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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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‍Dublin, Ireland, 23 May 2022 – TransferMate, the world’s leading provider of B2B payments infrastructure as-a-service, today announced a $70M funding round bringing the company to a valuation of $1BN and $130M of total funding. Railpen, one of the largest UK pension funds, managing £37 billion, participated in the round.

TransferMate has grown its global licensing infrastructure and banking network to be one of the widest in the industry and has been chosen as the partner of choice to power B2B payments products for some of the largest software platforms, innovative banks and Fintechs in the world. This funding round which consists entirely of primary capital will be used to expand its teams globally and further invest in its technology innovation and product suite.    

"We are delighted to welcome Railpen as a shareholder at this exciting time,” said Terry Clune, TransferMate’s Founder. “By combining our technology & our global licence network, we empower software providers, banks and fintechs to deliver payments dramatically faster & cheaper than the traditional SWIFT system. We will use this investment to continue to recruit senior financial talent who can help broaden our customer base.”

"Since the very beginning we have been on a mission to set new standards in how businesses make and receive international payments. Our commitment to deliver real-time transparency and speed when businesses are conducting cross border payments has resulted in TransferMate becoming the global B2B payments infrastructure of choice for the world’s leading procure-to-pay and spend management platforms” said Sinead Fitzmaurice, CEO of TransferMate. "This investment will allow us to accelerate our mission to drive innovation as businesses seek to digitise their B2B payments within the core software that they use to conduct their day-to-day activities.”   

This new round of investment together with the $1BN valuation further sets TransferMate apart as the world’s most comprehensive independent B2B payments network. It allows businesses and individuals to make cross-border payments in more than 201 countries and 141 currencies, as easily and cost-effectively as if making a domestic funds transfer, and with complete transparency of the transaction through to the point of final reconciliation.

“We are excited to be part of TransferMate’s journey as it seeks to enable companies to cost-effectively digitalise their cross-border payments,” said Julia Diez, Portfolio Manager at Railpen. “This investment continues Railpen’s strategy of investing in high quality, innovative growth companies for the long term, which supports our purpose to secure our members’ future.”

The funding round was managed by Barclays Bank PLC, acting through its investment bank.

If you would like to learn more about TransferMate’s infrastructure as a service, please contact us here.

About TransferMate

TransferMate – a subsidiary of CluneTech — is the world’s leading provider of B2B payments infrastructure as a service, enabling companies to send and receive cross-border payments faster, easier and at lower cost. TransferMate, under the leadership of Clune and CEO Sinead Fitzmaurice, has built one of the largest portfolios of payments licenses worldwide, including 51 US states and territories, to support trading in more than 201 countries and 141 currencies. Leading banks, fintechs and software providers partner with TransferMate to offer an enhanced user experience for their business customers. The company has created bespoke integrations for banks like ING and AIB, who are also investors in the company. The TransferMate API solution allows partners to digitalise the payments flow within their software, enabling all businesses to achieve significant time and financial savings.

Info – https://www.transfermate.com/ 

About Railpen

Railpen one of the UK’s largest and longest established pension funds whose Fintech investments include StarlingBank and Bill.com. Railpen is responsible for the safe keeping and investment of circa £37 billion on behalf of the scheme’s 350,000 members.

About Barclays Bank PLC

Barclays Bank PLC which is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and Prudential Regulation Authority, is acting for Transfermate only in connection with this funding round.

For all media enquiries:

Fiona MacCarthy

Group Head of Communications, Clunetech

Tel: +353879314131

Email: fiona.maccarthy@clunetech.com

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In December 2021, we completed our rebrand, with a new name, logo and website redesign. The new name, CluneTech, acknowledges the group’s roots and reflects its evolution to what it is today – a hub for technology innovation, dedicated to making business better.

Taxback was first established in 1996 by entrepreneur Terry Clune, to help university students reclaim their overpaid tax.  Driven by technology, the group has expanded over the past 25 years and today encompasses a suite of software companies with industry-leading solutions, global reach and a common goal – to make business better for customers worldwide.

