What's New
at CluneTech

CluneTech and our group of global companies are constantly hosting and attending events to meet with customers, investors, fellow industry experts, and more. In addition, our fantastic group of companies frequently represent CluneTech as nominees at some of the most prestigious industry awards. In this feature we’ll take a look at some of the events taking place over the next few weeks.  

Employee Wellbeing Summit 2022 – Taxback.com & CluneTech

The Employee Wellbeing Summit returns in 2022 – bigger and better than ever before!

Taking place on 5 April 2022, our panel will discuss wellbeing in the workplace and explore some of the practical steps that employers can take to develop a culture of wellness at work.

Wellbeing has become a key theme for employers over recent years and this event is an ideal opportunity for HR professionals and business leaders to proactively engage, network and offer guidance on the topic.

We have a fantastic line up of panelists who will debate the evolution of wellbeing in the workplace and share their tips on how employers can enhance the physical, mental and financial wellbeing of their staff.

And here’s the best part…

This event is completely free to attend!

However, places at the summit are limited. So, to avoid disappointment, be sure to save your space right away.

To register for the Employee Wellbeing Summit 2022, simply complete the short form here.

Coupa Inspire – TransferMate

Make sure to catch TransferMate and their team of payment experts, Greg Jordan, David Hughes, CK Semlani, and Mitchell Morgan, at this year’s Coupa Inspire event in Las Vegas! Taking place from April 4 – 7, Coupa Inspire is a global community event that brings together forward-thinking experts in supply chain, procurement, finance, treasury, and IT. Meet the TransferMate team at their booth and find out how you can send and receive payments in 162 countries and 134 currencies.

 The GPA Payroll Summit 2022 – Immedis

Immedis, CluneTech’s global payroll company, will be exhibiting at this year’s GPA Payroll Summit on the 5th of May in London. This is the first GPA Payroll Summit in two years and our Immedis team can’t wait to meet you all there! This one-day event brings together industry experts and aims to provide valuable information to payroll and HR professionals that will help them to perform their roles more efficiently and effectively.

Q-Summit – Gradguide

Next month you will be able to meet Gradguide at Q-Summit, Germany’s leading student tech conference! With many of Gradguide’s partner companies hiring for roles in Germany, this is an exciting opportunity for the team to get back out on campus and to chat with students looking to break into the tech industry. Q-Summit will take place in the University of Mannheim from April 21 – 22.

Business & Finance Irish Business Awards 2021 – Taxback International

The Taxback International Team have been selected as a finalist for the Elevation Award in association with Enterprise Ireland, for this year’s Business & Finance Awards 2021 in association with KPMG. This new award recognises Irish companies that are fast-growing and with significant potential to continue to scale globally.

We can’t wait to see how our Taxback International team get on at the award ceremony on the 12th of April at The Convention Centre Dublin.

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At CluneTech, we have an extensive Milestone Recognition Program that rewards employees that choose to build a long and successful career with us. As part of this programme, we love celebrating and sharing the stories of those reaching major milestones with the company.

This month we caught up with Viktoria Kurteva, Front End Developer at Sprintax. She has been on our team for the last 5 years.

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What is your favourite thing about working in CluneTech / Sprintax?

My favorite thing about working in CluneTech is the team I work with. We’ve built a strong and open way of communicating, with a lot of mutual understanding and trust. Everyone is approachable, open to questions, and always willing to help when needed. Beyond the professional environment, I’ve also had the chance to build meaningful connections and friendships that extend outside of work, which makes the experience even more valuable.

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What has been your biggest achievement or highlight since joining CluneTech / Sprintax?

‍Having been with CluneTech for five years, my biggest achievement has been my professional growth within the company. I joined shortly after graduating, and through continuous learning and commitment, I was able to demonstrate my potential and take on increasing responsibility. This journey eventually led to the opportunity to step into a Team Lead role, which I see as both a personal milestone and a reflection of the trust and support I’ve received along the way.

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What is the biggest change that you have witnessed inyour time here?

‍The biggest change I’ve witnessed is the growth and evolution of the team I’m part of. When I joined, the team consisted of just three people, and today it has grown to twelve. Along with this growth came new dynamics, stronger collaboration, and a more structured way of working together. It’s been interesting to see how the team has evolved while maintaining open communication and a supportive environment.

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What is the greatest challenge that you have faced inyour time here and how did you overcome it?

‍One of the greatest challenges I’ve faced has been growing both professionally and personally. From the very beginning, it required stepping outside my comfort zone to communicate with more experienced colleagues, ask questions, and actively learn.

Over time, I needed to take on more responsibility and make decisions on my own, which was initially intimidating. Today, many of the things that once felt challenging are now part of my everyday work.

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What has been your favourite project to work on?

