Critical Skills Permit | Dublin | Cork | Big Four | Banks | Fund Administration | €40K–€120K+ Salaries

Ireland has become one of Europe’s strongest finance hubs. Dublin, Cork, Galway, and Limerick host multinational banks, investment managers, fund administrators, Big Four firms, and fast-scaling fintechs. The best part for international applicants: many employers sponsor Critical Skills Employment Permits when they can’t hire locally—especially for hard-to-fill roles in accounting, funds, risk, compliance, analytics, and corporate finance. Salaries range from €40,000 to €120,000+ with comprehensive benefits packages including bonuses, pensions, healthcare, and relocation support.

Why Work in Ireland’s Finance Industry?

• High demand + clear visa routes: Critical Skills Employment Permit actively supports skilled finance talent
• Strong compensation: Competitive salaries, performance bonuses, pensions, 25–30 days’ leave, relocation support
• Global brands: Build CV credibility with firms spanning U.S., EU, and APAC markets
• Career growth: Clear pathways from analyst/accountant to controller, finance manager, and CFO
• English-speaking EU base: Work in English while accessing the EU market and lifestyle
• Path to residency: Critical Skills permit holders eligible for Stamp 4 after 2 years

Salary Expectations by Role (2026)

Annual gross salaries. Packages typically include bonuses (10–30%), pension contributions, private healthcare, study support, and relocation assistance.

Role	Salary (€)	Notes
Junior Accountant / Graduate	€38,000 – €48,000	Entry-level, trainee programs
Financial Analyst	€50,000 – €70,000	Forecasting, FP&A, reporting
Chartered Accountant (ACCA/ACA/CPA)	€55,000 – €80,000	Qualified, 2–5 years exp
Fund Accountant	€50,000 – €75,000	NAV, reconciliations, funds
Risk Analyst	€55,000 – €85,000	Market, credit, operational risk
Tax Consultant	€55,000 – €90,000	Corporate, transfer pricing
Compliance Officer / AML-KYC	€55,000 – €90,000	Regulatory, monitoring
Treasury Analyst	€55,000 – €80,000	Liquidity, FX, cash management
Payroll Specialist (EMEA)	€45,000 – €65,000	Multi-country, systems
Corporate Finance Executive	€60,000 – €100,000	M&A, valuations, deals
Internal Auditor	€55,000 – €85,000	SOX, controls, risk reviews
Financial Controller	€80,000 – €120,000+	Leadership, consolidation
Investment/Portfolio Manager	€90,000 – €150,000+	Asset management, funds

Location premium: Dublin offers highest salaries (10–20% above Cork/Galway) but higher living costs. Cork, Galway, and Limerick offer strong roles with better cost-of-living balance.

Top Hiring Regions

Dublin

Finance hub status: Highest concentration of global banks, asset managers, Big Four, and fintechs

• Major employers: P. Morgan, Citi, Bank of America, State Street, Northern Trust, BNY Mellon
• Big Four: Deloitte, EY, KPMG, PwC—all with major Dublin offices
• Tech finance: Google, Meta, LinkedIn, Salesforce finance teams

Cork

• Sectors: Pharma, medical devices, tech, shared service centers
• Employers: Apple, Dell, Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer, EMC
• Cost advantage: 20–30% lower living costs than Dublin with competitive salaries

Galway & Limerick

• Sectors: Medical devices finance, fund administration, shared services
• Employers: Medtronic, Boston Scientific, Northern Trust (Limerick)
• Lifestyle: Best quality of life, lower housing costs, strong savings potential

Visa Types & Work Permits

Critical Skills Employment Permit (CSEP)

Best for: Accountants, financial analysts, actuaries, risk/compliance professionals

• Salary threshold: €38,000+ for occupations on Critical Skills list; €64,000+ for all other roles
• Duration: 2 years initially
• Key benefit: Eligible for Stamp 4 (open work permission) after 2 years
• Family: Spouse/partner can work immediately; children can attend school
• Processing: 4–8 weeks typically; employer must be registered

General Employment Permit (GEP)

Best for: Junior finance roles, payroll, AP/AR positions not on Critical Skills list

• Salary threshold: €34,000+ (minimum)
• Labor market test: Employer must advertise role in Ireland/EEA first
• Duration: 2 years initially, renewable
• Path to Stamp 4: After 5 years of employment

Intra-Company Transfer (ICT)

• For: Senior managers or specialists transferring from overseas offices
• Requirement: 6+ months employment with company abroad
• Duration: Up to 5 years

12 Finance Jobs with Visa Sponsorship

1. Financial Analyst

Salary: €50,000 – €70,000/year

• Duties: Forecasting, budgeting, variance analysis, executive dashboards, business partnering
• Sectors: Tech, pharma, banking, FMCG
• Sponsorship: Very common—core FP&A function at every multinational

2. Chartered Accountant (ACCA/ACA/CPA/CIMA)

Salary: €55,000 – €80,000/year

• Duties: Financial/management accounts, statutory reporting, audit support, controls
• Employers: Big Four, global banks, multinationals, SSCs
• Demand: Critical Skills eligible—strong sponsorship likelihood

3. Risk Analyst (Market/Credit/Operational)

Salary: €55,000 – €85,000/year

• Duties: Risk modeling, stress testing, ICAAP, IFRS 9 exposure, regulatory reporting
• Employers: Banks, insurers, fintech lending platforms
• Certifications: FRM or PRM valued

