Payment services provider to create 50 Irish jobs

PAYMENT SERVICES provider Realex Payments is creating 50 jobs in Ireland over the next six months after it won a significant services deal in the UK.

Details have not yet been announced, but the company said the deal would see it providing outsourced services to a financial institution for its retailer’s online payment processing.

Realex’s client base will increase to 10,000 retailers in the coming year as a result, compared to 5,000 currently.

The new roles will be in customer service, product management and IT, and will mainly be based in the company’s office in Monkstown, Dublin.

“Over the last few years, we have invested heavily in expanding our operations throughout Europe – our UK business is now boarding almost 100 retailers a month, we opened in Paris earlier this year and are now live processing into local French banks,” said chief executive Colm Lyon.

Realex also revealed details of its financial results for the year, recording a ninth consecutive year of revenue growth. The company increased its revenue by 10 per cent for 2010, reaching €7.7 million, while accumulated profits were 14 per cent higher at €3.5 million. The Irish Software Association (ISA) welcomed the announcement by Realex, saying it highlighted the strength of the indigenous software sector.

“Since January this year, over 80 jobs a week have been announced by indigenous or multinational technology firms based in Ireland,” said ISA director Paul Sweetman. “Employment in the sector increased by 6 per cent in 2009 and a further 4 per cent in 2010.”

Realex was founded Mr Lyon, a former Ulster Bank executive, in 2000. Its clients include include Vodafone, Virgin Atlantic, Aer Lingus, Motortax.ie, Party Poker and Cryptologic.