I’ve really enjoyed projects where I could both contribute technically and support the team’s growth. Working on challenging front-end tasks while also helping colleagues solve problems, share knowledge, and improve collaboration has been very rewarding. I particularly value opportunities where I can learn new approaches and see how our work positively impacts the product and the team.

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Do you have advice for someone who is just starting their career in CluneTech / Sprintax?

My advice would be not to be afraid to reach out to your colleagues and communicate openly in the workflow. Ask questions whenever you have them, seek feedback, and don’t hesitate to share your ideas or suggestions. Make the most of your time, stay curious, and take every opportunity to learn as much as you can from those around you.

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At CluneTech, we have an extensive Milestone Recognition Program that rewards employees that choose to build a long and successful career with us. As part of this programme, we love celebrating and sharing the stories of those reaching major milestones with the company.

This month we caught up with TransferMate's Financial Crime Subject Matter Expert, Nelda Montalvo who has been on our team for the last 2 years.
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What is your favorite thing about working in CluneTech / TransferMate?
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I love that every day is different. I get to work on interesting cases and learn something new all the time. Plus, the teamwork here is great! Everyone is so willing to help out.
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What has been your biggest achievement or highlight since joining CluneTech / TransferMate?
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Moving into the Financial Crime Subject Matter Expert role has been a big highlight for me. It’s been really rewarding to grow in this area and work on some challenging investigations.
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Who or what has inspired you the most during your time here?
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Definitely the people I work with. There’s so much experience and knowledge in the team, and everyone is so open to sharing what they know.
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What is the biggest change that you have witnessed in your time here?
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I’d say the way our processes and systems have evolved. It’s great to see how we’re improving all the time, especially in how we handle financial crime risks.
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What is the greatest challenge that you have faced in your time here and how did you overcome it?
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Some of the complex cases I’ve worked on were definitely challenging, especially when quick decisions were needed. I just focused on staying calm, asking the right questions, and working closely with the team. 
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What has been your favorite project to work on?
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I’ve enjoyed the investigations where I could really dig into unusual activity and spot patterns. It’s challenging work, but it’s really satisfying.
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Do you have advice for someone who is just starting their career in CluneTech / TransferMate?
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Be curious and don’t be afraid to ask questions and take every chance to learn from the people around you.
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At CluneTech, we have an extensive Milestone Recognition Program that rewards employees that choose to build a long and successful career with us. As part of this programme, we love celebrating and sharing the stories of those reaching major milestones with the company.

This month we caught up with CluneTech's Head of Design, Elena Stefanova who has been on our team for the last 15 years.
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What is your favorite thing about working in CluneTech?
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The opportunity to work in an international environment and meet people from different cultures.

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What has been your biggest achievement or highlight since joining CluneTech?
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One life-changing achievement was the opportunity to upskill from a graphic designer to a motion designer, using After Effects. It had been a childhood dream of mine to create motion graphics and animations. However, my biggest overall achievement within the company has been progressing through every career stage—from junior designer to Head of Design.

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What is the biggest change that you have witnessed in your time here?
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Relocating the office from Tsar Simeon to Bacho Kiro and changing the company name to CluneTech.

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What is the greatest challenge that you have faced in your time here and how did you overcome it?
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Without a doubt, it was the renovation of the new Lounge and Meeting Space in the basement (formerly the Martini Bar)—from the interior design concept to full realization. It required countless hours of research into commercial space requirements, including layout planning, lighting, safety, and dimension regulations, along with completing a six-month Interior Design course at SoftUni. It was a huge commitment for everyone involved, sometimes exceeding 10 hours of work per day, seven days a week.

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What has been your favorite project to work on?
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Creating videos with Zory for company parties— the videos on the Brick Port walls in recent years and the CluneTech event videos from previous years.

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Do you have advice for someone who is just starting their career in CluneTech?
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The company offers great opportunities for career growth and job security—be wise and make the most of them.

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As a global organisation containing 9 different companies, all specialising in unique areas, CluneTech has a role to match everyone's skillset. In our new "What's it Like?" series, we're going to be chatting to the amazing people of CluneTech to get a better understanding of what their roles entail.

Shannon Butler, Relationship Manager at TransferMate

This week, we caught up with Shannon Butler who works as a Relationship Manager for TransferMate Education.

TransferMate, a CluneTech company, is a leading, global B2B-payments technology solution, processing billions in international payments from the world's most trusted brands. TransferMate Education, a subsidiary of TransferMate, simplifies the sending and receiving of student fees around the world.

Check out our interview with Shannon below!

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So Shannon, what does a Relationship Manager do?

As a Relationship Manager is is my responsibility to develop, and retain, new business relationships. I work to understand the needs of our customers and develop plans to address them. As part of this role I work very closely with the Sales Team, sharing up-selling and cross-selling opportunities, promoting high-quality sales, managing the sales account, and more!

