. 

Quality Assurance / Quality Control

Quality Assurance (QA) is an ongoing process of ensuring the quality of a product. In general QA checks are completed following the implementation of QC procedures. Quality Control (QC) is a system of routine technical activities & checks to measure and control the quality of the product as it is being developed.  Quality Assurance encompasses roles such as Quality Manager /Supervisor, Quality Engineer /Officer, Regulatory Affairs, Compliance, Validation & Documentation Control / Review.

QC is a more specific area; roles available are focused mostly in or around the Laboratory. Some roles available are QC Manager / Supervisor, LIMS, QC Analyst, R&D Chemist, Analytical Chemist.  Candidates usually commence careers in QA/QC in a junior position & advance to a management position after approx 8-9 years.  Starting salaries for QA Officer / QC Analysts are approx €27k. Management positions command salaries in the €60-€100k range depending on organisation size.

Experience gained in one industry is transferable to other industry sectors, however in general organisations like candidates to have experience in the specific industry sectors, e.g. Life Science organisations prefer candidates to have experience in the Life Science sector.  The top role in this is a Quality Manager / Director.  General Management functions are also common.

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Information Technology (IT):

Helpdesk Engineer / System Administrator

Nowadays almost every company regardless of industry or sector has an IT department that is a mission critical aspect of day to day operations. In some instances this is an in house function and in larger organizations it is outsourced to a professional services company whose sole responsibility is the maintenance and upkeep of an IT infrastructure. A helpdesk engineer will typically have a third level IT Diploma or Degree complimented by one or more industry qualifications such as Microsoft MCP, Cisco CCNA or CompTIA+.

Responsibilities include proactively ensuring that network software and hardware is updated and maintained to allow for a maximum amount of uptime and reactively dealing with break fix issues for staff. The experience gained as a helpdesk engineer opens up a number of career opportunities including field service engineering, network and system administration and IT management.  A typical salary range is €25-45k depending upon experience and qualification.

IT Manager

As an IT manager you will be responsible for the smooth running of the IT infrastructure and IT staff within a company. Given the level of responsibility an IT manager will be expected to have expert knowledge across a high number of technologies and operating systems and therefore will typically have 6 to 8 years of experience in an administration or senior engineering role. An IT manager will be expected to tackle and solve issues that are escalated from senior members of the IT team and also act in a consultative capacity when called upon. Career progression opportunities would include the role of Chief Technology Officer or IT Director.  An IT Manager can command salaries in the range of €55k-€70k.

Visual C++ Programmer

As a Visual C++ Programmer you will have an opportunity to design and develop software tools which will be used by the World's leading software companies.  Within the team, emphasis is placed on designing robust and maintainable applications. These applications include debugging and performance analysis tools. To secure such a position you will need 3-5 years practical experience of developing Microsoft Windows applications with graphical user interfaces, Strong C++ development skills and Demonstrable OO design skills.

There is an opportunity to grow your technology skill set and expertise in the following: Visual C++ frameworks including ATL/WTL, Debugger Internals, Debugging file formats, Developing debuggers, MIPS, PowerPC or ARM architectures. Progression in this area will ultimately lead to Senior Development Architect.  Salaries range from €40-75k. 

C# Software Engineer

The Irish market is currently experiencing a demand for this skillset. Clients are seeking outstanding software engineers to work on their core products and applications. You will be focused on delivering a "best in business" suite of options for customers.  To get a role at this level you will have strong C# experience and have a preference to work in a fast-paced and exciting environment with a focus on delivering business benefits via agile development methodologies.

You will need strong commercial C#/ SQL Server, although not essential the following technologies will certainly give an added advantage and room for technical career growth within this type of role: Experience developing enterprise-class software (7x24, availability, serviceability),Web Services, .NET WCF in particular, good working knowledge of ANSI C/C++,TCP/IP, WinSock or Client/Server programming, Experience with Payment Processing Systems(ACH, Credit Cards, NETEller, PayPal etc) Progression in this area will ultimately lead to Senior Development Architect.  A "C" Sharp developer can earn between €45 and €65k + bonus and benefits. 

Software Development Manager

This is a proven route to becoming a director of engineering or a CTO.  You could stay within in-house development and progress through the ranks. As you build your skills in leading teams and projects and producing quality deliverables you can move to becoming a more strategic development director.

These skills are also highly transferable between companies and the technologies used become less important as you move into a more strategic management role. If you seek to become a Software Development Director in the future you are much better equipped to gain experience in best practice methodologies (AGILE or PRINCE 11 etc) for delivering software and projects. Experience in the outsourcing area is highly desirable also (vendor recruitment, SLA definition and ongoing management) as more and more companies go down this road in utilizing low cost centres for noncore development / localization.

If you want to go down the road to CTO, customer facing experience is essential as is evangelizing product features whilst engaging in the sales process as well as leading development projects.  A typical salary range is 465-€85k + benefits. 