CluneTech solutions streamline processes such as digital sales, global payroll, tax compliance, global VAT and cross-border payments. Founder and group CEO, Terry Clune, explained: “The decision to rebrand was driven by our need to better represent the companies within the group, and the breadth and depth of technology-based solutions we offer.”

As parent company to some of Ireland’s most successful and ground-breaking Fintech brands, CluneTech supports its constituent companies with shared services and a common dedication to make customers’ lives easier, driven by innovation and an entrepreneurial spirit.

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With a footprint across four continents and over 1,500 employees globally, CluneTech comprises the following companies:

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TransferMate, a global payments technology firm, powering international B2B payments and receivables transactions for the world’s biggest brands.
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Immedis, the global leader in consolidated global payroll solutions. Processing payroll in over 150 countries, the Immedis Platform provides a unified view of global payroll operations, real-time data analytics, and advanced reporting capability, while ensuring legislative compliance and data security.
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Taxback International, recognised as a world leader in technical innovation, assisting clients around the world with their VAT challenges.
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Benamic, a leading global provider of end-to-end promotional management and fulfilment solutions
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Taxback.com, a multinational corporation providing specialist tax return services to private and corporate clients.
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Sprintax, providing multi-jurisdiction tax compliance technology which simplifies tax withholding and tax return filing for non-residents and their employers.
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Visa First, specialising in arranging business travel visas and work permits for companies and organisations.
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Gradguide, a career guidance, mentorship and graduate recruitment platform that bridges the employment gap between college and company.
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“CluneTech is focused on supporting entrepreneurial leaders and fantastic new businesses,” Terry Clune continued. “We are very proud of our success to date, which is based on putting our customers first and always asking: how can we help; what can we do better? Our new brand reflects our evolution and reinforces our mission to support our brilliant brands to make business better.”

CluneTech has been consistently recognised as one of Ireland’s Best Workplaces™ and has won multiple awards and recognition for excellence in innovation, technology and customer care, including Deloitte Best Managed Companies (Platinum Status), EY Entrepreneur of the Year and HSBC European Business Awards.

See our overview video here.

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For further information, please contact: Fiona MacCarthy, Head of Communications, CluneTech

fiona.maccarthy@clunetech.com

+353 86 8250027

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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 20 countries, and over 1,500 employees globally, including a workforce of more than 900 people in Bulgaria.

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The 2022 edition of the Employee Wellbeing Summit is fast approaching!

Taking place on 5 April 2022, the event's panel will be debating the evolution and future of workplace wellbeing, and sharing practical advice on how companies can enhance the emotional, financial, and workplace wellbeing for their employees.

This virtual event is free to attend and is an ideal opportunity for HR professionals and business leaders to proactively engage, network and offer guidance on the topic of workplace and financial wellbeing.

Places at the summit are limited so if you are interested in attending, be sure to save your spot here.

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Now let's meet the lineup!

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Fania Stoney

CEO and Co-Founder of Healthy Place to Work® Ireland

Partnering with businesses across Ireland, Healthy Place to Work support organisations to build and sustain healthy and high performing work environments.

As co-founder, Fania has enabled multiple organisations to achieve and sustain the status of Healthy Place to Work. She has been instrumental in taking the Healthy Place to Work model and methodology and operationalising it in an organisational setting.

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Eoin McGee

Financial Planner, Radio and TV Broadcaster, and Author

Eoin McGee is a Certified Financial Planner CFP and qualified financial advisor QFA. Eoin has been working with clients and businesses for 20 years.

McGee presents RTÉ One show 'How to be Good with Money' where each week he helps a household to better manager their money and achieve their financial goals.

McGee's book of the same name is a No. 1 bestseller and is in the top three bestselling Personal Finance books of all time. This year, Eoin released his second book 'How to Make Your Money Work'.

