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CluneTech is celebrating a major milestone - 25 years since opening its first international office in Varna, Bulgaria, marking the beginning of its global journey.

What started as a small team in Varna in 2001 has grown into one of CluneTech’s largest and most important global hubs. Today, the company operates across 20 countries, continuing to expand its international footprint.

To mark the occasion, CluneTech hosted a special celebration in Varna, bringing colleagues together to recognise the local team and honour those who have been part of the journey since the very beginning.

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Reflecting on the milestone, CluneTech Founder and CEO Terry Clune said:

“The 26th April marks 25 years since we established our office in Varna, Bulgaria — an incredibly important milestone for CluneTech. That step marked the beginning of our international journey and played a key role in shaping the global business we are today. I want to sincerely thank everyone, past and present, who has been part of that journey. Your contribution has played a key part in building CluneTech and the success we have achieved together as one team.”

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Today, CluneTech employs nearly 800 people across Bulgaria, with more than 500 based in Varna. The team plays a critical role across the group, supporting the operations and software development of TransferMate, Fintua, Sprintax and Benamic, alongside key functions including finance, customer support, marketing and administration. The strength of the Bulgarian team is also reflected in its longevity, with more than 54% of employees having been with the company for over five years - well above industry averages.

Just days ahead of the anniversary, CluneTech reached another significant milestone, achieving its highest-ever ranking in Career Show’s Top 100 Best Employers in Bulgaria, placing 12th - up from 46th in 2023. The company was also recognised as “Best Employer in Fintech” for the third consecutive year.

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As CluneTech looks to the future, it remains committed to investing in its people, supporting employee wellbeing and development, and continuing to make a positive impact in the communities where it operates.

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Wednesday, 22 April 2026. CluneTech has reached a new milestone in Bulgaria, achieving its highest position to date in the Career Show Index. The company now ranks 12th in the Top 100 Best Employers in Bulgaria, reflecting its continued focus on building a strong and supportive workplace.

This latest recognition marks another step forward in CluneTech’s steady progression in recent years, moving from 46th place in 2023, to 26th in 2024, and 14th in 2025, before reaching its current position. The result follows a successful showing at the Career Show Awards in October 2025, where CluneTech received three gold awards, alongside two individual recognitions for Albena Pashova, Global Indirect Tax Recovery Manager and Nikolena Doncheva, Recruitment Specialist from our team.

CluneTech’s position in the Career Show Index is driven by multiple recognitions received over the past three years, including:

• Best Employer in Fintech for three consecutive years  

• Best Employee Recognition Strategy  

• Best Office Environment for the company’s renovated Lounge & Meeting Space in Bulgaria  

These awards reflect a continued investment in employee experience, workplace culture, and creating an environment where people can thrive - both professionally and personally.

About the Career Show Index

The Top 100 Best Employers in Bulgaria ranking is part of Career Show’s annual initiative, which also includes one of the country’s leading employer branding competitions and its largest career expo. The index evaluates companies based on awards received over a three-year period, recognising organisations that demonstrate consistent performance in areas such as talent development, employee engagement, and workplace environment.

A 25-Year Journey in Bulgaria and Beyond

This recognition comes as CluneTech marks 25 years since establishing its presence in Bulgaria, representing a quarter-century of continuous growth and innovation. Over that time, the company has become a well-established and trusted employer on the local market.

Founded in 1996 by entrepreneur Terry Clune, CluneTech is a suite of software technology companies, including TransferMate, Sprintax, Fintua, and Benamic. Today, the organisation employs over 800 professionals in Bulgaria and more than 1,200 globally, across finance, technology, marketing, and customer support roles, all contributing to the success of its international operations.

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Friday, February 6th 2026. CluneTech was proud to celebrate the achievements of Kilkenny’s emerging young talent as it hosted the Kilkenny GAA and Camogie Academy Awards at its Kilkenny HQ on January 27th and 28^th. Held over two evenings, the awards recognised the dedication and commitment of theU16 Kilkenny GAA hurling and football squads, alongside the U15 Kilkenny Camogie Academy and Development squads.
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Over both evenings, a small number of players from hurling, football and camogie were also selected for the Driver of Excellence Awards, recognising individuals who demonstrated outstanding commitment, leadership and determination throughout the season, both on and off the pitch. Players were joined by their families, coaches and mentors to mark an important milestone in their development journey.
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Special guest speakers across the two nights included CluneTech’s Derek Lyng for hurling, Christy Walsh for football and Aoife Prendergast for camogie. Each shared valuable insights and encouragement with the young athletes as they continue their progression within the academy pathways.

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CluneTech has been the main sponsor of both the Kilkenny GAA Academy (Na Cait Óga) and the Kilkenny Camogie Academy since 2024, under a three-year partnership supporting more than 500 players across both pathways. The sponsorship helps fund essential operational and player-welfare costs, including transport, equipment, nutrition and medical supports, ensuring a high-performance environment can be sustained for young athletes across the county.
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Terry Clune, Founder and CEO of CluneTech, said:

“We were delighted to host the Kilkenny GAA and Camogie Academy Awards at our Kilkenny HQ and to celebrate the hard work and commitment shown by these young players throughout their academy journey. CluneTech is proud to support both academies and to play a role in developing the next generation of Kilkenny athletes. We would like to thank the coaches, mentors, parents and all involved for the dedication they continue to show year after year.”
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This sponsorship forms part of CluneTech’s award-winning CSR programme, CluneTech Cares. Established in 2007 and created by its people, for its people, the programme supports charities and causes worldwide while having a strong local impact in Kilkenny and in the communities where CluneTech operates.
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Speaking at the event, Sean Kelly, Kilkenny GAA Performance Lead, said:

“The Academy Awards are an important point in the development pathway, giving us an opportunity to recognise the work and commitment shown by our players throughout the year. For our U16 hurlers and footballers, this marks a key stage as they continue to progress within the Kilkenny system, building strong habits around preparation, discipline and performance.

Nights like this reflect the high standards being set across the academy and the collective effort of players, coaches and families in supporting long-term development both on and off the pitch.”
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Tommy Farrell, Kilkenny Camogie Development Officer, added:

“This was a really special evening for Kilkenny Camogie, bringing players, families and coaches together to celebrate the progress made by our U15 academy and development squads. It’s important to take time to acknowledge the enjoyment, confidence and personal growth that comes from being part of the academy journey.

