Payment company Cayan creating 170 jobs in Belfast office expansion

A US tech firm is expanding its base in Belfast and creating 170 new jobs.

Cayan, formerly known as Merchant Warehouse, is based at the City Quays 1 building.

The company, which provides payment processing platforms to its clients, is growing its team to 240 workers and hiring an additional 170 staff.

It is adding customer services roles, including client services representatives, team leaders and case managers.

Paul Vienneau, chief technology officer of Cayan, said: “Our Northern Ireland operation is in- credibly significant to our overall business strategy, with our Belfast development team consistently delivering product engineering excellence.”

Invest NI has offered Cayan £680,000 towards the creation of the new posts, of which around 100 are in place already.

The new jobs are expected to be worth £3.6m to the economy each year.

Jeremy Fitch, Invest NI’s executive director of business and sector development, said: “Since opening its Northern Ireland office in 2013, Cayan has grown into an exemplary software development operation, producing industry-leading payment processing products.

“Cayan’s decision to locate its primary customer services function in Belfast represents a major reinvestment for the company and demonstrates its confidence in Northern Ireland.

“The 170 jobs being created through this investment will generate over £3.6m in annual salaries for the local economy and offer valuable employment opportunities for a range of job-seekers, including school leavers and graduates.

“Furthermore, the extensive training Cayan offers new staff will contribute to the development of Northern Ireland’s skills base.”

The Boston company has expanded rapidly since its launch in Northern Ireland in 2013. Mr Vienneau said: “We are delighted with the growth of our Belfast operation to date, and locating our customer service team alongside our product development/ engineering operations in Belfast will offer increased operating efficiencies.

“The positive work ethic of the Northern Ireland workforce, combined with our ongoing relationship with Invest NI, is enabling us to recruit the new staff we need to support the growth of our group operations.”

The company has a science fiction-themed headquarters, with wi-fi stations and an Xbox room that is fitted out with gaming chairs.

Most of its clients are based in America and include leading brands such as Puma, Harley Davidson and Party City.

Just last month, online loyalty sales business Reward, headed by the son of the founder of the English Premier League, announced it would create 60 new jobs in Belfast.

Gavin Dein established Reward in 2001. The company works with major global retailers, such as Amazon, to help optimise their marketing spending by providing loyalty incentives to customers.

Mr Dein said the investment in the company’s Ormeau Baths office would help accelerate its growth.