Project Manager

This is a proven route to becoming a programme manager and moving into a variety of business management functions.  Project managers come in two main varieties - functional / Business project managers or Technical Project managers. Functional project managers are less technical and engage in classical project management usually based around some methodology (PMI or PRINCE being two of the most popular in the market at the moment).

As you build your skills in leading projects and producing quality deliverables you can move to managing multiple projects, managing budgets and teams. Relationship management skills become paramount in becoming a programme manager as is change management. Getting things done through people.  These skills are also highly transferable between companies and industries as you move into a more strategic project management role.  As a technical project manager - you may have come from the development route yourself.  Technologies in vogue now are J2EE / .NET and web2.0. If you seek to become a Software Development Manager in the future you are much better equipped to gain experience in best practice methodologies (AGILE or PRINCE 11 etc) for delivering software and projects.

Experience in the outsourcing area is highly desirable also (vendor recruitment, SLA definition and ongoing management) as more and more companies go down this road in utilizing low cost centres for non core development / localization. A typical salary range is €45-€90k. While this is quite broad, it is clear that investment in training and skills acquisition will enable you to command those larger numbers. 

Technical or Solution Architect

Technical or Solution Architects can be either internally focused within an organisation or client facing, designing customised solutions according to client requirements.  A Technical Architect will usually need a Degree (preferably Masters) in a relevant technology related subject and proven experience in designing products or solutions in a specific technology set i.e. telecom technologies, database or software development languages. Experience with the full product or software development lifecycle is essential. 

As lead technical authority on a particular product or technology area you would be responsible for leading the architect engagement with clients in the design of complex technical solutions and managing the design and review process for proposed technical architectures for clients and report on their suitability to meet target service levels and service delivery costs. You may also be involved  with the Pre-Sales process and work cross functionally with the sales team.  You would also analyse existing client technology & processes and recommend optimisation and good practice improvements. 

Technical or Solution Architects are highly skilled and experienced individuals who lead the way in terms of company direction and product innovation and set industry benchmarks and are forever pushing the boundaries in cutting edge technologies. Salaries can vary between €65 and €80k+

Product Manager - Technology

ICT and Telco firms usually hire Product Managers to launch new products and services to the marketplace.  As a Product manager you will provide business and market leadership and develop product vision and strategy by leveraging best in class Product Management practices.  Your employer will expect you to ensure all product initiatives are brought to market in a quick and efficient way, in order to meet company strategic & financial objectives.  

To do this you will need a relevant Degree in either marketing or technology related subject and demonstrable experience in gathering design and business requirements and converting them into a product vision. You will also need strong quantitative analytical abilities and good report writing and presentation skills to present results and business cases to senior management. You would be responsible for maximising the existing product set and managing the development and productising of new products and solutions, driving initiatives from inception through to launch and by driving cross-functional teams, bringing new possibilities to customers. Product Manager roles can give great exposure across different functions in an organisation -sales, marketing, finance, operations or technology as well as to the general market and client base.

Depending on background or focus, Product Managers can either continue on the Product management route to senior product management or marketing roles within an organisation or become technical experts in their particular product set.  Salaries range from €55-75k + bonus and benefits. 
 
Business Analyst

This is a proven route to becoming a project manager or a Product manager. Business Analysts come in two main varieties - functional / business project managers or Technical Business Analysts. Functional Business Analysts are less technical and engage in business process definition around some major changes and are adept at change management and relationship management to get peoples time and buy in to changes coming.  

Technical business Analysts usually come from the software development route and have experience capturing requirements using some formal tools (UML / Use case documents) experience in which is in demand in today's market.   These skills are also highly transferable between companies and industries as you move into a more project management focused role as all project management begins with the analytical phase which business analysts are adept in.

If a business analyst is working with a particular software / IT product then the experience gained in client facing capturing requirements for changes and configurations in the product allows the BA to progress into a wider role of Product Manager where you take ownership of how the product is changing to face market requirements and is a more commercial role having responsibility for the revenue of the product and its sales.  Salaries range from €30-€75k depending on skills, experience and knowledge transfer. 

Business Intelligence Analyst

The purpose of business intelligence is to support better business decision making. BI systems provide historical, current, and predictive views of business operations using data that has been gathered into a data warehouse. Software tools such as Cognos, Hyperion, Business Objects are used to extract the data and compile reports.  Typically, the requirements for the role of Business Intelligence Analyst are a Degree or equivalent in Computer Science with a strong foundation in SQL and RDBMS technology, capped off with proficiency in one or more reporting tools and very strong oral and written communication skills. Salaries start at €35,000 for business intelligence.  A Senior Business Intelligence Analyst would earn up to €80,000 and could continue into a business intelligence consulting / operations manager role.

Application Support Analyst

An Application Support Analyst supports an organisation's internal software systems. Responsibilities typically include configuration, resolution and on-going support of the system(s). Large financial institutes and software development organizations will often look for application support staff in order to free up the software developers' time and provide support to the business user(s).  