The awards night captured the positive atmosphere around the programme and highlighted the strong sense of community that supports our young players as they continue to develop and enjoy the game.”
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PJ Kenny, Chairman of Kilkenny GAA, said:

“The Academy Awards are an important occasion in the underage calendar, giving young players the opportunity to be recognised for their commitment and effort throughout the year. It is a proud moment for players, families and coaches, and a reminder of the standards being developed within the Kilkenny academy pathway.”
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Theresa Aylward, Kilkenny Camogie Chairperson, added:

“Kilkenny Camogie is delighted with our partnership with CluneTech, as we share many common values, standards and a strong sense of identity. Their support allows us to continue developing and supporting our young camogie players, and occasions like the Academy Awards are an important opportunity to recognise their progress and encourage them as they work to reach their potential within Kilkenny’s high-performance environment.”

The two awards evenings reflected the strength of the partnership between CluneTech, Kilkenny GAA and Kilkenny Camogie, and a shared commitment to providing young players with a supportive and high-quality development environment. As the academy programmes continue to grow, the focus remains on nurturing talent, building character and ensuring that young athletes across the county are given every opportunity to reach their potential both on and off the pitch.
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For more information, please contact:

Lauren Cleere, CluneTech, lauren.cleere@clunetech.com  

Mary Morgan, Kilkenny GAA PRO, pro.kilkenny@gaa.ie

Aoife Lanigan, Kilkenny Camogie PRO, pro.kilkenny@camogie.ie

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On Thursday, February 5th, CluneTech was delighted to welcome the Ambassador of Ireland to Bulgaria, Catherine Bannon, and her team to our Varna office. The visit marked Ambassador Bannon’s first official engagement in Varna since assuming her role and created a valuable opportunity for open and meaningful conversation with colleagues from across CluneTech.

The meeting took place in the context of Ireland’s upcoming Presidency of the Council of the European Union (1 July – 31 December 2026) and highlighted the importance of strengthening collaboration between Irish institutions and Irish-founded businesses operating in Bulgaria.

During the visit, the Irish Embassy team learned more about the businesses across CluneTech and the work being done in different areas, including operations, technology, product, and regional growth. Discussions focused on opportunities to further expand Irish investment in Bulgaria, as well as on the role companies like CluneTech play in driving sustainable business growth and creating positive, supportive working environments in both Varna and the wider country.

Ambassador Bannon met with CluneTech managers representing businesses across the group, including Ekaterina Hristova, HR Manager for Bulgaria; Encho Yordanov, Business Operations Manager at Sprintax; Sasha Boyanova, Tech Manager at TransferMate Global Payments; Vesselina Marinova, Head of Operations and Senior Product Manager at Fintua; and Daniela Atanasova, Senior Operations Manager at Benamic.

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The visit reinforced the value of ongoing collaboration, and CluneTech looks forward to continuing to build strong relationships with the Irish Embassy and its technology and operations teams here in Bulgaria.

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Thursday, 25th September, 2025. WeCan, an initiative by CluneTech, has been awarded Community Programme of the Year at the 2025 Sustainable Business Impact Awards, hosted by Chambers Ireland in Dublin on Wednesday, September 24th.
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This honour represents a proud milestone for CluneTech and shines a national spotlight on WeCan’s mission to blend social inclusion with environmental responsibility. Since its launch in March 2024, the initiative has created meaningful employment opportunities for adults with intellectual disabilities. By leveraging Ireland’s Deposit Return Scheme, it has also made a significant environmental impact, collecting over 374,000 bottles and cans, diverting 830kg of waste each week, and saving 8,300kg of CO₂
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Commenting on the award, Terry Clune, CEO and Founder of CluneTech, said:

“Being awarded Community Programme of the Year at the 2025 Sustainable Business Impact Awards is a tremendous honour and a testament to the positive impact of WeCan. Since its launch, the initiative has not only helped protect the environment but has also empowered adults with intellectual disabilities to gain meaningful employment. I want to sincerely thank our team, our exclusive partners at SOS Kilkenny, and the many businesses who have supported WeCan. I am excited about WeCan’s potential to grow and create even more opportunities for our communities in the years ahead.”

John McCarthy, WeCan Project Lead, added:

“We are absolutely delighted to receive this award for Best Community Programme. At its core, WeCan is about people. It is about using the Deposit Return Scheme not only to recycle bottles and cans but to create opportunities for adults with intellectual disabilities to grow in confidence, independence and connection. We see this every day in participants like Adam, Jamie and Ross whose pride and friendships have flourished since joining. This award belongs to them, to our community and to everyone who has supported WeCan.”

The Sustainable Business Impact Awards are Ireland’s foremost celebration of CSR and sustainability, recognising companies that demonstrate leadership in creating positive change across community, workplace, marketplace, and environment. CluneTech’s success in the Community Programme category highlights the impact of WeCan in fostering inclusion while driving climate action.
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Since its launch, WeCan has also won the Pakman Award for Best Deposit Return Scheme Initiative, chosen ahead of leading industry names such as Coca-Cola and Lidl, and was invited by Re-Turn to present at Bord Bia Bloom, where it featured on the Sustainability Stage as an example of how the Deposit Return Scheme can deliver both environmental and social impact.
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WeCan works closely with the Work4Life Employment Support team from SOS Kilkenny CLG, a not-for-profit organisation supporting individuals with intellectual disabilities and autism. This collaboration ensures participants are supported in their workplace journey, reflecting CluneTech’s commitment to building a more inclusive society while protecting the environment.
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About the Sustainable Business Impact Awards
The Sustainable Business Impact Awards, organised annually by Chambers Ireland, are Ireland’s leading awards for sustainable development and CSR. The Awards recognise the meaningful and high-quality work by companies through different award categories, including Environment, Charity, Volunteering, Community, Workplace, and Communication, Sustainable Impact by a Small or Medium Sized Business, and Diversity, Inclusion and Equity.
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About WeCan
WeCan is a not-for-profit initiative that creates meaningful employment opportunities for adults with intellectual disabilities, enabling them to contribute to their communities while positively impacting the environment
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About CluneTech
CluneTech is a suite of software technology companies providing cutting-edge solutions that simplify global business. Our technology streamlines business processes such as digital sales, global payroll, tax compliance, global VAT & cross-border payments, making business better for our customers worldwide.