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What are some of the most important qualities a Relationship Manager needs for their role?

In my opinion, you need strong communication and coordination skills for a role like this. These are absolutely essential for facilitating better relationships with clients and partners.

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What drew you to a career as a Relationship Manager for TransferMate?

I really enjoy helping people/clients and making sure they are happy and get the best out of working with TransferMate Education.

I am very passionate about what we do here, and I love showing people what a great solution it is and how it can help them save money.

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Could you describe a typical workday?

It is quite a busy day that usually begins with catching up with clients, giving them a call or sending them an email. I'll spend time setting up meetings with clients to provide them with extra training on their account. It is crucial that the client is getting the best out of the service so I'll spend plenty of time answering any questions they may have, and working to resolve any issues they may be having. I'll also update my clients on any new products or updates they may be interested in.

Next, I'll catch up with the Sales Team and together, we'll start gathering information so that we are up to date on every account. We hold regular meetings with the Relationship Management and Sales Team to see how we can better the team and to throw ideas around to see if there is anything we can do to improve our sales efforts and the client experience.

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What do you like most about working at TransferMate?

I have been working with TransferMate Education for 4 years now. I really enjoy my job and the work environment. I like that we now have the option to work in the office or at home. This has really helped improve the team's work-life balance.

I have great time for all my work colleagues. They are the best part about working here for me.

There are so many other great things about working with TransferMate Education - the flexibility, the opportunities to fly to other countries for meetings/conferences, benefits such as pension and healthcare, fun work events, gifts, and more!

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Fancy a career with us? Check out our open vacancies at www.clunetech.com/careers

As a global organisation containing 9 different companies, all specialising in unique areas, CluneTech has a role to match everyone's skillset. In our new "What's it Like?" series, we're going to be chatting to the amazing people of CluneTech to get a better understanding of what their roles entail.

This week, we caught up with Anna Fitzpatrick who works as a Sales Executive for Sprintax.

‍Sprintax is a US non-resident tax prep solution for international students, scholars & working professionals. Check out our interview with Anna below!

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So Anna, What does a Sales Executive at Sprintax do?

As you’ll see from my ‘typical workday’, a Sales Executive at Sprintax is involved in a wide range of different things. Firstly from the sales side, I focus on profiling leads and reaching out to those leads with the hope of securing meetings. The next stage of the sales cycle is to present our products to prospective partners. Everything leads to the final stage which is closing the deal and welcoming the partner on board. Once the deal closes, then it’s all about account management, nurturing relationships with our partners and providing the highest level of customer service to our partners.

It’s also not just sales!  We also have the tax webinar and education side of things where we present nonresident tax information to nonresidents, schools and institutions across the US and worldwide. As a sales executive, I would also work on various presentations and slide decks for our sessions, conferences and events. There is not only one string to our bow, you never know what you might end up working on one day to the next. Safe to say, a day in the life of a Sales Executive is never boring!

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What are the most important qualities a Sales Executive needs for their role?

 There are a lot of skills/qualities that would be important for a sales executive such as good communication, efficient time management and organization, attention to detail, ability to multitask and patience. It is also important to have commercial focus alongside a strong customer focus - the list goes on! We also focus on nurturing the numbers at Sprintax. If we have schools that say no or they don’t want to move forward at this time, we keep them in the loop with any useful resources, tax information or Sprintax updates that they might be interested in and this technique overtime generally results in the schools coming back to us down the line and ultimately winning back business. Perseverance is key!

What drew you to a career in Sales?

A couple of things thatI was drawn to on the sales side is the fast pace nature of sales, working alongside a team towards a common goal and the excitement of closing deals. On the Sprintax sales side, I was also drawn to how the sales executive could look at handling the entire sales process, supported by the rest of the team, from profiling leads, reaching out, securing a meeting, presenting our products on sales calls, closing the deal and then acting as an account manager for the partner. It make the sales process very rewarding!

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Could you describe your typical workday?

Everyday is generally different which is one of the best parts about this job. I’ll usually go to visit my horse either before or after work, a nice way to start or end the day!

In the morning, I will generally catch up on emails that came through on US time overnight, scheduling replies to go out in US time. I might also spend sometime working on presentations and planning any reach outs or follow ups for the day ahead before the US wakes up.

I’ll usually try to break up the day with a lunchtime walk.

In the afternoon/evening, calls will generally kick off once US time kicks in. I could have a renewal call, a new business call on Tax Prep or Calculus. At the moment we’re in full swing with US tax season, so we’ll generally have open tax webinars taking place for nonresidents as well as exclusive school tax webinars. We also host webinars on the school/institution side for their staff, so we could have something like that taking place on a typical day too! We’ll generally have some internal calls or catch ups too, like our weekly sales catch up call.

