CluneTech is proud to announce its 14th-place ranking in the "Top 100 Best Employers in Bulgaria" for 2025, as recognized by the annual Career Show Index in Bulgaria.
CluneTech and Cois Nore have announced a new sponsorship supporting the development of a dedicated therapy wing at Cois Nore’s new Cancer Support Centre in Kilkenny. The funding will support the refurbishment and fit-out of the therapy space within the purpose-built Cois Nore House, which is due to open in March 2026. This investment marks a significant milestone in expanding free, professional cancer support services for individuals and families across Kilkenny, helping to meet growing demand while providing a welcoming, dignified space for care, recovery, and community.
January 29, 2026
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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.
September 30, 2025
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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.
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/
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.
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.
Fiona MacCarthy
Group Head of Communications, Clunetech
Tel: +353879314131
Email: fiona.maccarthy@clunetech.com
July 14, 2025
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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.
TransferMate, a global payments technology firm, powering international B2B payments and receivables transactions for the world’s biggest brands.
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.
Taxback International, recognised as a world leader in technical innovation, assisting clients around the world with their VAT challenges.
Benamic, a leading global provider of end-to-end promotional management and fulfilment solutions
Taxback.com, a multinational corporation providing specialist tax return services to private and corporate clients.
Sprintax, providing multi-jurisdiction tax compliance technology which simplifies tax withholding and tax return filing for non-residents and their employers.
Visa First, specialising in arranging business travel visas and work permits for companies and organisations.
Gradguide, a career guidance, mentorship and graduate recruitment platform that bridges the employment gap between college and company.
“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.
For further information, please contact: Fiona MacCarthy, Head of Communications, CluneTech
fiona.maccarthy@clunetech.com
+353 86 8250027
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.
July 14, 2025
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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.
Now let's meet the lineup!
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.
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'.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
The Employee Wellbeing Summit takes place at 2pm on 5 April 2022.
July 14, 2025
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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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?'.
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.
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.
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.
July 14, 2025
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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!
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.
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:
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!
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.
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.
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!
July 14, 2025
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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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
December 18, 2025
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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.
What is your favorite thing about working in CluneTech / TransferMate?
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.
What has been your biggest achievement or highlight since joining CluneTech / TransferMate?
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.
Who or what has inspired you the most during your time here?
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.
What is the biggest change that you have witnessed in your time here?
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.
What is the greatest challenge that you have faced in your time here and how did you overcome it?
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.
What has been your favorite project to work on?
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.
Do you have advice for someone who is just starting their career in CluneTech / TransferMate?
Be curious and don’t be afraid to ask questions and take every chance to learn from the people around you.
September 9, 2025
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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.
What is your favorite thing about working in CluneTech?
The opportunity to work in an international environment and meet people from different cultures.
What has been your biggest achievement or highlight since joining CluneTech?
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.
What is the biggest change that you have witnessed in your time here?
Relocating the office from Tsar Simeon to Bacho Kiro and changing the company name to CluneTech.
What is the greatest challenge that you have faced in your time here and how did you overcome it?
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.
What has been your favorite project to work on?
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.
Do you have advice for someone who is just starting their career in CluneTech?
The company offers great opportunities for career growth and job security—be wise and make the most of them.
August 26, 2025
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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.
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!
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!
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.
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.
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.
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!
Fancy a career with us? Check out our open vacancies at www.clunetech.com/careers
July 14, 2025
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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.
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!
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!
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!
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!
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.
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.
Would you like to be a part of our team? Visit www.clunetech.com/careers and view our wide range of opportunities today!
July 14, 2025
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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.
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
July 14, 2025
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CluneTech’s award winning employee wellbeing programme offers a range of supports and initiatives including corporate health insurance, a Global Employee Assistance Programme, Life Work Days and much more, ensuring that health and wellbeing of our people is always a priority. In recent years, we expanded our offering to include fertility support and paid leaves for both IVF / pregnancy support and miscarriage / pregnancy loss, helping our people and / or their partners through all stages of their fertility journey.
With this in mind, we are honoured to announce that this summer, CluneTech has made its first donation towards the I Want a Baby Foundation in Bulgaria. This donation will directly assist the facilitation of psychological support groups for those experiencing infertility in Bulgaria’s sea capital Varna, where the large majority of our Bulgarian workforce is based.