Established in 1996 by entrepreneur Terry Clune, CluneTech is headquartered in Ireland with a footprint across four continents and does business in more than 100 countries on a daily basis. The group has offices in 21 countries, and over 1,200 employees globally. The group encompasses TransferMate, Fintua, Sprintax, Benamic, among others. Immedis, a leading global payroll platform, was acquired by UKG in June 2023, in one of Ireland’s largest technology deals.

CluneTech has been recognised as one of Ireland’s best workplaces for ten consecutive years by Great Place to Work®, the global authority on workplace culture.
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For more information, please contact:
Lauren Cleere, Marketing and Communications Manager, CluneTech

Lauren.Cleere@clunetech.com

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Kilkenny, Ireland – Taxback International, a CluneTech company and a global leader in VAT compliance and recovery, has today officially rebranded as Fintua. This transformation reflects the seamless integration of decades of indirect tax expertise with cutting-edge SaaS technology, setting a new benchmark for digital innovation within the fintech landscape. Through this rebrand, the company reaffirms its dedication to delivering smarter, more scalable fintech solutions designed to accelerate positive digital transformation across the indirect tax ecosystem. 

Why the change? 

Fintua embodies the natural evolution of Taxback International—from a VAT reclaim specialist to a global technology leader within the wider fintech industry. As indirect tax complexity intensifies, businesses demand more agile and intelligent solutions. This rebrand signals our commitment to empowering tax and finance professionals worldwide with innovative technology that simplifies complexity, mitigates risk, and revolutionizes tax management. 

The name “Fintua” uniquely combines our fintech expertise with a strong connection to our Irish roots. “Fin” highlights our focus on financial technology, while “Tua,” inspired by the Irish word tuath (meaning people or community), underscores our collaborative, client-centric ethos. 

A new chapter of innovation 

Rebranding as Fintua is far more than a name change—it is a declaration of our vision and ambition. We remain the trusted partner our clients have relied on, now with an intensified focus on developing intuitive, expertly engineered technology designed to address today’s and tomorrow’s tax challenges. 

"As we embark on this exciting journey to become Fintua, I am thrilled to see our company evolve into a brand that truly reflects our innovative spirit and commitment to tax technology," said Catherine Quirke, CEO of Fintua. "This rebranding marks a significant milestone in our growth, and identifies with our ability and commitment to deliver cutting-edge solutions that meet the evolving needs of our customers." 

Fintua’s vision is to lead in breakthrough technology that drives positive digital change throughout the indirect tax and wider fintech communities. Our core values—empowering, progressive, collaborative, and perceptive—will continue to guide every solution we create. 
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“The rebrand of Taxback International to Fintua is a proud moment for all of us at CluneTech. It’s a reflection of how far the business has come since its early days in Kilkenny—growing from a VAT reclaim specialist into a global technology leader in tax and fintech. For me, Fintua stands for innovation, ambition, and the power of a great team working together to solve complex challenges for businesses worldwide. I’m excited to see Fintua lead the way into this new era, continuing our tradition of empowering clients and driving positive change across the industry.” - Terry Clune, CEO and Founder of CluneTech. 

To celebrate this milestone, Fintua is hosting launch day events at its Kilkenny headquarters and across global offices, bringing employees together to mark this exciting new chapter. 
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For more details about the rebrand, launch events, and services, please visit www.fintua.com.

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Following the recent 25th anniversary celebrations of CluneTech’s Varna office, our Benamic team continued the momentum with a two-day Sales Culture Organisation training held on 28–29 April in Varna, Bulgaria.

Bringing together more than 50 colleagues from across the organisation, the initiative reflects Benamic’s ongoing commitment to strengthening collaboration, enhancing customer experience, and embedding a unified, customer-first mindset across all teams.

The training, delivered by Pavel Panov, PhD, from In Your Hands, centred around a dynamic business simulation designed to mirror real-world organisational challenges. Through highly interactive sessions, participants explored how decision-making, communication, and internal alignment directly influence the customer journey.

Teams from Web Development, Customer Service, Client Success, Sales, and Project Management took part across the two days, with the programme also welcoming international colleagues, including participants from Ireland. This cross-functional and cross-border approach reinforced the importance of shared accountability in delivering consistent value to customers.

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A central theme throughout the training was clear: every team plays a role in shaping the customer experience. Whether client-facing or operating behind the scenes, the way teams collaborate internally has a direct and measurable impact on external outcomes.

Through a series of practical exercises and guided reflections, participants were encouraged to challenge existing ways of working, identify areas for improvement, and adopt a more commercially aware and customer-oriented perspective.

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As Julian Morrison, CEO of Benamic, shared:

“This was a focused reset on how we approach sales - not just as a function, but as a culture built on trust, clarity and consistently delivering on our commitments.

What stood out was the level of engagement across the team and a clear, shared intent to become a more customer-oriented business. There’s a strong willingness to challenge how we work today and raise the bar on how we deliver value to our customers.”

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The training marked an important step in Benamic’s journey towards building a stronger, more aligned organisation - one where sales is not confined to a single function, but embedded in the mindset and actions of every team.

With strong engagement, practical insights, and a clear focus on application, the initiative sets the foundation for continued progress. The next step is clear: to translate these learnings into everyday practice and further elevate the standard of delivery across the business.

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At CluneTech, we have an extensive Milestone Recognition Program that rewards employees that choose to build along 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 Philip Traynor, Senior Business Development Manager, who has been on our team for the last 5 years.
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What is your favorite thing about working in CluneTech / TransferMate

I know it’s a cliché and it’s been said before, but it’s 100% the people. I’ve met some awesome people here. Some have moved on and some are still here, but they most certainly make the role interesting, to say the least. You meet so many different types of characters in sales that it’s bound to make life more intriguing.

Also, the fact that we are very innovative. Some of the new products we’ve introduced over the last few years really help us stand apart from the competition.
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What has been your biggest achievement or highlight since joining CluneTech / TransferMate?

I’d say reaching the 5-year mark in Higher Ed is a highlight 😊 But probably being part of the signing of our largest client to date in Education, UBC.
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Who or what has inspired you the most during your time here?

I feel a lot of inspiration comes from within yourself, though I’ve also learned a lot from the people around me here. To be truly inspired, I feel you must discover what you want to achieve from a certain goal and then go and get it.
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What is the biggest change that you have witnessed in your time here?