What do you like the most about working at Sprintax?

First and foremost it has to be the team! We’re lucky to have the team that we do. Everyone is eager to help each other and work together to achieve our common goal. We are a very close knit team and everyone on the team is a pleasure to work with. Secondly, I like how every day is different, as you can see from the ‘typical workday’. It helps to keep you on your toes and keeps things exciting. I enjoy seeing our products evolve, with our team constantly working to add to the product and satisfy our partner needs. It’s great working with people from all across the US and the world. The pandemic had put a halt to all of our in person conferences and events, but its exciting to see all of that returning this year.

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Would you like to be a part of our team? Visit www.clunetech.com/careers and view our wide range of opportunities today!

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Stanko Kolev works as a Product Owner at CluneTech’s global B2B payments technology leader, and one of Ireland’s most recent fintech unicorns, TransferMate.

Stanko joined our team two and a half years ago, deep-diving into the full development cycle of Global Accounts – one of TransferMate’s most successful products, where he works closely with developers, quality assurance specialists, various operations departments, as well as the stakeholders and the customers of the company.

To learn more about Stanko's career journey within the group, his typical workday, as well as his advice on how to become a Product Owner, check out our career blitz video.

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If you are looking to develop your skills, contribute to others, and make an impact, we would love to have you on our team. See our career opportunities at clunetech.com/careers

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Our CSR Programme - CluneTech Cares, is a fantastic representation of what we are - a team of truly caring individuals giving our best to support and add value, not only to our customers, but also to the communities in which we operate. CluneTech Cares is employee-led and has three key pillars: Wellness, Culture & Community, and Sustainability. It has been a busy quarter so make sure to check out some of our latest activities below.

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Fast Heroes 112 Educational Programme 

‍FAST Heroes is an award-winning educational initiative supported by the World Stroke Organization that aims to raise awareness of stroke symptoms and the need for speedy action. It leverages children’s amazing enthusiasm for learning and sharing, encouraging the spread of knowledge to the rest of their family, particularly to their grandparents. The campaign offers educational resources to inspire learning in Kindergartens and Primary schools, to facilitate the transfer of that knowledge to families at home. 

2022 is the first year CluneTech has taken part in this project by donating over €2,000 which will allow the program’s ambassadors to roll out the FAST Heroes educational campaign for the first time in Varna, Bulgaria.

On World Stroke Day on October 29th FAST Heroes presented to our teams. The presentation further increased awareness and CluneTech employees were also given the opportunity to nominate a school of their choice who would be enrolled in the program. Following a public vote, the “Geo Milev” School, nominated by Iliyana Stefanova from the Irish Accounts Team in Bulgaria, was selected to be the first school in Varna that will take part in the FAST Heroes 112 campaign. 

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Black and Whites GAA Club

CluneTech recently made a donation to help support the Blacks and Whites GAA club from Skeoughvosteen who successfully won the Kilkenny Junior Hurling Championship (1-17 to 0-17) against Windgap in UPMC Nowlan Park on Sunday, 23rd October. This was a huge achievement for the rural club and we were extremely proud to have had the opportunity to support them in their victory. Well done to all involved on this amazing win, from everyone here at CluneTech!

A special mention for CluneTech employee Emma Doyle’s nephew, Seanán Doyle who was part of the winning lineup. Some of our team will remember Seanán from his transition year work experience a few years back. 

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Children’s Health Foundation Temple Street

We were absolutely delighted to present Temple Street hospital with a donation towards their Speech and Language Department in November. Having a sick baby is understandably very stressful for families and parents don’t always get the opportunity to have a ‘normal’ parenting experience when their baby is sick. Because of this, Temple Street introduced some time on the ward for a daily ‘Baby Readathon’ where parents are encouraged to read to their baby and have some quality time together, aside from when their child is being treated.

CluneTech’s donation was dedicated towards the purchase of some much needed books for babies in Temple Street’s neonatal wards that will last 3-6 years, for babies diagnosed with Trachea-oesophageal fistula (TOF) and Oesophageal Atresia (OA).

We were so honoured to support such an amazing cause and to highlight the wonderful work Children's Health Foundation and Temple Street do so well.

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Giving Tuesday

Giving Tuesday is a day that encourages people to give back in whatever ways they can. For this year's Giving Tuesday, we were honored to support three amazing charities who work incredibly hard to make a positive difference within their communities and beyond. We were delighted to have the opportunity to make a donation to each of these causes to mark this global generosity movement.