The I Want a Baby Foundation launched its psychological programme in 2007. The programme is the first of its kind as it has been thoughtfully crafted to run in tandem with the medical procedures a couple is going through.
Following the donation, Katya Simeonova, who is the psychologist conducting the support groups in Varna, shared:
“When families start their infertility path, we always notice a feeling of social isolation. Their families and friends usually have children, and this is something that upsets them very much. They start distancing themselves emotionally. They usually don’t have someone to share the things they are going through and at some point, they start feeling isolated. The work in such groups is very precious to them as it gives women with infertility a chance to meet people with similar problems, to talk things through, each one of them to share the challenges they have been through. They get great feedback and in addition, they start getting closer to each other. They keep nurturing the friendships they create throughout our support groups even after the end of the program. I’m confident to say that group therapy is working really well.”
At the beginning of 2023, in addition to the many amazing initiatives we already support, we opened our global CSR request form, where our employees from all over the world have the opportunity to submit requests highlighting which charities and causes they would like to see us support. This year saw the highest number of requests to date, with our employees eager to see us support the charities and causes closest to their hearts.
Following an open vote on our internal communications platform Workvivo, the I Want a Baby Foundation which was put forward by Iglika Raeva, was chosen as the next CluneTech Cares beneficiary.
Following her nomination, Iglika Raeva from our Veliko Tarnovo office shared:
“The reason I want to support 'I Want a Baby' is because it is a cause very close to my heart. The volunteers there give their time and endless effort to support the families that are listed in the program. They support them not only financially, but also mentally, and emotionally and become their second family. All the parents of the babies born with the help of the foundation are also volunteers and they give back time and effort invested by others previously for them. I see great value in their cause as it brings happiness to people that have wanted this for years.”
The I Want a Baby Foundation coordinates reproduction, fertility treatment and psychological support programmes for childless couples.
The foundation’s efforts led to the creation of Bulgaria’s National IVF Fund and there are now IVF Funds in over 45 municipalities in the country. These funds sponsor up to four IVF procedures per couple. In addition to the foundation’s psychological support programme, the I Want a Baby Foundation also operates a genetic material donor programme for all couples who, after multiple unsuccessful procedures, are unable to conceive and require a donor.
In 2023 the organization celebrates its 16th birthday. In those sixteen years they have welcomed 3,500 babies in Varna and 20,000 babies in other locations, which would easily fill a whole town!
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 litres 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 and giving back to our local communities.
The amazing thing about our CSR Programme is that it’s created by our people, for our people. Each year employees are given the opportunity to request which charities we support and the programme’s global reach results in us having appositive impact in each of the communities we operate in.
As part of CluneTech Cares, in 2020 we introduced our Volunteer Day which empowers our people to give back within their local communities during working time, ensuring that even our smaller teams can get behind the charities and causes closest to their hearts.
In 2022, we donated over €75,000 and supported over 55 charities, causes and fundraisers.
July 14, 2025
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This April, CluneTech has donated 4.5 tons of cement-based floor screed to the Center for Medical and Social Care for Children in Varna (Vinitsa District).
The donation will be used for the construction of a brand new ward for complex care for children with chronic diseases and impairments up to seven years old. The ward will include rooms where children experiencing severe and chronic health challenges with uncertain prognoses can stay with their parents. Additionally, it will incorporate facilities for rehabilitation, physiotherapy, medical manipulation rooms, and space for individual activities. This project will ensure our city has a modern medical ward that provides complex care and assists children with severe chronic diseases and their families in dealing not only with the physical pain resulting from their conditions but also the emotional suffering they endure.
Long after its founding in 1953, the Center for Medical and Social Care in Varna only provided care to children aged 0 to 3. However, at this stage, the center boasts a multidisciplinary team of psychologists, physiotherapists, doctors, nurses, and speech therapists who provide comprehensive support to a wide group of children, ranging from premature babies to those up to eighteen years old. Many of these children have severe chronic, neurological, or genetic conditions, necessitating 24/7 medical supervision.