The enormity of the company! 😊 From when I started 5 years ago until now – the number of clients we have brought on board, the new products brought to market, and the sheer volume of funds that we have seen growing and growing has been amazing.
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What is the greatest challenge that you have faced in your time here and how did you overcome it?

It was probably more of a personal challenge when my mother passed away. I had been working here less than a year when we got the bad news. What made it slightly easier was the fact that my Commercial Director and Team Lead at the time both arrived unexpectedly at the funeral, which in turn made my return to work a lot easier. That is something I will always remember.
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What has been your favourite project to work on?

My favourite and biggest has to be UBC – from the team of people working on this on both the TM side and the UBC side, to the learnings I had over that 3-year period, which will always stand me in good stead in the future.
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Do you have advice for someone who is just starting their career in CluneTech / TransferMate?

Just enjoy it – learn the product and believe in yourself. Work hard and your efforts will be recognised. It will be noticed and you will get to where you want to go within TransferMate if you follow those simple tips.

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At CluneTech, continuous learning is at the heart of our culture. In 2025, CluneTech’s subsidiary Fintua launched the Fintua Tax Academy, a comprehensive training programme designed to equip colleagues with deep knowledge of EU VAT, practical skills, and the confidence to tackle complex challenges in their daily work.

The goal of Fintua was to create an internal training series that goes beyond theory. While external courses exist, developing an in-house programme allows the content to be tailored to real-life scenarios and business-specific challenges, ensuring every session is directly relevant, practical, and immediately applicable.

“Our aim was to show that behind the Excel tables and daily routines, there is so much more to understand and appreciate. Participating in this type of training reshapes the way colleagues think about their work, the value they create, and how they collaborate across teams,” explains Péter Árpás, the main driver of the programme.

From April to October 2025, the Academy hosted seven sessions - two in-person and five online, covering the EU VAT system, legal background and EU Court decisions, and practical examples from advisory experience. The series concluded with a final exam in late November, consisting of more than 60 questions. Out of 70 participants from Bulgaria, Ireland, and Hungary, 40 successfully participated in and passed an exam, with 21 achieving results above 80%.

A graduation ceremony in Varna this February marked the successful completion of the exam, with top performers recognized for their exceptional achievement.

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Building on the success of the first year, Fintua is already preparing its 2026 programme. The next edition will be even more practical, featuring new lecturers and an open invitation for anyone who wants to participate, regardless of previous involvement.

Beyond its global reach and automated, highly integrated platform offering a full suite of indirect tax solutions, Fintua’s VAT Academy adds one more key advantage: the deep VAT expertise of its long-term professionals, handling complex VAT cases for clients such as Nestlé, Google, IBM, Mondelez, and many others.

The Fintua Tax Academy demonstrates CluneTech’s commitment to investing in our people. Beyond providing essential knowledge, it fosters professional curiosity, strengthens collaboration across teams, and empowers colleagues to step into advanced roles.

At CluneTech, growth is a team effort, and initiatives like the Fintua Tax Academy ensure that every colleague has the tools and confidence to progress their development.  

Fintua are currently hiring in various roles across our global teams in Tech and Finance. See their current vacancies at https://fintua.com/careers/.

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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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In the latest episode of CluneTech’s Career Blitz Series, we sat down with Ventsislav Dinev, who shared his inspiring career progression within CluneTech’s Sprintax Team.

Ventsi began his journey at Sprintax as a Project Manager, where he quickly developed a strong interest in user experience and design. Motivated by curiosity and a desire to grow, he set his sights on transitioning into the UX team, and took deliberate, strategic steps to make it happen.

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A purposeful career transition

During the conversation, Ventsi reflects on how he prepared for the move into UX, highlighting the importance of proactive learning, building relevant skills, and seeking opportunities to apply them in real projects. Rather than waiting for the “perfect moment,” he focused on creating his own path within the company.

He also shares the experiences that helped him stand out during the transition, from cross-functional collaboration to hands-on involvement in user-focused initiatives.

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Why he chose to grow within CluneTech

One of the key themes of Ventsi’s story is the value of internal growth. He speaks about why he chose to stay and develop his career within CluneTech, emphasizing the company’s supportive culture, openness to career mobility, and encouragement of personal development. According to Ventsi, having the space to explore different roles internally played a crucial role in his professional evolution.

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Advice for aspiring tech professionals

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Ventsi also offers practical advice for anyone looking to start or advance their career in tech:

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• Stay curious and continuously learn new skills

• Don’t wait for opportunities - actively look for ways to create them

• Build relationships across teams and disciplines

• Be open to stepping outside your current role

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A story of growth and initiative

Ventsi’s journey is a strong example of how dedication, curiosity, and initiative can open unexpected doors. His transition from Project Manager to UX is not just a career shift - it’s a reflection of what’s possible within a culture that supports internal mobility and growth.

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Watch Ventsi’s full story in this episode of Career Blitz to learn more about his journey and insights into building a meaningful career in tech.

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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 Fintua's Chief Financial Officer Edward Furlong who has been a part of the team for the last 15 years.

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

The people. In Fintua, we have a core of really good people that have been here a long time.

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

My appointment as Chief Financial Officer.

Who or what has inspired you the most during your time here?

The dedication of our staff, in particular the Bulgarian based employees. The level of effort and automation they have brought into work practices over the past number of years has been remarkable.

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

The automation across lots of processes during my time here at Fintua.

I have also witnessed the growth in many of our businesses from the foundations of being mainly an income tax refunds business  which was very manual to being a key player in the Fintech space.

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

Covid completely changed the focus of our business. The majority of what we did prior to that was based around travel. This presented huge challenges from a budgeting and cashflow perspective.

In the same period Comply was also being developed.

What has been your favourite project to work on?

The rebrand project led by the marketing team was interesting to be involved in.

There are lots of elements of automation that we are working through at the moment so hard to choose a favourite.

If you had to swap roles with someone in the company for a week, who would it be and why?

Anywhere within the Sales function. I get lots of Sales phone calls so would be nice to be on the other side of the fence, for just a week!

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

Don’t be afraid of change and embrace new ways of doing things.

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Volunteer Day at CluneTech

CluneTech is committed to supporting activities that enhance and serve the communities in which we live and work. As part of this commitment, we added a Volunteer Day to our existing employee benefits in September, 2021 to empower our employees to support the causes closest to them.

