Meet Our People

Karen S.

Location: Cork, Ireland

Q: What was your first job ever?
A: My very first job was working as a factory worker at Barry’s Tea. I was part of the production line, which involved packaging, sorting and preparing tea products for distribution.

Q: What was your first job at Itron?
A: My first role at Itron was a six-month university work placement where I worked across several finance functions within Global Business Services. During that time, I worked with Master Data, Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable. After University, I returned and began the three-year graduate program, where I had the opportunity to work in Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, Payroll, Fixed Assets and Bank Reconciliations.

Q: What is your alma mater? 
A: I completed an undergraduate degree in accounting at University College Cork.

Q: What is your current role at Itron?
A: My current role at Itron is senior accountant in Global Business Services Cork. I am the country accountant for Itron Labs in Hungary. I report to the country controller and am responsible for ensuring timely and accurate month end close activities, meeting tax and audit compliance deadlines and preparing local statutory financial statements. My role also involves collaborating with a number of cross-functional teams in other countries.

Q: What gets you excited each day to show up to work?
A: What excites me most about coming to work each day is being part of a place with a great culture. The sense of teamwork motivates me to do a good job.

Q: Is there a class you’d wish you’d taken in college, or a skill you wish you’d spent more time building before jumping into the workforce?
A: If I could go back, I would have taken more Excel courses. I used it, but I didn’t fully understand how essential it would be in finance. Excel skills are very valuable and something I use every day to analyze data.

Q: What’s your proudest professional accomplishment at Itron?
A: My proudest accomplishment at Itron has been progressing through the graduate program while successfully completing my Chartered Accounting exams, all while working full time. Balancing both commitments was challenging, and it’s something I am proud of.

Q: How would you describe the culture at Itron’s Cork site to someone considering a career at that location?
A: The culture at Itron’s Cork site is extremely people-focused and supportive. Teams work closely together and are always encouraged to share ideas on how to improve processes and ways of working. You genuinely feel part of a team here, and there’s always someone you can reach out to for help or guidance. We also have a great sports and social club that organizes events outside of work, helping to build strong friendships.

Q: How has Itron supported your career development over the course of your career?
A: Itron has supported my career development in many ways over the last five years. The company provided support and flexibility as I completed my Chartered Accounting exams over a three-year period, which made a huge difference during a very busy time. I’ve also been able to gain exposure to many areas of the business, and management continues to promote growth through role rotations and ongoing professional development opportunities such as guest programs and mentorships. Management encourages us to explore what we want to do with our long-term careers, and nothing feels out of reach.

Q: How do you like to spend your time outside of work?
A: Outside of work, I like to stay active. I enjoy reformer Pilates, going for walks, and traveling as much as I can.

Q: What advice would you give to someone just starting their career at Itron?
A: Be open to learning and new opportunities. And don’t be afraid to ask questions. Itron is a place where people are always willing to help, and there are many opportunities to learn from different teams and processes.

By Karen S.


Accounting Specialist


employee spotlight

Related Articles

HTML Example

A paragraph is a self-contained unit of a discourse in writing dealing with a particular point or idea. Paragraphs are usually an expected part of formal writing, used to organize longer prose.