Global Shares has announced the creation of 80 new jobs in Cork.

The provider of share plan administration software says this due to rapid global expansion.

The new positions will bring its total global employee base to 228.

The new jobs are across many areas of the business - IT, financial, service desk, and legal.

Some of these positions are supported by the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation through Enterprise Ireland.

Recruitment is to begin immediately with all positions to be filled over the next 24 months.

Some 80% of the new positions will be based in Ireland - primarily at its headquarters in Clonakilty.

Speaking at the announcement in Cork, Minister of State for Financial Services Michael D’Arcy said: "Over the last three years, Global Shares has achieved phenomenal global sales success, illustrating the potential of Ireland’s financial services sector to create high value, sustainable employment which is of such importance to local communities across the country."

Tim Houstoun, CEO of Global Shares, added: "Today's job announcement is significant in that we have exceeded our three-year expansion target set in 2015 to create 80 new jobs with today’s announcement bringing the total to 160 new positions.

"We have experienced stellar growth across every aspect of our business over the past two years and additionally became MiFID & FINRA/SEC regulated, meaning we can now offer clients a complete one-stop solution to manage every aspect of their employee share plan."

Global Shares is Irish-owned and Irish-headquartered and has invested significantly in its home market in recent years, opening new offices, establishing a new Irish team and gaining an influential client base.