A long-time partner of CluneTech Cares, the medical centre in Vinitsa is the largest facility of its kind in the Northeast of Bulgaria, providing medical care and rehabilitation to premature babies and children with neurological and orthopedic problems. With donations of over €12,000 which we have made throughout the years, we have helped the centre to purchase important equipment such as hospital beds, therapeutic chairs, baby monitoring devices, two air conditioning units, a portable oxygen concentrator, a neonatal pulse oximeter, a patient monitoring system and more.
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July 14, 2025
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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.
July 14, 2025
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Thursday, 5 June 2025 – Varna, Bulgaria
CluneTech is proud to announce the continued success and growth of the award-winning educational initiative FAST Heroes 112, which has now expanded city-wide in Varna, Bulgaria. Endorsed by the World Stroke Organization and supported by CluneTech since 2022, the program currently reaches 26 kindergartens and more than 2,100 children, delivering life-saving health education to families across the region.
What began as a pilot in just one school has grown into a vital community initiative, turning health education into a celebration and raising essential stroke awareness among nearly 13,000 people in the Varna municipality.
In partnership with the Varna Municipality and the Heart to Heart Foundation Bulgaria, we remain committed to expanding the program’s impact even further.
FAST Heroes 112 is an award-winning educational program, endorsed by the World Stroke Organization. It aims to raise awareness of stroke symptoms and emphasizes the importance of immediate action when these signs appear. The program harnesses children’s natural enthusiasm for learning and sharing to spread life-saving knowledge not only in kindergartens and primary schools but also within families at home.
Children aged 6 to 11 learn how to identify stroke symptoms through engaging, adventure-based lessons, and then share that knowledge with their families. On average, each child passes this information on to six adults, amplifying the program’s impact beyond the classroom walls.
Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability in Bulgaria and worldwide, and tragically, one of the main reasons children lose their grandparents. Many stroke patients miss out on life-saving treatment because they don’t recognize symptoms early enough and arrive at the hospital too late. However, if stroke victims receive swift and effective acute care, survival rates improve dramatically.
This is why increasing awareness of stroke symptoms and empowering people to seek emergency care immediately is crucial. FAST Heroes 112 contributes to building this awareness, helping families respond quickly when it matters most.
Varna, home to our largest Bulgarian office, is also one of the cities with the highest stroke rates in the country — making this partnership especially meaningful.
This fall, FAST Heroes 112 will continue its vital work by reaching children and families in all primary and elementary schools across Varna. Stay tuned for updates on our ongoing journey to make Varna safer — one child, one family, and one community at a time.
July 14, 2025
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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.
With one of the key pillars of our CSR Programme CluneTech Cares being sustainability, we couldn’t forget all of our recent CSR events under the #CluneTechGoesGreen umbrella which we organized for our staff during the month of April.
Every year, in celebration of World Earth Day, CluneTech Goes Green for the month of April to raise awareness about the environment and learn more about what we can do for our planet across our day to day lives.
During the month of April #CluneTechGoesGreen:
• Shared daily tips and tricks with our colleagues on how we can change aspects of our lifestyles for the better of our planet.
• Donated €5 per employee that participated in a 5k run / walk for the month of April to Leave No Trace, Ireland’s only Outdoor Ethics Education Programme designed to promote and inspire responsible outdoor recreation.
• Debuted fresh ways to promote sustainability to our people like our virtual cooking demo with The Happy Pear discussing Sustainability, Food Waste and Cooking on a Budget, as well as a webinar teaching us how we can limit our digital use environmental footprint.
Thanks to our team's support and participation throughout the month, CluneTech donated over €100 to our dedicated sustainability charity, Leave No Trace Ireland which will go towards their work sustaining a healthy and vibrant outdoor environment for everyone. Well done to all of our amazing colleagues for their participation this month.
In honour of World MS Day, CluneTech Cares dedicated May's CSR spotlight to a number of incredibly deserving multiple sclerosis support charities. The charities supported included Moga Sam, MS Ireland and MS Society UK.
The MS – Moga sam organization in Bulgaria was founded by Bilyana Savova. At the age of 40, she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Bilyana started the organization in 2013 to support people with multiple sclerosis by helping them deal with their diagnosis both mentally and physically, as well as guiding them towards healthy lifestyle changes that can improve a range of MS symptoms.