The addition of our Volunteer Day for our employees has enhanced the reach of our CSR programme, CluneTech Cares. Our intention with this addition is to allow employees to allocate work time to engage in volunteering activities. CluneTech recognises that participating in these sort of activities contributes not only to the development of communities, but also enriches the lives and promotes the well-being of our people.

In March, CluneTech employees from all over of world used their volunteer day to support causes close to their hearts such as donation of computers to local high schools (Yordan Keranov), doing arts and crafts with children with disabilities (Emilia Simeonova and Yoana Grigorova), or making donations to refugees following the Russian invasion in Ukraine (Gocho Gochev, Desislava Chervenkova, Artur Balyan, Kaloyan Keranov and others).

Check out this recent examples of how our employees Ralitsa Mladenova and Galina Kirova used their volunteer day.

Volunteering for the Bulgarian Red Cross

On 23rd March, Galina Kirilova and Ralitsa Mladenova from our Veliko Tarnovo team used their Volunteer day to support the regional department of the Bulgarian Red Cross in the city. Both ladies participated in the initiative “Children Help Children” organized by the Ministry of Education together with the Bulgarian Red Cross. This initiative was set up to help collect essential goods that will be sent to Bulgarian Sunday Schools in Ukraine (there are 63 Bulgarian Sunday Schools in Ukraine, attended by over 10,000 children). Ralitsa, Galina, and the Red Cross volunteers accepted the donations from schools in the area, recorded and organised the supplies, and prepared them for shipping to the children in need.

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“It was so fulfilling to be part of this campaign. We all can make a difference and we are lucky our employer supports us in that.” - Ralista Mladenova

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Read more about our CSR programme, CluneTech Cares, and keep an eye out on our social media for more volunteer day stories.

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CluneTech is committed to supporting activities that enhance and serve the communities in which we live and work. As part of this commitment, we added a Volunteer Day to our existing employee benefits in September, 2021 to empower our employees to support the causes closest to them.

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Why We Introduced a Volunteer Day? 

We are passionate about giving back to our communities all over the world and the aim of our Volunteer Day is to empower our employees, as individuals, to give back within their local communities.

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Our intention is to allow employees to allocate work time to engage in volunteering activities. CluneTech recognises that participating in these sort of activities contributes not only to the development of communities, but also enriches the lives and promotes the well-being of our people.

The addition of our Volunteer Day has already enhanced the reach of our CSR programme, CluneTech Cares, in fact check out this recent example of how TransferMate employees Daniela Tsoneva and Toni Ivanova each used their volunteer day:

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Volunteering with Gavroche Shelter in Varna, Bulgaria

Daniela Tsoneva and Toni Ivanova from our TransferMate team recently used their employee volunteer day to help the young ladies from the Gavroche shelter in Varna, Bulgaria, purchase new clothes using money donated by CluneTech earlier this year. Daniela and Toni were on hand to ensure the young ladies got everything they needed and that they also enjoyed a great day out with their new friends from CluneTech.

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CluneTech Cares

This year’s Group rebrand faced us with another challenge - renaming #TaxbackGiveBack, our Corporate Social Responsibility Programme. Since the launch of the programme in 2007, one thing always stands out – our caring nature. Naturally, this brought us to the new name CluneTech Cares.

CluneTech Cares is a great representation of what we are – a team of truly caring individuals, giving their best to support and add value, not only to our customers and our team-mates, but also to the communities in which we live and operate!

CluneTech Cares is an award winning programme, picking up the award for ‘Best Use of CSR’ at the 2021 HR Management & Leadership Awards. In 2021, we supported 34 different causes across the world.  These included the likes of the Irish Cancer Society, Karin Dom, Race for the Cure, A Very Special Place Inc, MS Ireland, Jack & Jill, E-ducare and many more.

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Want to find out more? Visit the CluneTech Cares section of our website.

For a fourth year in a row CluneTech’s career counselling program is taking place in Varna High School of Commerce during the academic year 2021-2022. The program aims to help young people to acquire and develop specific skills that will help them get the best out of their career exploration, job search and job application processes. With the help of experienced HR professionals and guest lecturers, the students will learn how to create impressive CV and video resumes, how to prepare for job interviews and, how to find the most compelling job offers on the market.

Over the years CluneTech has organized numerous career events with other local high schools and universities, such as Open Door Days in our offices in Varna and Veliko Tarnovo, Manager for a Day, and many more. All participants in our career counselling program are invited to join a designated Facebook group where we post weekly career counselling advice, inspiring guest interviews and regular updates about any internships and entry level roles in our group of companies.

In 2019 our Career Counselling Program captured the “Innovation in Talent Education” Award at the second B2B Media Employer Branding Awards which celebrate the companies in Bulgaria with the most innovative HR strategies.

We could not be any happier with the results of our program so far. Each and every student that took part excelled and many eventually ended up becoming a part of the CluneTech team.

Our career counselling program, as well as our internship and graduate programs are designed to offer new, young talent the opportunity to learn and grow in an innovative and collaborative environment. With this in mind, we would like to remind you that CluneTech is open to candidates with no experience. As long as you’re driven and willing to learn, we’ll train and support you to become an important member of our team and achieve your full potential.

If you are willing to bring your ideas to the table and are always looking to develop your skills and contribute to making business better, explore our career opportunities as we would love to hear from you!

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For the past 6 years and counting we have been proudly sponsoring the Pet Therapy Programme in Temple Street Children’s Hospital, Dublin. This programme helps to provide respite to patients during their stay in Temple Street whilst giving them something to look forward to during the week. We decided to take a trip up to Temple Street to get an insight into the work that these two wonder dogs do for the patients.

Our Engagement and Communications Officer, Rachael O’Shea met the two amazing dogs, Buster and Schui and their owner Jeanette Gregg. Jeanette was a part of a group, the Dublin Dog Training’s in Swords, County Dublin doing obedience training with Buster and Schui when she first got the idea to become a pet therapy dog owner. Jeanette met someone who had a dog in a yellow coat and asked them about it. It was here that Jeanette decided to get involved, she first started working in a nursing home and then later moved onto Temple Street Children’s Hospital. Buster and Schui help to take the children’s minds off the sometimes very difficult situations that they face. These two wonder dogs give both the families and patients something to enjoy and smile about when they arrive each Thursday with their owner Jeanette Gregg and Julie Collins who is a play specialist in Temple Street. It was truly inspiring to see the smiles and joy that these two dogs create and we are delighted to able to sponsor this programme for the past 6 years and hope to continue doing so in the future.

