My Career: ‘My role is a constant flow of interesting challenges’

Name: Dearbhla Farrell

Age: 38

Lives: Kilcredan, East Cork

Job title: Head of Operations at Lugus Capital

Education background: Degree in Economics and Finance

Hobbies: Pilates, walking my dogs with a good podcast, and I have a weak spot for some reality TV.

Describe your job in five words: Varied, organised, interactive, evolving, MS Excel.

Describe yourself in five words: Independent, determined, organised, fair, decisive.

Personality needed for this kind of work?

In an operations role, which comes with a lot of variety, you need to be very organised and driven, but most importantly, dynamic. My day can shift from reporting in the morning to dealing with an HR matter by lunchtime.

The ability to migrate from working alone on client reporting, which requires accuracy, to engaging a different skill set utilising a more flexible and human approach, is essential.

How long are you doing this job? I have been fortunate to work for Lugus Capital for over 6 years.

How did you get this job?

After finishing college, I knew I wasn’t ready to go into the ‘real world’, so I completed a TEFL course and moved to the Czech Republic, and then Spain, where I taught English to kids and adults for over a year and a half. This experience was a huge life lesson for me.

When I came back to Dublin, I worked with AIB as part of a graduate programme. Thereafter, I joined Certus (Irish loan-servicing group), and then moved on to work with Pepper Asset Servicing.

I gained fantastic experience in Banking and Recovery, overseeing property conveyancing and valuations, made some fantastic friends, and worked under some excellent managers.

After four years with Pepper, a former colleague told me about an opportunity with Lugus Capital. The role, Head of Operations, included aspects that I was used to, but also would see a shift in the style of work I had been accustomed to, allowing me greater autonomy. I am so glad I took the opportunity. I have learned a tremendous amount on the job – six years ago, I understood the foundations of property and asset management, and basic people management skills, whereas today my experience ranges from client management to HR oversight in a continually growing company, project management, and many more bows to my arrow.

Do you need particular qualifications or experience?

My educational qualifications got me to a certain point in my career – each door they opened brought me new experience. I do not think there is any one degree that would suffice to fit the role of Head of Operations, rather a blend of education, acquired experience, and a willingness to “fake it until you make it”.

Describe a day at work: No two days are the same, but I do have cyclical periods and recurring deadlines each month. My days include collating information about the property management of a client’s portfolio, and ad hoc client queries, whether about insurance, maintenance issues, or the valuations of the portfolios.

The operations side of my role brings in HR aspects, from recruitment, setting up new employees, to ensuring all requisite paperwork and compliance sign-off are filed.

How many hours do you work a week?

I work Monday to Friday, 9-5. I am extremely grateful that Lugus offers great flexibility by way of working from home. When I joined the company, I was living and based in Dublin (where I am from). During the pandemic, my now husband and I started building a house in Cork (where he is from), and I am now based here. The flexibility afforded to me allows for a good work-life balance.

Is your industry male or female-dominated?

The property industry is more male-leaning, but it’s fantastic to see more women in property as I have progressed through my career. An example of this is Aoife Gaffney, the fantastic female director of our sister Property Management company, Grayling Property Management. There are some amazing women on that team.

Does this affect you in any particular way?

No. It’s great that the conversation around equality and representation is evolving, and more companies are actively working to create inclusive, diverse environments. I am very lucky that I have never felt my gender to be a factor in Lugus, I know not every woman can say the same throughout their careers.

Is your job stressful? How? Rate it on a scale of 1-10: Overall, the job is a constant flow of interesting challenges, with just the right amount of mental workout. Enough to keep me engaged and learning, but without being insurmountable. There are peaks and troughs with every job when it comes to stress. Perspective is important; how you manage those stress points is key.

Do you work with others or on your own?

Although I work by myself at home, I have a lot of ‘collaborations’ throughout my day. I have a lot of touchpoints with the different teams I work alongside.

When do you plan to retire or give up working?

I don’t have any immediate plans for retirement. I’m fortunate enough to have a good work-life balance and value my holidays throughout the year. Until retirement comes my way, I rely heavily upon my favourite website – Skyscanner.

Best bits: The people, the flexibility, and the evolution of the company and industry ensure that I am constantly learning.

Lugus has grown significantly in the six years since I joined. This has had a positive impact on me as a people manager and employee, as well as the knowledge I have acquired.

Worst bits: The most challenging aspects of my job tend to be managing tight deadlines or navigating high workloads, which require a lot of focus and organisation, but I always try to navigate these moments with a positive outlook. That and my terrible back and posture from years of sitting at a desk with my legs tucked under me!

Advice to those who want your job? Be intentional about building genuine professional relationships and remember the impression you make lasts. A lot of opportunities come from people, not just job websites.