The Multiple Sclerosis Society of Ireland (MS Ireland) is the only national organisation providing information, support, and advocacy services to the MS community. Their services include Regional Community Worker programmes for one-to-one support, physiotherapy, symptom management courses, newly diagnosed sessions, and the MS Information Line, one of the first services used in the time leading up to or following a diagnosis.
The Multiple Sclerosis Society is the UK's largest charity for people affected by multiple sclerosis. The organisation funds research, campaigns for social and political change and provides services that help people with multiple sclerosis and their families. It also compiles the only report of its kind on prevalence and living situations for people with MS across the UK
On the 30th of May, a walk / run was organised both remotely and in person for those who wanted to take part with their teammates in aid of this amazing cause. Following our team’s participation throughout the month of May, CluneTech donated €100 to each of our dedicated MS support charities. This donation will go towards the hugely important services made available to people affected by MS and their families. Thank you to everyone who got involved and for the support you’ve shown to our incredible charities during the month of May.
This June, we dedicated our CSR Spotlight to Pride Month in support and celebration of the LGBTQ+ community. All donations go towards several incredibly deserving LGBT+ support organisations and charities.
June is Pride Month, when the world’s LGBT communities come together and celebrate the freedom to be themselves. Pride gatherings are rooted in the arduous history of minority groups who have struggled for decades to overcome prejudice and be accepted for who they are.
The original organizers chose this month to pay homage to the Stonewall uprising in June 1969 in New York City, which helped spark the modern gay rights movement.
During the month of June, not only did our teams get involved in our monthly walk / run in support of the LGBTQ+ community, but they also took part in a number of fundraising Pride Month activities including CluneTech’s ‘Wear Your Rainbow Day’ and our annual Pride themed photography competition where we asked our teams what pride means to them.
Thanks to our team's participation throughout the month, CluneTech has made a monetary donation in support of our LGBTQ+ organisations and charities. Well done to all of our amazing colleagues for their participation this month.
For the third year in a row, we participated in Bulgaria’s biggest corporate run which took place in the Bulyard shipping factory in Varna, Bulgaria. On June 12th two CluneTech teams took part in Business Run Varna ranking #5 out of 76 teams on the day and #2 in the women's ranking. Not only was the Business Run a really great team building event, but it’s also a great way to give back to charity as 30% of the registration fees from the event was also donated to Karin Dom's new therapeutical center in Varna.
Set in the beautiful city of Varna, Karin Dom's new building opened its doors in September 2022, giving children with special needs from the Northeast of Bulgaria access to vital therapy that will help them to grow in strength and confidence. Well done to both teams on a fantastic result and for your time supporting this great cause.
Following our 2021 gardening therapy project, CluneTech and our Veliko Tarnovo team made another meaningful contribution to the local Daycare Center for children with disabilities. We donated a garden swing, allowing the young people in the center to spend more quality time outdoors which can help them reduce anxiety, increase their attention span, and improve their overall physical and mental wellbeing.
Veliko Tarnovo’s Center 'Rainbow' provides a set of services to promote children’s development, ensure comprehensive care for them during the day, meet their learning needs, provide motor and speech therapy, and provide quality time outdoors with their friends and family.
Following the ongoing support of our team in Bulgaria, CluneTech donated 21kgs of plastic caps for the latest edition of the 'I believe and help' initiative in Varna, which took place on 29th April.
'I believe and help' is a well-known Bulgarian initiative that 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.
In addition to the plastic caps collection, this year the organizers promoted their first penny fundraiser campaign and a local fundraising bazaar, ending with an amazing record of 31 tons of plastic caps collected, equal to 24 800 BGN.
The latest goal of the 'I believe and help' organization is the collection of 500 000 BGN which will be used for buying:
• The first in Bulgaria mobile blood donation vehicle
• The second in the Southeast of Bulgaria Neonatal ambulance
• Lifesaving medical equipment for the pediatric surgical ward in St. Anna’s Hospital in Varna
Our career counselling program is our way to show how CluneTech cares about the youth and their future career development. For a fifth year in a row, CluneTech’s career counselling program took place in Varna High School of Commerce during the academic year 2022-2023.
