Accenture opens center, seeks new hires in Barcelona

Accenture announced its plans this week to break ground on a new "analytics innovation center" in Barcelona, Spain that will bring at least 50 new jobs to the city. Called "a global showcase for Accenture's predictive analytics capabilities," the facility is the latest in a string of similar centers that create jobs locally and raise the firm's profile in strategic cities.

"We are currently recruiting locally, working closely with universities in the region, and are looking for both graduates and experienced hires with analytical and statistics experience," said Vicente Moreno, Accenture's managing director in Spain.

The firm's new Barca center will essentially function as a research institution with a focus on supply chain management, complimenting Accenture's existing Supply Chain Center of Excellence in Barcelona's Sant Cugat del Vallès suburb. Accenture says that the center will "create 50 new, highly-skilled jobs" to be offered to local candidates, part of a deal brokered by the Catalonian government's economic development agency that sees the firm trade new jobs and commerce for economic incentives. Accenture struck a similar deal late last year with the Irish government, resulting in 100 new high-paying jobs for economically-depressed Dublin and an innovation center that will begin operations this May.

Cities like Barcelona and Dublin benefit not only from new jobs and fat salaries but also in terms of economic perception. "The opening of the center highlights Catalonia’s position as one of leading areas in Europe for technology research and development," said a Catalonian government official, echoing similar remarks uttered by his Irish counterpart back in November.

With over 215,000 people on its payroll, Accenture is one of the largest corporations in the world. 10,000 of those work in Spain alone. The Barcelona and Dublin innovation centers join six others—in Bangalore, Chicago, Milan, Mumbai, New Delhi and San Jose—to round out the Accenture Global Talent and Innovation Network.

For more information:
Accenture Opens Analytics Innovation Center in Barcelona