The Minister for Public Expenditure NDP Delivery and Reform, Paschal Donohoe, TD, today announced that Ms Bernie Kelly has been appointed as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Shared Services Office (NSSO).
Since its establishment in 2012 as part of the Public Sector Reform Programme the NSSO has evolved to become one of the biggest shared services operations in Ireland. Its three shared services functions apply Human Resources, payroll, and finance and accounting administration to over 50 Government Departments and Public Service Bodies.
Ms Kelly has over 20 years’ experience in senior leadership roles in both the private and public sector and has led the Financial Management Shared Services since joining the NSSO in 2017. The programme represents one of the most significant transformations of financial management across central government in recent times.
Speaking about the appointment, Minister Donohue said:
“I am delighted to announce that Ms Kelly has been appointed as the new CEO of the NSSO. As the Civil Service’s largest Shared Service provider, the NSSO is an important driver of digital transformation delivering Human Resources, Payroll and Finance Shared Services that are integrated, efficient and responsive.
As we look to the future, the focus of the NSSO will be on the continued transformation of its services so they meet our commitments under the Public Service 2030 strategy. Delivering Shared Services which are more innovative and that enable increased data driven decision making across central government."
Incoming CEO Bernie Kelly said:
"I am honoured to be taking on the role of CEO in the NSSO. The NSSO has achieved a huge amount over the past 11 years. We are committed to supporting the Governments Better Public Service 2030 strategy and offering increased value to the Civil Service through the continued roll out of the Finance Shared Services, and integration of all our services and continue to enhance our customer experience.
The Minister also thanked the outgoing CEO Hilary Murphy Fagan for her leadership and the significant achievements of the NSSO over the past 11 years since the organisation was established as part of the Public Sector Reform Programme."
Notes
The NSSO is the Irish Shared Services provider for human resources, payroll administration and finance shared services for Government Departments and Public Service Bodies (PSBs).
It consolidates, standardise and optimise these administrative functions on digital and enterprise technologies enabling Government Departments and organisations and to focus their resources on core business and policy activities, leading to administrative efficiency and reduced cost for Government and for the tax payer.
The launch of the Finance Shared Services (FSS), was a major milestone for the NSSO in 2022. This new service is driving real transformation to provide a single centralised standardised accounting and finance service on a single technology platform to over 48 Government bodies. FSS went live with 8 clients in April 2022 with the remaining clients being on-boarded over the next three waves.
The NSSO was delighted to be recognised for its continued excellence in Shared Services at the annual Chartered Customer Management Association (CCMA) awards in 2022. The NSSO won the CCMA award for Shared Services Centre of the Year 2022.
The NSSO has more than 800 Civil Service staff based in five offices across Ireland.
Appointment of the CEO
The CEO position was advertised by the Public Appointments Service and selection was made under a Top Level Appointments Committee (TLAC) process.
Bernie Kelly biography
Bernie Kelly was appointed Head of Finance Shared Services and a member of the NSSO Management Board in 2017. She has 20 years’ experience in senior leadership roles across several global multinationals including Cambridge Diagnostics, Nortel Networks, and Avaya.