In this year’s edition of our career counseling program, managers from various businesses from across our group met the young students training them for real life job interviews and developing specific skills which can help them get the best out of the career exploration, job search and job application processes.
At the end of the academic year, all participants had their professional LinkedIn headshot done by our in-house photographer and the best ones received a job recommendation letter from their mentor. Congratulations to all of our participants from Varna High School of Commerce and our Career Counseling Program mentors on this incredible initiative.
CluneTech Cares is led by our employees, for our employees. At the beginning of 2023, we opened our global CSR request form. We received exactly 50 requests from our teams with fundraising requests for charities and causes they hold dearest, in addition to the many amazing initiatives we already support.
This year in Bulgaria, we decided to follow our employee feedback and let our people decide the next initiative supported by CluneTech Cares.
Following our team’s feedback, the 'I Want a Baby' organization was chosen as our next beneficiary. The 'I Want a Baby' organization coordinates reproduction, fertility treatment and psychological support programs for childless couples.
Following her nomination, Iglika Raeva from our Veliko Tarnovo office shared:
“The reason I want to support 'I Want a Baby' is because it is a cause very close to my heart. The volunteers there give their time and endless effort to support the families that are listed in the program. They support them not only financially, but also mentally, and emotionally and become their second family. All the parents of the babies born with the help of the foundation are also volunteers and they give back time and effort invested by others previously for them. I see great value in their cause, to have more babies, increased population, happiness for people that have wanted this for years.”
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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 our Volunteer Day, over 70 CluneTech employees have contributed to causes which they find meaningful, and this number keeps growing.
“A huge thank you from Griffeen parkrun for the very generous donation from CluneTech and the GPTW team. The core team used the donation to purchase a microphone and speaker, which makes the important run and safety briefings audible!”
– Marie Collins, Immedis.
Just a week before Easter, over ten CluneTech volunteers helped with the renovation of the Social Teahouse in Varna. Their immense support came in addition to a small financial donation that CluneTech made to give a push to the organization’s renovation project.
The Social Teahouse is a tea and coffee shop, a venue for many events and a favorite place for the residents and the guests of the city of Varna. Most importantly, it is a social enterprise set up to support young people from difficult backgrounds and help them gain employment by giving them a chance to start their first job in the organization.
In May 2023, Chris Henry from our Veliko Tarnovo office spent his Volunteer Day working on the restoration of one of Bulgaria’s most ancient churches in the Kereka village near Dryanovo, Bulgaria called “Mary’s Holy Annunciation”. A volunteering group led by Hristo Totsev worked on restoring the retaining wall of the nearly 200-year-old building, which was also used as a school for the children of the residents of the village.
July 14, 2025
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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.
Our CSR Spotlight of the Month initiative shines a light on a specific charity or cause for our teams to support. During this time, employees from around the world can join in a remote or in-person 5k walk, run, swim, or cycle.
This July, we focused our efforts on supporting The Jack and Jill Children’s Foundation and Karin Dom, two organizations dedicated to improving children's health and well-being.
The Jack and Jill Children’s Foundation provides vital in-home nursing and end-of-life care for children with severe and life-limiting conditions throughout Ireland. The foundation offers families much-needed respite and support, ensuring that children receive compassionate care in the comfort of their homes.
Karin Dom is a Bulgarian non-profit organization founded in 1996 by Ivan Stancioff. It serves as a therapeutic center for children with special needs, employing a team of skilled professionals, including physiotherapists, speech therapists, and social workers. Despite their impactful work, Karin Dom faces ongoing challenges due to increasing costs.
Thanks to our team’s involvement throughout July, CluneTech donated over €350 on behalf of our staff to these dedicated charities, supporting their essential services for children and families in Ireland and Bulgaria.
In celebration of International Dog Day, our August CSR Spotlight focused on supporting animal welfare organizations. Donations raised went towards the life-saving efforts of charities and groups working to rescue, rehabilitate, and rehome animals in need.
