Dublin is fast emerging as a prime location for front office jobs, and is shooting up the global financial centre ranking tables.

The latest Global Financial Centres Index (GFCI)
shows the Irish capital is finding its feet on the global stage. In this survey, Dublin was ranked 13th, up from 15th in the previous study and 22nd this time last year.

What’s more, Dublin easily brushed off competition from other fund administration centres like Luxembourg (17th) and the Cayman Islands (25th).

Mark Yeandle, author of the GFCI report, by consultants Z/Yen in association with the City of London, reckons this is because Dublin has broadened its horizons: “Initially, it was seen as an operations centre, and many firms have moved there as a result. Now, it’s become far more than that and it’s a place where asset managers, dealers and brokers want to be based.”

He tips Dublin to continue its ascent up the global rankings over the next few years, as more front office operations open up there.

But as wealth managers, asset managers and investment banks flock to the Emerald Isle, is there a big enough talent pool locally to fill the new roles?

Jude Davis, recruiter for Canada Life, which also owns local asset manager Setanta Asset Managers, thinks not: “Realistically, we have to look internationally as well as to the local talent pool as it’s so small and incestuous. This also means there’s a lot of movement in the job market in this space.”