Meet our People

Paul Thompson – Sage 50 Support Team Manager

I joined Sage in June 2006 and started working in the Customer Services department. Since joining Sage I have enjoyed various roles and responsibilities which have helped me develop my career. I started working in Technical Support in the Sage 50 team which gave me expert knowledge of the product and customer service. Three years on and I have briefly worked in Sage’s Professional Services Department and I am now managing the Sage 50 Support Team. My background initially was in Computer Programming but since joining Sage I have been given the opportunity to learn about people management, something which I was always interested in doing.

One of the things that I really like about working in Sage is that management really encourages their employees to develop, both personally and professionally. A typical day in work for me would consist of coaching and encouraging members of my team so that they are confident and competent in dealing with our customers. I also try to encourage my team to progress and develop by involving themselves in various projects.

Sage is a great place to work; there is a huge focus on making our own people great so that we can provide a great service. The people and the environment are second to none.

Miriam Berney – Productivity, Training and Quality Manager

I have been working in Sage Ireland for eight years. Sage has opened up many doors and career paths for me.

I first joined Sage Ireland as a Technical Support Executive which combined my passions of IT, Accountancy and Customer services. I enjoyed this role very much as it gave me great job satisfaction. I spoke to many different types of customers and with a wide range of queries, which kept me interested in the role.

Technical support was the gateway into Training. After two and half years of working in technical support, an opportunity for an Internal Training and Coach role became available which I jumped on. Training and coaching is my passion, I love working with people and helping them get the most out of themselves. I was responsible for training team members in Technical Support. During this time I became a qualified Trainer through CIPD which was a great achievement for me and allowed me to adapt and change my training and add value to the organisation.

After about 2 years as a Trainer and Coach, the Training & Quality Manager position came up which I applied for and was successful. Sage is a fast paced organisation, which allows anyone with the right attitude, drive and skillset to move quickly up the career ladder. I am a promoter of continuous professional development and always encourage my team to grow and develop their skills and knowledge and achieve their goals. This is fully backed up by many programmes within Sage such as the educational sponsorship programmes, our career development structure within Technical support and our Excellence Through People appraisal system.

A typical day for me in Sage usually consists of the following: I start off with a brief huddle with my trainers and coaches who support the Technical support and the Sales division about the plans ahead or any company updates that they need to be aware of. Throughout the day I usually have a number of meetings with cross-functional teams and the other parts of my day I spend working on key projects that I have committed to delivering for the business.

You will never have a dull moment in Sage, you will meet loads of great people and enjoy endless career possibilities.

Laura Birchall – Account Manager

I have been working with Sage Ireland for over two years now. When I initially joined I was part of the inbound sales team and then progressed to the Sage 50 team, which sells our flagship product.

I am now working with our existing customer base to develop it further and ensure our customers are using our software to its full potential. This role allows me to connect directly with our customers, giving me an excellent insight into their needs and also the challenges they face.

Every day in Sage is different. We speak with our customers daily on a wide range of topics; this allows me to liaise with every department within the business. Also it means we have our ear to the ground allowing Sage to be agile in this changing economy.

I previously worked for a telecommunications company where decisions were just made with no reasoning or feedback – in Sage this is so different. Your input is valuable! One of our key guiding principals is innovation and any ideas from all levels of the business are embraced.

Sage also looks after their people with 25 days holidays, VHI Health Insurance, a saving scheme which comes in handy for Christmas and so much more. Work Life balance is very important

Sage is about people and it’s the people that make Sage such a great place to work.

Jim Coyle – Test Manager

I’m the R&D Test Manager. I’m responsible for making sure our payroll and accountancy products work when they hit our customers’ desks. I joined Sage back in 2005 and have a team of seven.

A typical day revolves around testing new builds of software, reviewing user guides, and working towards a level of quality that means our latest products can be confidently released to our customers, old and new.

What I like most about Sage is the freedom I have: freedom to try new things, to make changes, to control how we work – you don’t just have to do as you’re told. You have the freedom to work outside you direct role also, if you want to.

We’re a team of over thirty employees in R&D, this proves to be an advantage because everyone knows who to talk to if you need some information - everyone’s prepared to help out if you get stuck.