Our primary beneficiary during August was PAWS, an organization dedicated to rescuing abandoned and homeless animals, mainly dogs from high-kill shelters and owners who can no longer care for them. PAWS collaborates with volunteers, local vets, and adoption groups to rescue hundreds of animals each year, provide them with temporary care, and find them loving forever homes.
A highlight of the month was the Lucky Hunt Project Charity Bazaar, which was organized in support of Lucky Hunt. Founded 13 years ago by Svetlana Hunt, Lucky Hunt operates two facilities: a rehabilitation farm for rescued animals and an open-concept shelter for stray dogs, where the animals are not kept in cages. Over the years, the Lucky Hunt Project has rescued and rehabilitated thousands of homeless animals, providing them with a safe environment and a chance at finding forever homes.
The charity bazaar was a tremendous success, with contributions making a significant impact on the shelter’s ability to provide vital resources to animals in need. Employees had the opportunity to learn more about Lucky Hunt’s mission, support the cause, and contribute directly to helping these animals.
Thanks to our team’s active participation, CluneTech made a monetary donation to support animal welfare initiatives, making a meaningful difference for organizations like Lucky Hunt and other beneficiaries. Thank you to everyone who took part and showed their support!
In September, CluneTech Cares honored World Suicide Awareness Month by dedicating our CSR Spotlight to Waterford Marine Search and Rescue, an organization committed to preventing suicide and saving lives in the community.
This year, we organized a 5K CSR Walk at our Kilkenny HQ to bring employees together and raise funds and awareness for the cause. The walk provided a great opportunity for our team to connect, support each other, and contribute to a meaningful initiative. Throughout the month, we also took the opportunity to highlight CluneTech’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP), ensuring that employees across the globe are aware of the mental health resources available to them.
At the end of September, CluneTech made a monetary donation to Waterford Marine Search and Rescue, supporting their essential efforts in mental health and suicide prevention. A big thank you to all of our colleagues for their participation and dedication during this important month!
In just under an hour, our Bulgarian colleagues proudly collected a total of fifteen bags of trash as part of the ‘Let’s Clean Bulgaria Together’ initiative, which they have now participated in for the second consecutive year.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to our young volunteers—Maya, Tervel, Boris, Gabi, and Miroslav—who, along with their parents and our dedicated colleagues Emiliya Dimitrova, Vesselin Markov, Miglena Kostova, Elka Krashevska, Aleksandrina Konstantinova, Ina Eneva, and Daniela Roussev, and their friends, spent their Saturday morning cleaning the area around our Bacho Kiro office in Varna, Bulgaria.
The 12th edition of ‘Let’s Clean Bulgaria Together’ took place on September 14th throughout Bulgaria, in support of World Cleanup Day 2024, which will be observed on September 20th. As Bulgaria’s largest volunteer initiative, it aims to shift attitudes toward pollution, foster a sense of personal responsibility, and contribute to environmental conservation while making a visible difference.
On September 14th, thousands of volunteers, including students from hundreds of schools and kindergartens as well as NGOs, equipped with bags, gloves, and rubber boots, came together to clean polluted areas and water bodies across the country.
Since the launch of ‘Let’s Clean Bulgaria Together’, nearly 3,102,000 volunteers have collected approximately 100,000 tons of waste, clearing 28,800 illegal dumpsites and polluted areas. According to the global organization Let’s Do It World, every 10 tons of waste cleaned by volunteers saves €22 million and three years of institutional labour. World Cleanup Day is recognized by the European Parliament and is included in the UN calendar.
As part of CluneTech Cares, we were delighted to donate laptops to St. Aidan's National School in Kilkenny! These laptops will help students and staff integrate ICT into the curriculum, enhancing digital learning while also reducing e-waste by giving older electronics a second life.
Principal Robbie Byrne shared:
"St. Aidan's NS is delighted to accept the very kind donation of laptops from CluneTech / TransferMate. The laptops will be very useful in our classrooms and support rooms as we integrate ICT across the curriculum. It's also great to see laptops recycled in this way which will benefit many of our students."
At CluneTech Cares, we’re proud to support our local community while fostering a more sustainable future! Many thanks to James Murphy for driving this initiative forward.