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CluneTech Cares is the new name of our CSR Programme.

This year’s Group rebrand faced us with another challenge - the rename our Corporate Social Responsibility Programme #TaxbackGiveBack. Ever since the launch of the programme in 2007 one thing always stand out – our caring nature. Naturally, this brought us to the new name CluneTech Cares.

CluneTech Cares is a great representation of what we are – a team of truly caring individuals giving their best to support and add value not only to our customers and our team-mates but also to the communities in which we live and operate!

Race for the Cure

In October 2021, CluneTech took part in the Race for the Cure 2021 event. Race of the Cure is Europe’s biggest sporting event for women’s health. It helps to raise money and awareness for Breast Cancer Research. It was incredibly important to us that we participated in this event as cancer has impacted so many of our lives. It was amazing to see over 50 employees register and take part!

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Golf Tournament for A Very Special Place Inc.

A Very Special Place Inc. provides a comprehensive network of programmes and services for people with intellectual and development disabilities and their families. With the guidance and support offered by AVSP, people of all ages find opportunities to achieve independence and self-fulfillment. We were approached by an Immedis employee who told us all about a golf outing hosted by and raising money for AVSP. Having heard all about the event and the services AVSP provide, we were delighted to sponsor a team of Immedis employees to take part.

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Jack & Jill’s Up The Hill Challenge

We're absolutely delighted to have taken part in Jack & Jill's Up The Hill challenge again this year. By taking part and sharing their “Up The Hill” pictures on Workvivo, our employees not only had the chance to win some amazing surprises but also to represent the hill that the children of Jack & Jill climb each and every day, and to show solidarity with their families. Furthermore, CluneTech covered a €5,000 participation fee for our staff which goes toward providing crucial care to the Jack & Jill Foundation and the children who are relying on home nursing services.

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“Investing in Human Capital to Invest in the Future of Karin Dom” Programme

CluneTech and Karin Dom in Bulgaria have launched a project called “Investing in Human Capital to Invest in the Future of Karin Dom” which aims to support the long-term vision of the center by increasing the focus and investment on the retention and the development of their specialists.  CluneTech supported the first series of professional supervisions for the Karin Dom team, which were organized before the Covid-19 pandemic. Having witnessed the positive impact of these professional supervisions, we had no hesitations about continuing our support of this programme long-term.

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"World Vision Romania" Foundation and Palliative Care Center "Sfantul Nectarie”

This November, our colleagues in Romania supported two local organizations with donations of €1000 each. The first one, World Vision Romania, looks at all the things that prevent children from surviving and thriving in their community, and then works with the community to bring all the pieces of the puzzle together to build a better life for them. The second beneficiary of the donation is the Center for Palliative Care „Sfantul Nectarie” which aims to relieve the suffering and provide the best possible quality of life for patients with serious illness and their families.

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

January CSR Spotlight: Tackling Loneliness  

January can be a particularly challenging time, especially for older people and those experiencing loneliness.

During January, CluneTech was proud to support ALONE in Ireland and Caritas in Bulgaria. Two remarkable organisations dedicated to reducing isolation and providing essential support to vulnerable communities.

To help raise both awareness and funds, we organised CSR Walks in Kilkenny and Dublin in support of ALONE, while our teams in Bulgaria took part in walks for Caritas.

A sincere thank you to everyone who participated, shared their 5k walk screenshots, and helped highlight this often-overlooked issue. Your contributions are making a real and lasting impact.

February CSR Spotlight: World Cancer Day  

February offered a welcome opportunity for colleagues in the Kilkenny office to come together and mark Pancake Tuesday with a Pancake Bar.

This initiative not only provided an enjoyable occasion for staff to connect, but also supported the Irish Cancer Society, raising both funds and awareness for the essential services they deliver nationwide.

March Spotlight: Autism Awareness Day

This March, CluneTech proudly dedicated our CSR Spotlight to World Autism Awareness, supporting incredible charities that provide essential services to individuals and families affected by autism.

Autism is a neurological difference that shapes how people experience the world, and while awareness is growing, there’s still much work to be done in building a more understanding and inclusive society.

To raise awareness and funds, we hosted a lunchtime run/walk at our Kilkenny HQ on March 25th. Between employees and the TY students participating in the CSR walk, to people joining our Patric Fitness Class, the turnout was amazing in both our Kilkenny and Dublin HQ's! 👏

Thanks to our participation, we have made a monetary donation to our dedicated autism awareness charity going towards an amazing cause.

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Blood Donation Campaign in Varna  

On the 13th of March, 18 employees in Varna donated blood! In 2024, in Bulgaria, blood donation was recognized as a voluntary activity for which the company allows employees to use their company-paid volunteer day. This made organising our blood donation campaign only a matter of time and we couldn’t be prouder of the impact we’ve made together.  

CluneTech and Cois Nore: In It Together for Kilkenny’s New Cancer Support Centre

 In Q1, CluneTech and Cois Nore announced a sponsorship supporting the development of a dedicated therapy wing at Cois Nore’s new Cancer Support Centre in Kilkenny, marking a significant milestone and an important investment in the future of cancer support services for the people of Kilkenny
CluneTech’s sponsorship provides vital funding for a modern, purpose-designed therapy space that will support individuals and families throughout their cancer journey.

Alongside community generosity, government support, and contributions from other supporters, this investment is helping to bring the new centre closer to completion and enables Cois Nore to continue delivering free, confidential support and professional and voluntary services to people of all ages.

Terry Clune, Chief Executive Officer and Founder of CluneTech, said:

“Kilkenny is home for many of us at CluneTech, and we recognise the importance of standing with our community during difficult times. Cancer touches so many families, and Cois Nore has been a steadfast and compassionate support to the people of Kilkenny for over a decade. We are proud to support the development of the new Cois Nore therapy wing and the vital work that will continue there. We are in it together with Cois Nore and with the people of Kilkenny.”

CluneTech Celebrates Rising Stars at Kilkenny GAA and Camogie Academy Awards

 CluneTech was proud to celebrate the achievements of Kilkenny’s emerging young talent as it hosted the Kilkenny GAA and Camogie Academy Awards at its Kilkenny HQ on January 27th and 28th. Held over two evenings, the awards recognised the dedication and commitment of the U16 Kilkenny GAA hurling and football squads, alongside the U15 Kilkenny Camogie Academy and Development squads.