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Take a look at our three charities below that we chose to celebrate our #GivingTuesday with this year:

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Coalition for the Homeless - Through CluneTech Cares, we were honored to make a donation to Coalition for the Homeless in New York City. Enda Kelleher, VP of Sprintax, volunteers in their soup kitchen every week and brings the amazing work that they do to our attention. The Coalition’s Grand Central Food Program (GCFP) was founded in 1985, the day after a homeless woman died of starvation in Grand Central Terminal. Since then, the program has grown to become the largest mobile soup kitchen in America. Each night, their vans deliver between 800 and 1,200 healthy meals of hot stew, bread, fresh fruit, and juice or milk — as well as coats, hats, gloves and blankets in the colder weather — to those struggling to survive rough on the streets at 25 stops around the city.

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One To World - Established in 1977, One To World was founded by a group of foreign student advisers committed to building bridges between international students on campus and the broader New York community. This work quickly grew into a set of programs aimed at creating strong international relationships through intercultural awareness and understanding by creating multiple opportunities where people can come together face-to-face and share their perspectives, experiences, and lives.

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Cultural Vistas - Founded in 1963, Cultural Vistas has grown into the leading exchange organization of its kind. The organization focuses on providing professional experience – now helping more than 6,000 students, professionals, and emerging world leaders to make the world a better, more peaceful, and collaborative place each year.

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Volunteering at CluneTech

Introduced in 2021, our CSR Volunteer Day empowers each employee to give back to the charities and causes closest to them. Since the inception of Volunteer Day 58 CluneTech employees have contributed to causes which they find meaningful, and this number keeps growing. See what some of them shared with us about their experience:

International Volunteer Day 2022

The United Nations Volunteers Programme (UNV) coordinates International Volunteer Day on the 5th of December every year. We wanted to give thanks to our team for standing by others and supporting causes they truly care about. This work makes an incredible difference and creates a better future for everyone involved.

In recognition and appreciation of the tireless work of our CluneTech volunteers, we created this short interview with our colleagues who agreed to be involved and asked them to tell us about their volunteering stories and experiences.

Svetla Arsova and the ‘For You’ Workshops 

“I used my volunteer day yesterday and took part in the workshops that the association 'За Теб' ('For You') is organizing. Every week young people in disadvantaged situations are gathering for creative activities. They welcomed me open-heartedly in their community and we spent the time coloring and decorating cones, making hearts and apples out of wool and chatting about whatever comes to mind. I really appreciate having this opportunity and I would love to join them again next year!!”

Svetla Arsova, Business Intelligence & DA Specialist, Immedis 

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Georgi Stanchev and Rumyana Hristova at ‘I Believe and Help’ Varna 

This October, our very own Georgi Stanchev and Rumyana Hristova  brought 43 kg of plastic caps for the initiative ‘I believe and help’ in Varna, Bulgaria. Not only are the plastic caps going to be recycled, but the money collected from the initiative will be used for buying vital medical equipment and ambulances for children. 

“I believe and help” is a well-known Bulgarian initiative which is run biannually - once in the spring, and once in the autumn. It promotes plastic caps collection and recycling as a way to gather funds for buying vital medical equipment for children’s hospitals while also supporting the planet and recycling tons of plastic each year. Well Done Georgi and Rumyana! 

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Brendan Coughlan, Emma Doyle, Ian Hayes and Gareth McLaughlin volunteering at Saplings Special School, Goresbridge, Kilkenny.

During October, local volunteers gathered together for a DIY SOS project in aid of the Saplings School in Goresbridge, for some much-needed improvements.

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Saplings helps to support parents and their children with disabilities, giving them a space that is safe and compassionate to their needs; however, their biggest problem was that the spaces they had weren't fit for purpose.

Our volunteers Ian Hayes, Brendan Coughlan, Emma Doyle and Gareth McLoughlin gave their time to help with five projects that were undertaken on the day. 

Together, they tackled Sapling’s outdoor classroom and their sensory area, which was previously just a parking lot and outdoor storage area respectively. Both of which were totally unsuitable for the children and their care.

Take a look at what Brendan Coughlan, Head of Process Re-engineering at TransferMate had to say about their volunteer day with Saplings:

“A big thank you to CluneTech for the CSR Day that enabled us to give back to our local community. We believe we made a big difference in the lives of the children and their caretakers, who can now let the kids explore and use all the space available to them.

The funds for the whole project were raised by local Paulstown resident, Julia Purcell by getting a team to cycle the Paris to Nice Charity ride for donations, read more here: https://sportforbusiness.com/sigmar-take-to-saddle-for-saplings/”

Well done to Ian Hayes for his work with Saplings and bringing this amazing initiative to all of our attention. Thank you also to Brendan, Emma and Gareth for putting their volunteer day to great use and for the incredible difference they have all made towards these children's lives.

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Saving Clogh Village with Mark Hender

In Q4, Mark Hender from Immedis went on a mission to save the Clogh village in north Kilkenny from becoming another statistic of derelict villages in Ireland. 