Candidates need a technical degree or equivalent, some software development capabilities, knowledge of at least one RDBMSs and an interest in troubleshooting / problem resolution. Excellent communication skills are an essential element of these roles in addition to strong business acumen.   Salaries begin at €28,000 for these roles, up to approximately €45,000. Application Support staff often continue into Senior Application Support / Application Support Team Lead / Software Development / Business Analyst roles. 

Quality Assurance (QA)

Every company is obliged to stand over the quality of Software they are producing.  We have seen an increase in Software Development roles that also include the Quality function. They can be referred to SDETS - Software Developers and Testers.  However the traditional role is a standalone function and is integral and vital to the success of a product and the relationship that a software provider has with their customers. 

Quality assurance engineers are responsible for assuring that the various products leaving the manufacturing or Development Company are effective and free from defects or operational problems. Quality assurance engineers may work in a variety of different industries, e.g. financial/telecoms, depending on the product being tested. 

QA Engineers often progress to leadership positions within QA or may move into the area of Software Development.  You will be educated to Diploma or Degree status and expect salaries of €35-€65k. 

Localisation Engineers

Localisation Engineers are responsible for adapting a product to meet the language, cultural and other requirements of a specific target market.  Localisation includes the translation of the user interfaces, online help and documentation.  You will be expected to ensure that the images and concepts are culturally appropriate and sensitive.

Localisation Engineers can progress to a project management role or a position of leadership within localization.  The educational requirement can range from Certificate level to third level Degree with salaries ranging from €28-€45k.  This is a great starting ground for anyone considering a move into IT as you will gain an appreciation of a software company's product, product life cycle, customer and end user.

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Human Resources and Supply Chain:

HR Administrator

Recognised as the door into a career in Human Resources, the HR Administrator is always a sought after vacancy.  Many graduates enter the Irish market every year and are often disappointed at the lack of available jobs.   Your interview skills will need to be well polished before attending this important first job interview.  HR demands flexibility, creativity, empathy, knowledge, commercial acumen and an effective communication style.  

You may find yourself working as a PA to the HR Director while taking on administration and reporting duties.  There is no way around this; you need to learn your trade before you can offer any advice to line managers.  You will be rewarded with a career that offers endless possibilities and a skill set that transcends any sector.   Starting salaries are from €20k and go as high as €32k + benefits.

HR Business Partner

HR is an area that continues to show growth despite a slowing economy. Companies regardless of their size or structure continue to see the benefits of having suitably qualified HR professionals to manage the attraction, development and retention of their key personnel. Positions such as Business Partners exist to provide strategic and operational direction to organisations that have a clear vision of where they would like to go.In some cases these professionals operate almost as a Consultant to the organisation whilst in other companies their function may have a dual purpose by also providing day to day operational support. 

Salaries for these roles vary depending on the organisation but for many experienced Business Partners their salaries can be aligned with that of the HR Manager whom they are seen to work in tandem with.  HR is an area that offers an obvious career path from HR Administrator all the way up the value chain to Head of Human Resources (Director) .Typical salaries are €50-€65k + benefits and bonus. 

Head of Human Resources / HR Director

Most companies will have a HR function. A general rule of thumb is to have 1 HR Representative for every 60-70 employees.  There are a number of specific roles within the area enabling you to qualify with a HR Qualification and then specialize. 

The functions are not mutually exclusive but can be categorized into:  Recruitment and Selection, Manpower Planning, Employee Engagement and Relations, Training and Development, Industrial Legislation / Employment Legislation.  Throughout your career you will be exposed to most, if not all of these areas.  Once at Manager level, you can set your sights on the number 1 spot - HR Director.  In a smaller company, this role can still be quite operational.  However in a large company in any sector from IT and Telecoms to Finance and Banking you will assume a more strategic role.  

Employers will looks for MBAs or MA's at this level and in some cases we have placed PhD candidates who specialise in HR.  Strategic HR Directors will sit on the board of Directors and advise their fellow Directors on best practice for all staffing issues.  The HR Director will guide the company to achieving their objectives through people.  A great role in any firm that is fast becoming more recognised as a vital element to companies achieving success.  We have seen packages here as high as €250k+ but typically start at €90k + bonus and benefits. 

Supply Chain Manager

Another steady growth area is Supply Chain although the need for formal qualifications is becoming a key factor in determining candidate's long-term success. Supply Chain professionals will have experience at sourcing product or services.  As the Irish economy has evolved we are seeing an increase in demand of service based supply chain managers.  Outsourcing is a common and trusted route for companies wishing to specialize in their core business. 

You will need experience at on boarding and managing third party Vendors and agree Service Level Agreements (SLAs).  Historically candidates moved up the value chain through purchasing or planning and got involved on a more operational level with the running of the business. Now Supply Chain is seen as a critical control of materials, information, and finances as they move in a process from supplier to manufacturer to distributor.

Supply Chain Mangers are more highly qualified than ever before and armed with the right qualifications and experience can command exceptionally high 6 figure salaries.  A Supply Chain Manager can earn between €45,000 and €70,000 + bonus and benefits.