CluneTech has been the main sponsor of both the Kilkenny GAA Academy (Na Cait Óga) and the Kilkenny Camogie Academy since 2024, under a three-year partnership supporting more than 500 players across both pathways. The sponsorship helps fund essential operational and player-welfare costs, including transport, equipment, nutrition and medical supports, ensuring a high-performance environment can be sustained for young athletes across the county.

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CluneTech Cares Backs Galmoy Juvenile Badminton Club

Based in North Kilkenny, Galmoy Juvenile Badminton Club has grown to a membership of 50 young players aged between 7 and 17, providing regular training opportunities and fostering a strong community spirit among young athletes from across the region.

Since affiliating with Badminton Ireland in 2023, the club has already enjoyed success at both school and county level, with several members selected for the U17 Kilkenny team competing in upcoming Leinster competitions.

This sponsorship forms part of CluneTech’s award-winning CSR programme, CluneTech Cares, which supports charities and community initiatives locally and internationally, with a strong impact across Kilkenny and the wider communities in which the company operates.

The new sponsorship will support the club as players represent Galmoy Juvenile Badminton Club in competitions throughout the season and we are absolutely delighted to support such an amazing organisation in our community.

Volunteering at CluneTech

Karin Dom Martenitsi Workshop

30 volunteers from the Varna office spent a  day crafting martenitsi, which later were sold at fundraising bazaars across Bulgaria, to raise funds for Karin Dom's therapeutic center and children's early development support programs. They raised over €200 for Karin Dom!  

John Murphy volunteering for Daffodil Day 2026

"Today, once again I used my CSR day to support the Irish Cancer Society on Daffodil Day. I think we all know someone in our life who has been affected by Cancer and who have reached out to the Irish Cancer Society for guidance or support. Grateful to be able to give back in a small way with thanks to CluneTech Cares."

John Murphy, Fintua

Well done, John, from all here at CluneTech.

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Following the recent 25th anniversary celebrations of CluneTech’s Varna office, our Benamic team continued the momentum with a two-day Sales Culture Organisation training held on 28–29 April in Varna, Bulgaria.

Bringing together more than 50 colleagues from across the organisation, the initiative reflects Benamic’s ongoing commitment to strengthening collaboration, enhancing customer experience, and embedding a unified, customer-first mindset across all teams.

The training, delivered by Pavel Panov, PhD, from In Your Hands, centred around a dynamic business simulation designed to mirror real-world organisational challenges. Through highly interactive sessions, participants explored how decision-making, communication, and internal alignment directly influence the customer journey.

Teams from Web Development, Customer Service, Client Success, Sales, and Project Management took part across the two days, with the programme also welcoming international colleagues, including participants from Ireland. This cross-functional and cross-border approach reinforced the importance of shared accountability in delivering consistent value to customers.

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A central theme throughout the training was clear: every team plays a role in shaping the customer experience. Whether client-facing or operating behind the scenes, the way teams collaborate internally has a direct and measurable impact on external outcomes.

Through a series of practical exercises and guided reflections, participants were encouraged to challenge existing ways of working, identify areas for improvement, and adopt a more commercially aware and customer-oriented perspective.

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As Julian Morrison, CEO of Benamic, shared:

“This was a focused reset on how we approach sales - not just as a function, but as a culture built on trust, clarity and consistently delivering on our commitments.

What stood out was the level of engagement across the team and a clear, shared intent to become a more customer-oriented business. There’s a strong willingness to challenge how we work today and raise the bar on how we deliver value to our customers.”

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The training marked an important step in Benamic’s journey towards building a stronger, more aligned organisation - one where sales is not confined to a single function, but embedded in the mindset and actions of every team.

With strong engagement, practical insights, and a clear focus on application, the initiative sets the foundation for continued progress. The next step is clear: to translate these learnings into everyday practice and further elevate the standard of delivery across the business.

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CluneTech is celebrating a major milestone - 25 years since opening its first international office in Varna, Bulgaria, marking the beginning of its global journey.

What started as a small team in Varna in 2001 has grown into one of CluneTech’s largest and most important global hubs. Today, the company operates across 20 countries, continuing to expand its international footprint.

To mark the occasion, CluneTech hosted a special celebration in Varna, bringing colleagues together to recognise the local team and honour those who have been part of the journey since the very beginning.

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Reflecting on the milestone, CluneTech Founder and CEO Terry Clune said:

“The 26th April marks 25 years since we established our office in Varna, Bulgaria — an incredibly important milestone for CluneTech. That step marked the beginning of our international journey and played a key role in shaping the global business we are today. I want to sincerely thank everyone, past and present, who has been part of that journey. Your contribution has played a key part in building CluneTech and the success we have achieved together as one team.”

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Today, CluneTech employs nearly 800 people across Bulgaria, with more than 500 based in Varna. The team plays a critical role across the group, supporting the operations and software development of TransferMate, Fintua, Sprintax and Benamic, alongside key functions including finance, customer support, marketing and administration. The strength of the Bulgarian team is also reflected in its longevity, with more than 54% of employees having been with the company for over five years - well above industry averages.

Just days ahead of the anniversary, CluneTech reached another significant milestone, achieving its highest-ever ranking in Career Show’s Top 100 Best Employers in Bulgaria, placing 12th - up from 46th in 2023. The company was also recognised as “Best Employer in Fintech” for the third consecutive year.

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As CluneTech looks to the future, it remains committed to investing in its people, supporting employee wellbeing and development, and continuing to make a positive impact in the communities where it operates.

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Thursday, 25th September, 2025. WeCan, an initiative by CluneTech, has been awarded Community Programme of the Year at the 2025 Sustainable Business Impact Awards, hosted by Chambers Ireland in Dublin on Wednesday, September 24th.
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This honour represents a proud milestone for CluneTech and shines a national spotlight on WeCan’s mission to blend social inclusion with environmental responsibility. Since its launch in March 2024, the initiative has created meaningful employment opportunities for adults with intellectual disabilities. By leveraging Ireland’s Deposit Return Scheme, it has also made a significant environmental impact, collecting over 374,000 bottles and cans, diverting 830kg of waste each week, and saving 8,300kg of CO₂
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Commenting on the award, Terry Clune, CEO and Founder of CluneTech, said:

“Being awarded Community Programme of the Year at the 2025 Sustainable Business Impact Awards is a tremendous honour and a testament to the positive impact of WeCan. Since its launch, the initiative has not only helped protect the environment but has also empowered adults with intellectual disabilities to gain meaningful employment. I want to sincerely thank our team, our exclusive partners at SOS Kilkenny, and the many businesses who have supported WeCan. I am excited about WeCan’s potential to grow and create even more opportunities for our communities in the years ahead.”