To support the last remaining pub in the village and to help raise funds and restore the large Christmas tree in the center of the village, Mark organized a pub quiz and raffle. As part of #CluneTechCares, we matched all donations raised by our employees and covered 10 euro cost for employees participating in the quiz.

“Myself and few other members of Clogh Village in north Kilkenny are determined to help Clogh become an active community once again and not be another statistic of derelict villages of Ireland. A precursor to this was the community pulling together to save the last remaining pub which has only thrived under new community ownership and we believe we can do even more as a community by providing more amenities and celebrations in the coming years.

We are onto the next ventures of making Clogh a real place to visit, which is to restore a Christmas theme around the village. We have big ideas but because we are very low on time (and even lower on money), we are aiming to achieve phase 1 of the Christmas project this year which is to restore a large Christmas tree in the center of the village and decorated with lights and remembrance slips of paper of people we would like to remember.”, Mark shared about his project. 

Following the incredibly successful event, Mark thanked everyone for their support: 

“I just want to say a big thank you to everyone who donated and partook in the fundraiser for my village which I posted. It was an incredibly successful night which will bring some extra Christmas cheer this year. A big thank you to Aislinn Brennan and CluneTech Cares for firstly allowing me advertise but then to also match donations <3. It's amazing to be surrounded by such considerate people!!”

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June 11th 2024, Varna, Bulgaria. CluneTech’s annual donation to Karin Dom will support their social enterprise, providing jobs for two mothers of children on the autism spectrum who use Karin Dom’s services in Varna, Bulgaria. Our donation ensures that the salaries and social contributions of these mothers are covered for six months, allowing them to continue working at Karin Dom while being close to their children and addressing the challenges of raising children with special needs.

Petya and Zhivka work in Karin Dom’s social enterprise while their sons attend Montessori groups and therapeutic swimming lessons. Initially, both mothers started as volunteers, seeking distraction from the challenges they faced while raising their children. As Karin Dom’s social enterprise formalized, they were invited to become employed.

Petya shares her experience:

"Eight years ago, I first stepped into Karin Dom for my son's initial assessment. I was anxious, scared, and didn't know what to expect. My son began attending therapies, and I joined the Parent Group. I was in denial about his Autism, but the group helped me recover and smile again. Volunteering kept me from constantly thinking about the difficulties, giving me satisfaction. I love helping, feeling good, and being useful. When the social enterprise was established, we started working there, and now I feel even more fulfilled. Karin Dom is where I found support, understanding, empathy, and guidance on how to cope with Mitaka's condition. Having a vocation is very valuable, and I am glad to be part of the Karin Dom team!"

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"Today, Petya and Zhivka craft toys for Karin Dom’s Christmas and Martenitsi campaigns, which are sold to support therapeutic programs for children with special needs.  “Handmade products require a lot of attention, skill, and time to prepare but Petya and Zhivka are continuously developing and are no longer afraid to tackle the sewing machine.”, our partners from Karin Dom shared.

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About CluneTech Cares. CluneTech’s CSR programme was established in September 2007 in response to a tragic flooding disaster in Tsar Kaloyan, Bulgaria. Deeply saddened by the news, our Bulgarian employees decided to help and within 48 hours, they had rallied together and organised 3.5 tonnes of food and 12,000 liters of water for the village. After this event, we formalised our CSR activity to give it a global reach, ensuring to support each of the communities in which we operate. Today we’re proud to have a CSR Programme that is created by our people, for our people.

Karin Dom is a Bulgarian non-profit organization founded in 1996 by hereditary diplomat and philanthropist Ivan Stancioff. 28 years on, Karin Dom is an organization with a leading role in providing professional services for children with special needs and their families. Set in the beautiful city of Varna, Bulgaria, Karin Dom's new building which opened in September 2022, gives children with special needs from the Northeast of Bulgaria access to vital therapy that helps them to grow in strength and confidence.

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At CluneTech, collaboration and recognition aren’t just buzzwords, they are the foundation of our culture. Nowhere is this more evident than in our OneTeam Awards, a signature recognition program that honours the spirit of unity, innovation, and excellence that drives our success.

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A Legacy of Recognition: From Employee of the Quarter to OneTeam Awards

Over 12 years ago, CluneTech launched an initiative to spotlight outstanding individual contributions through what was then known as Employee of the Quarter. As our company evolved, so too did our approach to recognition. In 2019, inspired by employee feedback, the program was reimagined and relaunched as the OneTeam Awards.

This transformation reflected more than just a name change — it marked a deeper commitment to recognising the collective effort that fuels our business.

Today, the OneTeam Awards take place twice a year, giving employees across the globe the opportunity to nominate a colleague whose contributions reflect one of our core values: Innovation, OneTeam, Passion, and Respect. These nominations reinforce our ongoing commitment to living these values in our everyday work.