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Claire Hellen

HR Strategy Specialist, IBEC

Claire Hellen is the HR Strategy Specialist in IBEC. She is responsible for the provision of guidance on HR best practice and HR strategy to IBEC member companies.

Claire previously worked in Employee Relations for IBEC, during which time she represented employers from a broad range of sectors, before the employment law third parties.

Claire has worked with IBEC for 16 years. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce and an MBS in Human Resource Management from the Smurfit Business School.

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Julie Galbraith

Partner, Eversheds Sutherland

Julie Galbraith is a Partner in the Employment Law department of Eversheds Sutherland. Julie advises clients on all aspects of the employment relationship, from recruitment to termination. She works with public and private sector clients on contentious and non-contentious employment issues to deliver on the business needs of her clients.

Julie advises HR, legal and business teams on a multitude of strategic issues such as disciplinary, grievance, performance management, equality, data protection, TUPE and termination of employment matters.

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Joanna Murphy

CEO, Taxback.com

As the CEO of Taxback.com, Joanna Murphy is responsible for running all facets of the business.

Joanna has a demonstrated history of working as a talented CEO and Company Director. With her transition to CEO of Taxback.com, it is Joanna's responsibility to ensure that Taxback.com's service far exceeds client expectations.

When she's not busy overseeing the day-to-day operations of Taxback.com or keeping up with three teenagers, Joanna always tries to get a run in when she can, which is almost every day!

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Rachael O'Shea

Head of Employee Experience, CluneTech

CluneTech is a suite of companies providing industry-leading solutions that simplify global business.

With experience in events, communications and marketing, Rachael originally began her career working in radio.

Since joining CluneTech in 2018, Rachael's role has centred around promoting and sustaining the company's #OneTeam culture and ensuring that CluneTech's people are offered a first in class employee experience.

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Barry Cahill

Director of Financial Wellbeing Services, Taxback.com

Barry manages the Go-to-Market strategy of the Taxback.com employee Financial Wellbeing service. The service focuses on the B2B market - from SME's through to corporate clients and multinationals, including strategic partnerships.

Barry recently completed an MBA from DCU Business School and is a GAA All Star and All Ireland winner with the Dublin Senior football team.

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Triona Desmond

Group Wellbeing Partner, AIB

Triona is a Senior HR Professional with 20 years extensive experience managing Human Resource functions.

She has worked at a senior level on organisational development, succession planning and the building of organisational capability.

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The Employee Wellbeing Summit takes place at 2pm on 5 April 2022.

Register Today!

The last few months haven’t been easy by any means. We have been, and continue to be, faced with unprecedented and ever-changing challenges due to Covid-19. At CluneTech, we’re extremely lucky to have amazing leaders and a workforce that has continued to collaborate, innovate and deliver, while adapting to the new situation very quickly.

But what’s the secret behind our success? Terry Clune, Founder and CEO of CluneTech, met exclusively (and virtually) with Economy.bg to share some valuable insights about how CluneTech has adapted to the Covid-19 pandemic and his inspiring story of building a sustainable business from scratch.

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Mr. Clune, has how the Covid-19 pandemic affected your business in Bulgaria and did you have to cancel any projects?

Terry: Coronavirus did not have any direct impact on our business. The services we provide are global, we’re not specific to one region or one industry and we provide a range of different financial services, mainly to global companies so our global business has not really stopped to any major extent.

We’ve been very successful at continuing to trade during the pandemic because of our tremendous team of people in Varna and across the world who are very committed, very experienced and very capable. We appreciate the work that all of our team have done across the world in getting through this difficult time.

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What were the main challenges for CluneTech in Bulgaria to adapt to the new situation?

Terry: Coronavirus has been challenging for every business across the world and it would have been more challenging for us but we adapted what we do very quickly, we were able to move our team to remote working very quickly. All of our teams are now working successfully from home and I expect that will continue to some extent into the future. Regarding working from home there were some expectations.