4. Corporate Finance Executive

Salary: €60,000 – €100,000/year

• Duties: M&A support, financial modeling, valuations, due diligence, deal execution
• Employers: Big Four transaction services, boutique advisory, corporate development teams
• Skills: Strong financial modeling, CFA progress valued

5. Payroll Specialist (EMEA)

Salary: €45,000 – €65,000/year

• Duties: Multi-country payroll processing, statutory filings, benefits administration
• Employers: Shared service centers (tech, pharma multinationals)
• Systems: Workday, ADP, SAP HCM experience valued

6. Tax Consultant

Salary: €55,000 – €90,000/year

• Duties: Corporate tax compliance, transfer pricing, VAT, tax advisory
• Employers: Big Four, mid-tier firms, in-house tax teams
• Demand: Ireland’s corporate tax regime drives constant demand

7. Investment Manager / Portfolio Analyst

Salary: €90,000 – €150,000+/year

• Duties: Portfolio management, investment analysis, ESG integration, client reporting
• Location: Primarily Dublin-based asset managers
• Qualifications: CFA highly valued; strong bonus potential

8. Fund Accountant / Administrator

Salary: €50,000 – €75,000/year

• Duties: NAV calculations, reconciliations, investor reporting, fund launches
• Employers: State Street, Northern Trust, BNY Mellon, Citco, SS&C
• Ireland’s position: Europe’s largest funds domicile—massive demand

9. Treasury Analyst

Salary: €55,000 – €80,000/year

• Duties: Liquidity management, FX/IR risk, cash forecasting, bank relationships
• Employers: Corporates with regional treasury centers, banks
• Systems: Kyriba, SAP TRM, Bloomberg experience valued

10. Compliance Officer / AML-KYC Specialist

Salary: €55,000 – €90,000/year

• Duties: Regulatory compliance, transaction monitoring, remediation projects, policy development
• Employers: Banks, fund administrators, payment companies, fintechs
• Certification: ICA diploma, ACAMS valued

11. Internal Auditor

Salary: €55,000 – €85,000/year

• Duties: Risk reviews, SOX/controls testing, process improvements, audit reports
• Employers: Financial services, pharma, tech multinationals
• Certification: CIA, CISA valued

12. Financial Controller

Salary: €80,000 – €120,000+/year

• Duties: Team leadership, consolidation, board reporting, business partnering, audit liaison
• Experience: Typically 7–10+ years with professional qualification
• Sponsorship: Common for experienced controllers at multinationals

Where to Find Finance Jobs with Sponsorship

• ie: Ireland’s largest job board—filter for finance and visa sponsorship
• ie: Strong finance section with work permit listings
• LinkedIn Jobs: Filter for Ireland + ‘visa sponsorship’ or ‘Critical Skills’
• Indeed Ireland: Set alerts for finance roles mentioning work permit support
• Company career pages: Big Four, global banks, fund administrators, tech multinationals
• Recruiters: Hays, Morgan McKinley, Robert Walters, Sigmar, Barden

Top Employers Sponsoring Finance Roles

Big Four

• Deloitte, EY, KPMG, PwC—audit, tax, advisory, consulting

Global Banks

• P. Morgan, Citi, Bank of America, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Barclays

Fund Administrators

• State Street, Northern Trust, BNY Mellon, Citco, SS&C, Apex Group

Tech Finance Teams

• Google, Meta, LinkedIn, Salesforce, Microsoft, Amazon—EMEA finance hubs

Pharma & Medical Devices

• Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson, Medtronic, Boston Scientific, Abbott

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a professional qualification?

Not always required, but ACCA/ACA/CPA/CIMA/CFA significantly increase your chances and salary bands. Many employers sponsor candidates studying toward qualifications.

Which city should I target?

Dublin for maximum opportunities and highest salaries. Cork, Galway, and Limerick offer excellent roles with 20–30% lower living costs—better for net savings.

How long does the permit process take?

Critical Skills: 4–8 weeks typically. General Employment Permit: 6–12 weeks. Having complete documents ready speeds the process significantly.

Can my family join me?

Yes. Under Critical Skills, your spouse/partner can work immediately without a separate permit. Children can attend school. Family reunification is straightforward.

Start Your Ireland Finance Career

Ireland offers exceptional opportunities for finance professionals—strong demand across banking, funds, Big Four, and multinationals, clear Critical Skills visa pathway, competitive salaries (€40K–€120K+), and a genuine path to permanent residency. Whether you specialize in accounting, audit, risk, compliance, or FP&A, Irish employers are actively seeking international talent.

Your Next Steps

1. Choose target role + city (e.g., Fund Accountant in Dublin, Risk Analyst in Cork)
2. Build Irish-style CV: 2 pages max, quantified achievements, certifications, ‘visa sponsorship required’
3. Shortlist 15–20 employers and set job alerts with sponsorship filters
4. Apply in batches (5–7 roles twice weekly) and contact recruiters on LinkedIn
5. Prepare documents: passport, transcripts, certifications, references
6. Interview prep: 6–8 STAR stories on forecasting, controls, audit findings
7. Confirm Critical Skills vs General permit, salary, and relocation support in writing

Your Ireland finance career starts with the right preparation. Begin your application today.