The OneTeam Awards celebrate not only individual achievements but also the teamwork, creativity, camaraderie, and mutual respect that are essential to our culture and continued growth.

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Creating Moments That Matter

From lively in-office celebrations to heartfelt doorstep award deliveries during remote work, the OneTeam Awards have become a meaningful tradition filled with unforgettable moments. These celebrations strengthen the bonds between colleagues, highlighting the impact of each individual’s work, and reinforcing the values that make CluneTech a unique and inspiring place to be.

As our HR Manager in Bulgaria, Ekaterina Hristova, puts it:

“The OneTeam Awards represent more than just recognition, they show our people that what they do truly matters. These awards are a part of our company’s DNA. They celebrate our shared success and remind us that together, we are stronger.”

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Recognition Beyond the OneTeam Awards

While the OneTeam Awards are a standout celebration of collaboration and excellence, they’re just one part of CluneTech’s broader commitment to recognising our people. We offer a wide range of recognition initiatives that celebrate contributions both big and small, across all levels of the organisation:

• Milestone Recognition Programme – Honouring the dedication of our long-serving team members.

• Global Employee of the Year Awards – Celebrating individuals whose impact and performance have stood out over the year.

• Workvivo Shout-Outs – Enabling real-time, peer-to-peer recognition for everyday efforts and achievements, both within and across teams.

• Celebrating Personal and Professional Highlights – From birthday cards and new baby gifts to congratulatory hampers for passing exams, we take pride in acknowledging life’s special moments and supporting our employees in all their successes.

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A Culture Built on Recognition and Unity

At CluneTech, recognition is more than a program — it’s a reflection of who we are. The OneTeam Awards, along with our wider recognition initiatives, demonstrate our commitment to valuing every individual and celebrating the spirit of teamwork that drives our success. As we continue to grow and evolve, we remain dedicated to fostering a culture where people feel seen, appreciated, and inspired — because when we celebrate each other, we thrive together.

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At CluneTech we are extremely passionate about the development of our people and understand the significance of the role a manager has to play in an employee’s development. With that in mind, we wanted to put together a useful guide that would empower and help our managerial staff to be the best manager that they can be. And who better to help us put together such a guide than our employees?

We asked our staff to nominate their manager and state three qualities that make them an Amazing Manager. The response was fantastic with 20 different managerial qualities being suggested. We then took the 6 most suggested qualities and expanded on them to create the ‘CluneTech Guide to Being an Amazing Manager’ which you can read below:

6 of the Most Important Managerial Qualities

1) Supportive

The managerial quality that our people value most is being ‘Supportive’. A manager can be supportive in many ways, whether it is ensuring that their team are aware that they can come to them should they need help, or by displaying encouragement, helping them to realise their potential, and showing appreciation for a job well done. Emotional Intelligence is a vital characteristic of a supportive manager. Having the awareness to recognize when something is troubling a member of your team or if they are in danger of becoming burnt out or disengaged is vital. The likes of LinkedIn Learning and Udemy offer some great courses on Emotional Intelligence should you wish to learn more about this important soft skill.

2) Approachable

Our staff feel that being “Approachable” is the next most important characteristic for a manager. Approachability is imperative to forging a strong bond with your team. Having an approachable manager relaxes staff, allowing them to work to the best of their ability. Additionally, it increases their willingness to share new ideas as they know their manager is open to suggestions. Lacking in approachability will make it difficult to know what is going on with your team. Being approachable and building a good rapport with your team will encourage them to come to you with issues, updates, and information, more frequently, ensuring that you stay in the loop. This article by Forbes includes a great section on “How to Show Approachability”.

Our employees appreciate that open door policy!

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3) Leading by Example

As a manager, your team are looking to you for guidance. By leading by example you are able to create a picture of what’s possible. Here are some ways you can effectively lead by example;

Take Responsibility –Show that you are not above taking responsibility for when something doesn’t go to plan. Be proactive and get to work on correcting and bettering the situation.

Resolve Conflict Quickly – Conflict resolution is one of the most important skills a manager can have. Demonstrate that skill and put out any fires within your team quickly so that they don’t get out of control. By doing this you will set a good example and encourage your team to be proactive and quickly settle disputes between themselves.

Be Persistent – Another trait of strong leadership is the ability to remain steadfast in the face of adversity. Set an example for your team by dealing with issues in a proactive and constructive manner.

For more information on the benefit of Leading by Example and how to do it, check out this article by Indeed – 8 Ways to Lead by Example in the Workplace.