I expected that working from home would have an impact on our team’s productivity but I’m very thankful that our team really got focused and straight back into their work and from what we’ve seen most people have been even more productive in working from home. They’ve really gotten behind the business during the coronavirus pandemic and we’ve managed to get through it successfully thanks to everyone playing their part.

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Are your staff still working from home? is remote working something you plan to continue in the future?

Terry: For us it’s not really about whether we work from home or work in the office. Simply, it’s important for us that people are able to do their job wherever they are, be they at home or at work, it doesn’t really matter. I think into the future, I imagine many of our people will probably work half the time from home and half the time from the office. Remote working will definitely be an option, yes.

It won’t suit everybody but for those who wish to have that facility and are able to continue to perform it will definitely be a key option. I think it will be good for people and their lifestyles. Not having to commute or commuting less will mean more time at home with family for people. These are all valuable benefits for people and it’s definitely something that we’re keen to support into the future.

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What type of roles does CluneTech offer in Bulgaria?

Terry: Over the nineteen years now that we’ve been in Varna the work that we do has changed. It used to be very administrative and many of the people at the beginning of our business were involved in administrative roles. Now many of those roles have changed. They have become more expertise orientated, expertise in payroll, expertise in payments, expertise in taxes etc.

We also have a much larger technology team now than ever before. We currently work with nearly 150 people in technology across Bulgaria. Ultimately, the work here has changed from administrative to using technology to provide the services and with that roles and jobs are changing too. Many of the administrative people have now learned new skills and have developed into much higher technology/ higher skilled positions in our business. So right across our business the work has changed and now more than ever we need highly skilled people. I’m delighted that so many of our team leaders today have grown within the business and have learned and adopted the latest skills.

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Do you think that western companies will move away from South East Asia and move to Eastern Europe because of the Covid-19 pandemic? And could Bulgaria benefit from such a trend?

Terry: I think Bulgaria has done an extraordinary job of keeping the impact of the coronavirus very low in the country. One of the lowest contagion rates in Europe and is clearly a very safe place now and will be into the future to be doing business. The government have absolutely taken this issue very seriously and all the people too have taken it very seriously. Considering this, I think that Bulgaria can be a potential location for any company that is planning to relocate their business from Asia to Eastern Europe.

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How would you compare Bulgaria to other countries that you are operating in and do you see any challenges or other opportunities here?

We’ve always said that Bulgaria is a great place to do business. For example, most recently I’ve seen that wherever I go around Varna the internet connections are so fast. I read recently that Bulgaria have one of the top three internet speeds in the world. So they’re clearly very forward-thinking in terms of technology and in terms of things that really matter to people and to businesses.

I think over the last nineteen years I’ve seen dramatic improvements and in terms of the confidence of people there’s been a dramatic increase and also huge positive improvements in the way things are managed here. I’m sure not everything is perfect here, just like any country, but I’ve seen huge improvements in the local economy and local area and hopefully, that can continue forward into the future.

In terms of the Bulgarian people that we’ve been able to recruit and lead our teams here, they boast a wide range of skills from engineering to customer care and languages. There are very smart people here. It’s enabled our business to really grow technology wise and customer care wise across the world. Yes, there’s a lot of competition in Bulgaria and Varna to hire the best people.

We recognise that we want the best people to be working for our business and we’re very fortunate to have a fantastic team here and that’s what has enabled our business to be so successful. We also have a very strong and growing relationship relationships with local universities in Varna and in Veliko Tarnovo that has enabled us to identify people.

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Recent surveys of EY and Brookings Institution showed that employers in many countries are speeding up plans to automate their businesses as workers are forced to stay at home during the pandemic. Do you think automation in business will reduce the need for staff in CluneTech?

I think that this is not something that smart people should be concerned about. In our business, nineteen years ago, it was very non-automated and since then we’ve brought more and more automation to our business but our business has also grown more and more in terms of the number of people. The work that we do is no longer administrative, it’s more technology-enabled which leads to, for many people, more interesting work, more skilled work and more higher value added work.

