Financial services firm Acorn Life is to expand its business operation in Ireland with the creation of 125 new jobs.

The Galway-based firm, which has assets of €527 million and a premium income in excess of €75 million, is primarily a life assurance provider.

Last year, it opened new offices in Sligo and Leopardstown Business Park in Dublin and created 75 new jobs.

It is now recruiting an additional 125 financial advice, administration, actuarial and IT staff.

Acorn Life sales director Keith Butler said: “Last year was a very successful one for Acorn Life - with business levels up 50 per cent.”

“In addition, the group’s new Galway-based general insurance operation, Acorn Insurance, which we launched in 2013, has seen significant growth in terms of business volumes and consequentially staff numbers have also grown significantly.”

“In the last six months alone we have opened new offices in Sligo and Leopardstown Business Park in Dublin and we are presently recruiting financial advice, admin, actuarial and IT professionals”.

Mr Butler said: “There are thousands of people searching for new opportunities in Ireland at the moment and many of them will have the range of core competencies needed to carve out a successful career in financial services - with a little help.”

“Whether someone has already had a successful career in financial services or someone would like to take a new direction in their career Acorn Life may well have the employment opportunity that’s an exact fit for them. We will provide an all-embracing support system to help people succeed in building a career in financial services”.

Established in 1989, Acorn Life currently employs 300-400 staff in the Republic.

The Irish-owned company was known as NZI Life up to 1998 when management bought out General Accident’s majority shareholding.