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4) Reliable

Our employees also identified being “Reliable” as an important characteristic for a manager to possess. A manager in charge of a team must be dependable. This involves being accessible to your staff, completing tasks as promised, and assisting your team as needed. Reliability is essential for building trust as it affords your team greater peace of mind, ultimately allowing for stronger relationships to be built and greater results to be delivered. Check out this blog post by Great Place to Work on “The Crucial Role of Reliable and Trustworthy Managers During a Crisis”.

5) Motivating

There are a multitude of reasons as to why being a good motivator is essential when managing a team of people. Some of the advantages of a motivated team include; Increased Efficiency, Better Communication, Reduced Absenteeism and Turnover, Development of Leaders, and much more.

Don’t worry, you don’t have to suddenly become a Ted Talk caliber motivational speaker... Here are “9 Super Effective Ways to Motivate your Team” by Inc. to get your started.

6) Clear Communication

The last valuable managerial characteristic, as identified by CluneTech employees, that we’ll discuss here in detail is “Clear Communication”. Building effective communication skills as a manager provides significant short and long-term benefits for your company and team. For example, a good communicator may inspire your team to accomplish more with better results and fewer misunderstandings. Take a look at this piece by Professional Development covering “Communication Skills for Managers”.

The importance of being a good listener also must not be understated when it comes to communication. By being a good listener a manager can not only secure new insights, ideas, and perspectives that will help their team to grow, but also maintain harmony and motivation among team members and ensure that they are a great people manager.

So there you have it, six of the most important managerial qualities as suggested by our employees. CluneTech is all about brilliant people and innovative technology, with the dynamic between our management and non-management staff being crucial to our success.

Do you have the qualities necessary to lead a team of CluneTech employees? Or do you want to work under an amazing management team that will help you to realise your potential. Whatever stage of your career you’re at, CluneTech may have the role for you. Visit www.clunetech.com/careers and explore our amazing opportunities today.

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The Kilkenny-headquartered company today announced improvements across a range of leaves to support their people

Wednesday, 22 November 2023. Kilkenny-based software technology group, CluneTech, has today announced improvements across a range of leave types to support their people during the more difficult times they may face in life.

The changes announced today cover three key areas: compassionate leave, miscarriage and pregnancy loss leave, and IVF and pregnancy support leave. The announcement marks another significant step in CluneTech’s commitment to caring for, and supporting their people, and the additional leaves are available to all of the company’s 1,200 employees globally.

Compassionate leave, which is available from day one of employment, has been significantly increased, with the company now offering 4 weeks paid leave for the loss of a spouse or child. Employees can also avail of 5 days and 3 days paid leave for the loss of an immediate or non-immediate family member respectively.

For the first time in the company’s history, they are also recognising the important role that pets play in their employees’ lives, particularly as many people avail of CluneTech’s flexible working offering and choose to work from home. With this in mind, a dedicated Pet Compassionate Leave has been introduced where employees can avail of up to 2days paid leave for the loss of a beloved pet.

The new policy also includes extended paid leave of five days for those impacted by pregnancy loss when this occurs prior to 24weeks, as after this the company’s paid maternity leave applies. In addition, where an employee’s partner has experienced pregnancy loss, they are now covered in the policy and can avail of the full five days paid leave.

Access to, and support during fertility treatment is a key focus of CluneTech, who earlier this year announced their support of The I Want a Baby Foundation in Bulgaria. Employees based in Ireland can already avail of best-in-class fertility care as part of the company’s health cover with Laya Healthcare. Previously, employees could avail of up to 3 days paid leave for IVF and pregnancy support. This has now been increased to 5 days paid leave and extended to the partner of a person undergoing IVF / pregnancy support.

The improvements announced today are part of an already extensive benefits package which includes Lifework Days ̶ an additional half day’s leave per quarter where employees can get their life jobs done without having to use their hard-earned annual leave, flexible working ̶ including remote and hybrid working, an award-winning Milestone Recognition Programme which rewards those who choose to grow their career with CluneTech, and much more. Last month, CluneTech were awarded Overall Excellence in HR at the 2023 HR Leadership &Management Awards for their innovative approach to flexibility.

Speaking about the leave enhancements, Terry Clune, CEO, CluneTech said: “CluneTech Cares about our people and their wellbeing and today’s announcement further strengthens our commitment to supporting them through the more difficult times they may face in life. Our people are at the heart of everything we do and as their employer, it’s our goal to ensure they feel supported and cared for, so that they can reach their full potential.”

Rachael Quinlan, Head of Employee Experience, CluneTech said: “We are really honoured to share these remarkable improvements with our global team. While these leave types tend to be the ones that we hope our people will never have to avail of, we hope that they take some comfort in knowing that our aim is to minimise their worries during challenging times. As always, these changes have been introduced as a direct result of employee feedback and we will continue to use their voice to drive change and to ensure that we truly are a great place to work.”

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