For people who are willing to learn the more modern and updated skills, automation should not be a worry. Increased automation is definitely happening and our business would be a prime example of the impact of automation on services. I need and want our team to be learning the new skills and to be able to do the technology-enabled jobs.

Again, in our business, we’re not just focusing on one customer or one region. Our services are global, we’ve got customers in virtually every country in the world so it’s really about using the technologies available to provide the best service possible and having the best people driving that forward.

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How will this crisis transform the software/fin-tech industry in the long-run?

Fintech and financial business is very much changing to using more technology enabled services and we’re very much at the forefront of that. For example, in the payments space with TransferMate we’re building really cutting edge technology to help companies to manage their global payments. Our business in Varna is a combination of technology-enabled services and services which have a high degree of expertise in areas such as global payroll.

For example, we manage the global payroll for Uber and for Harvard from Varna. We manage global VAT tax for IBM and Google from Varna and we provide global services for hundreds of thousands of students who for example, study in North America. We provide tax return expertise to all their universities, so we are doing very significant and important work.

Also, Benamic our sales-promotion service will provide technology marketing services to very large companies like Canon. All of these services need technology but at the same time they need a very high degree of customer care and being able to do both of those things, technology and customer care together is why we continue to be very successful.

Really all of our services are driven by technology and we’ve got very strong technology people in our business in Bulgaria, a couple of which have strong expertise in customer care.

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You have gone a long way from your student years, returning from a summer in Germany and establishing a company in the kitchen of the family home. What’s the secret to building a sustainable business? What lessons have you learned along the way?

There’s a couple of important things people should think about in terms of that. I’m from a farm in rural Ireland, my parents encouraged me to start business when I was young. The first business I started was when I was eight years old. I used to collect fertiliser bags, plastic bags from farmers and I would fold them neatly and sell them to wood merchants who used them to sell firewood in. This was a great business for me as an eight year old as I was able to purchase my first bike, a yellow BMX bike. However, the biggest business lesson I learned was when I was nine years old.

My business went bust when another farmer’s son saw what I was doing and ended up getting a better bag than mine to sell, a see through bag so people could see how much firewood was inside. He ended up taking all my customers as he was able to sell them this better bag and he put me out of business. This was a really, really valuable lesson for me. As I was busy with my yellow BMX bike cycling around every Saturday and Sunday to all my farmers collecting the bags, I would also spend my money on chocolate.

Breakfast on a Saturday morning would consist of Snickers bars and I really felt like a cool dude. But I had gotten lazy and a bit complacent, while the kid competing with me asked the customers what he could do better and ended up sourcing a better bag. I lost all my customers then and as a result my business stopped.

There’s always opportunities to see how things can be done better. That was a very important lesson for me. You also need to surround yourself with positive people. People who are progressive rather than people who will hold you back or be critical or negative. In Varna, we’ve been very fortunate to hire an extraordinary team of people. Having fantastic people around you is a key to success for any business.

The number one of course is to be hiring the best people, be that in Ireland or in Bulgaria. We expanded our business to this extent by asking the customers ‘what can we do for you?’, ‘how else can we help?’, ‘what can we do differently or what can we do better?’ and as a result of those questions we now have many different businesses within the Group. If something changes for one business or the market changes, we are not just reliant on one company. Having a series of different businesses takes away an immediate risk.

The lesson here is that what any business must do, no matter if they’re Bulgarian or Irish, is to continue to find out from your customer what they want and stay on the pulse and keep you’re your eyes open for new opportunities because business changes all the time and the second you stop looking at how you could do better you’re going to be finished. The secret of a successful business is constantly wondering ‘how can we do this better?'.

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Do you think ambition or talent matters more for success?

