A top UK provider of pension and employee benefit services, Xafinity, has announced a multi-million pound investment in Northern Ireland.

Xafinity Consulting will provide these clients with a full range of pensions consulting, actuarial and administration services going forward and aims to grow its business in Northern Ireland.

It has established a new office in Belfast City, thus securing the employment of 20 actuaries, investment consultants and administrators who have transferred from PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Northern Ireland. A further 10 new high-value jobs will be created in the coming months.

Xafinity Consulting's Managing Director, Robert Birmingham commented: "This office expansion represents a very important development in our company's ambitious plans for growth and expands our geographic footprint into Northern Ireland.

"Our Belfast office will enable us to develop a bigger client base and increase the number of pension professionals to provide high quality pensions advisory and administration services to organisations throughout Northern Ireland and Great Britain.

"We have been impressed by the calibre of the people available and the skills base in Northern Ireland and this will add to our capability and expertise to service clients on a local basis," he said.

The expansion of Xafinity has been applauded by CBI Northern Ireland Chairman, Terence Brannigan, who said that it proves that Northern Ireland can successfully attract financial services companies and create high value jobs: "The establishment of Xafinity in Northern Ireland is excellent news for the local economy as it is not only secures local jobs but creates an additional ten posts for skilled workers.

"We are particularly pleased that the investment has been made by one of the most respected brands in the area of pensions and employee benefits and is part of a group which employs 3,500 people throughout the UK."

(BMcC/KMcA)