John McCarthy, WeCan Project Lead, added:

“We are absolutely delighted to receive this award for Best Community Programme. At its core, WeCan is about people. It is about using the Deposit Return Scheme not only to recycle bottles and cans but to create opportunities for adults with intellectual disabilities to grow in confidence, independence and connection. We see this every day in participants like Adam, Jamie and Ross whose pride and friendships have flourished since joining. This award belongs to them, to our community and to everyone who has supported WeCan.”

The Sustainable Business Impact Awards are Ireland’s foremost celebration of CSR and sustainability, recognising companies that demonstrate leadership in creating positive change across community, workplace, marketplace, and environment. CluneTech’s success in the Community Programme category highlights the impact of WeCan in fostering inclusion while driving climate action.
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Since its launch, WeCan has also won the Pakman Award for Best Deposit Return Scheme Initiative, chosen ahead of leading industry names such as Coca-Cola and Lidl, and was invited by Re-Turn to present at Bord Bia Bloom, where it featured on the Sustainability Stage as an example of how the Deposit Return Scheme can deliver both environmental and social impact.
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WeCan works closely with the Work4Life Employment Support team from SOS Kilkenny CLG, a not-for-profit organisation supporting individuals with intellectual disabilities and autism. This collaboration ensures participants are supported in their workplace journey, reflecting CluneTech’s commitment to building a more inclusive society while protecting the environment.
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About the Sustainable Business Impact Awards
The Sustainable Business Impact Awards, organised annually by Chambers Ireland, are Ireland’s leading awards for sustainable development and CSR. The Awards recognise the meaningful and high-quality work by companies through different award categories, including Environment, Charity, Volunteering, Community, Workplace, and Communication, Sustainable Impact by a Small or Medium Sized Business, and Diversity, Inclusion and Equity.
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About WeCan
WeCan is a not-for-profit initiative that creates meaningful employment opportunities for adults with intellectual disabilities, enabling them to contribute to their communities while positively impacting the environment
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About CluneTech
CluneTech is a suite of software technology companies providing cutting-edge solutions that simplify global business. Our technology streamlines business processes such as digital sales, global payroll, tax compliance, global VAT & cross-border payments, making business better for our customers worldwide.

Established in 1996 by entrepreneur Terry Clune, CluneTech is headquartered in Ireland with a footprint across four continents and does business in more than 100 countries on a daily basis. The group has offices in 21 countries, and over 1,200 employees globally. The group encompasses TransferMate, Fintua, Sprintax, Benamic, among others. Immedis, a leading global payroll platform, was acquired by UKG in June 2023, in one of Ireland’s largest technology deals.

CluneTech has been recognised as one of Ireland’s best workplaces for ten consecutive years by Great Place to Work®, the global authority on workplace culture.
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For more information, please contact:
Lauren Cleere, Marketing and Communications Manager, CluneTech

Lauren.Cleere@clunetech.com

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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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Exceptional managers and leaders are key to CluneTech’s reputation as a Great Place to Work. To recognize her outstanding leadership, Albena Pashova, Global VAT Recovery Manager at Taxback International, was invited for an interview with Economy.bg. In the conversation, she shares insights from her 23-year career at Taxback International, a CluneTech company and global leader in VAT recovery.

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Albena, tell us about your journey at Taxback International so far.

I will never forget my start at Taxback International 23 years ago. And no, I didn’t start as a manager. I worked my way through every step of the company hierarchy – from VAT Specialist to Team Leader, Manager, and most recently, Global VAT Recovery Manager.

I would say that Taxback International is not just a company; it is a school that fosters exceptional qualities and knowledge, which I have been striving to pass on to my colleagues over the years.

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You manage a team of over 20 tax specialists. Could you tell us more about them?

Our team consists of 25 exceptional individuals, and currently, we have a total of 297 years of experience at Taxback International. Yes, that's an average of over 11 years per person. Each one of them specializes in specific tasks related to VAT document preparation, VAT expense analysis, filing specific returns, communication with tax authorities and agents, and appealing decisions. At the same time, thanks to their exceptional experience and knowledge, each of us can assist our colleagues when needed, especially during busy periods. These 25 people file thousands of documents, VAT returns, emails, and letters to the tax authorities every year, recovering millions of euros in VAT for clients around the world.

Sometimes I joke that our team operates like a highly efficient machine or a combat unit.

2024 was the most successful year for our department in terms of the amounts recovered for our clients. An extraordinary achievement was that, for the first time in the company’s history, we recovered 23 million euros in VAT from Saudi Arabia for a single client. This wouldn't have been possible without the knowledge, dedication, and exceptional professional skills of my colleagues.

An example of the team's dedication was during the COVID pandemic, when 99% of Taxback International's employees had to work from home, but our Covid heroes – Iskra, Iveta, Elena, and Petar – stayed to work from our office to ensure the proper functioning of the technical departments in Varna and the timely processing of all incoming original documents.

Now, although Taxback International is an extremely flexible employer when it comes to work location, almost our entire team works in the company's office. We voluntarily returned to the office environment as early as June 2020. For the success of our department, the team spirit, and the exceptionally positive atmosphere among colleagues, direct daily contact is of immense importance.

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The average tenure with you is significantly higher than at other places. What do you think this is due to?

There are different approaches to team leadership. The one I have personally developed over the years is called 'Lead from the heart.' There is a lot of information available on this topic online.

It is generally believed that emotions have no place in business, but I don’t think that's true.

Respect for colleagues, leading by personal example, setting clear goals, encouraging, motivating, and recognizing achievements – for me, that is the secret to a successful team. The personal example set by a manager is inspiring, and inevitably, the team absorbs not only knowledge but also dedication, passion – that spark is contagious.

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Based on your observations, what motivates your colleagues the most?

In my opinion, the people in my department are motivated by the way the team is led, the recognition of their achievements, the flexible policy regarding working hours and location, and the sense of belonging and shared purpose. Because we are not just a department; after all these years, we are friends and even family – such a sense of belonging takes time and effort to build.

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Albena Pashova’s full interview can be found at Economy.bg

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