I think success is like Einstein says, 99% hard work and 1% talent. I think talent comes from hard work. Some people are naturally talented but for most people by working at something you can become talented at it. That’s what I tell my kids, I have five children, three boys and two girls and what I would be saying to them would be by working hard at something you can become talented at it.

Be it learning to play chess or play a sport, yes some people are naturally talented at those things but by working hard, putting the effort in and continuing to try you can become talented and it’s the same in business. Lots of people have talent but don’t use it so it goes to waste. It’s the people that are moderately talented but put the effort in that become hugely successful. It’s all about making the effort.

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Private school or state school?

All of my schooling was in public schools. I think in Europe, for most countries the public school system is very good. I’m not sure what it’s like here in Varna but the EU would be very supportive of Ireland, ensuring that we don’t need to have huge fees for private education.

The university sector in Ireland too is ultimately, not crazy expensive compared to places like America. I think Ireland and Bulgaria have much in common in the education sector. The public system in both countries is what most people use and in general, it’s a good system.

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Should young people go to university or go straight into work, what do you think provides a better experience?

I’ve met many people who were successful in business without going to university but I know a lot of them would feel at a disadvantage having not gone to university. University gives you, if anything, confidence. Confidence from getting through it. Many of the people I’ve met in business that have been successful but didn’t go to university would usually say that if they had one regret it would be not going to or not finishing university because of the confidence that it can bring you.

In Ireland now and in Bulgaria, there are very high rates of people going to university which is hugely valuable for the economy into the future. I would be encouraging everyone if possible to try and finish your 3rd level education even though it’s not always easy to do, it brings you such confidence in the long term.

Welcome to our CluneTech Social Spotlight Series – a fortnightly roundup of the best social media activity from across our group of global companies. Want to stay in the loop with everything happening in CluneTech? Here’s the place to do it! Click the title of each entry to view the original post.

..And don’t forget to like and share the wonderful content being produced across the Group!

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TransferMate and Haas F1 Team Announce Global Partnership - TransferMate

Everyone here at CluneTech is incredibly excited by the global partnership between Haas F1 Team and TransferMate which was announced last week. Read the full press release here.

Well done to Kevin Magnussen and Mick Schumacher from the Haas F1 Team who both performed brilliantly at last weekend's Emilia Romagna Grand Prix. Exciting start to this global partnership and we are all looking forward to the Miami Grand Prix at the start of May.

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Showcase Standout Awards - Immedis

Immedis are delighted to be a finalist in all four categories for the Showcase Standout Awards.

"The Showcase Standout Awards recognize outstanding payroll solutions providers and their presentations of premier products for the payroll industry." - Dan Maddux, Executive Director of the American Payroll Association and President of the Global Payroll Management Institute.

Immedis are in the running for:

• Overall PSS Best Demo
• Cutting-Edge Technology
• Data Analytics and Reporting
• Workforce Management

Learn more here.

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The Evolution of Digital VAT Returns - Taxback International

In 2005, the OECD developed SAF-T to bring a standard to global tax data. In 2022, are we any closer to a standardized, digital tax model?

Our VAT experts over at Taxback International examine the above question and more in their latest e-book. Download your copy today!

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Top 5 Financial Wellness Takeaways from the Employee Wellbeing Summit 2022 - Taxback.com

This year's Employee Wellbeing Summit was a huge success! Watch it back here.

Employee financial wellbeing has become a key consideration for organisations over recent months. Check out Taxback.com's Top 5 Financial Wellness Takeaways from the Employee Wellbeing Summit 2022.

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Flexible Working at CluneTech Explained - CluneTech

We all have a unique challenge in integrating our work and personal lives and in acknowledging that, we want to encourage flexibility to ensure that our employees can achieve an optimum work-life balance.

Read about how CluneTech supports Flexible Working.

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And that’s this week’s SocialSpotlight roundup… Head over to www.clunetech.com to learn more about CluneTech and our amazing group of global companies. And check back in two weeks’ time for the next CluneTech Social Spotlight!

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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