We are honored that for a second year in a row, CluneTech is donating to the I Want a Baby Foundation in Bulgaria, supporting the facilitation of psychological support groups for women and couples with infertility. Over the past year, our initial donation helped nine women experiencing infertility receive much-needed support, and three of them have since become mothers.
CluneTech Cares is proud to sponsor the Kilkenny Stars BIDL Women’s Team, who had an impressive season debut on Saturday evening. The team kicked off their journey in senior basketball with enthusiasm and determination, backed by a lively crowd that brought vibrant energy to the game.
Despite facing challenges in the first half, the team demonstrated resilience and teamwork, pushing through to secure a decisive victory against their neighbours, the Tipperary Knights. This promising start has set the stage for an exciting season ahead, and we look forward to supporting the Kilkenny Stars as they continue to shine on and off the court!
As part of a CluneTech Cares initiative, young residents from the Gavroche Association’s supervised residence and the Caritas sheltered housing recently visited the Varna District Court. The visit was organized with support from our dedicated colleagues Daniela Tsoneva and Emiliya Dimitrova, who aim to help social service users and employees in the region gain valuable experience and learn best practices in human rights and support for vulnerable individuals.
During the visit, the group had the opportunity to engage with Deputy Chairperson and Judge Ralitsa Raykova, Veselina Todorova, Coordinator of the Mediation Center, and Stella Yankova, Head of the Court’s Press Center. The court representatives shared insights on civil and criminal cases and offered real-life examples from their experiences working with citizens.
The youths also explored topics like judicial mediation as an alternative way to resolve disputes, the role of the National Legal Aid Bureau, and the responsibilities of the duty judge—a key figure in granting permissions related to finances and real estate for individuals under guardianship.
This initiative is part of CluneTech’s ongoing commitment to fostering community engagement and supporting educational opportunities that empower young people in the region.
CluneTech is absolutely delighted to sponsor local young racer Adam Butler. We recently welcomed Adam to our Kilkenny HQ following his participation in the #T4NationsCup2024. Thanks to Adam and his team, we had the opportunity to see one of his racing karts in person, further highlighting our commitment to supporting young talent in the community. We look forward to following Adam's journey on the racetrack!
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, 160+ CluneTech employees have contributed to causes which they find meaningful, and this number keeps growing. See what they had to share with us about their experience this quarter:
Our amazing colleagues Antonia Petrova and Silviya Krasteva volunteered at the latest edition of the ‘I believe and help’ campaign.
Antonia and Silvia brought 18 kg of plastic caps that the employees in our Varna office collected and spent the day supporting the cause at the Cathedral in the heart of the city.
‘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 to Antonia and Silviya for their amazing work!
Team Victory for CluneTech at the Mount Juliet Corporate Invitational
Last Thursday, CluneTech was proud to be represented at the annual Mount Juliet Corporate Invitational, where our team not only enjoyed spectacular weather but also played an exceptional round of golf.
Competing with determination and skill, the team of Padraig Lahart, Jack O'Keeffe, Patrick Dalton, and David Dooley showcased their talent on the course, ultimately taking home the first-place prize!
Thank you to Padraig, Jack, Patrick and David for supporting this event through CluneTech Cares.
July 14, 2025
Read MORECulture
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.
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.
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.”
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.
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.
July 14, 2025
Read MORECulture
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:
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.
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!
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.
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”.
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.
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.
July 14, 2025
Read MORECulture
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.
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.”
July 14, 2025
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In this Women in Tech feature, we talk about women who have chosen to pursue a career in Tech - how they decided on it, what challenges they faced and what motivates them. By doing so, we want to highlight that the tech industry is a place for women too.
Meet Elena Koeva - .NET Developer at Sprintax, part of CluneTech. Sprintax is a multi-jurisdiction, tax compliance software, which simplifies tax withholding and tax return filing for nonresidents and their employers.
I graduated with a bachelor's degree in Electronics. I specialized in Microelectronics at the Technical University of Sofia. Before that, I studied at the Ivan Vazov Secondary School in Dobrich with a profile in Informatics, Mathematics, and Physics.
I started in the tech field as a QA Specialist. In the beginning, everything was new to me, but over time I started to get better at understanding the details and gradually moved forward from manual to automation testing. I needed a programming language to automate. Since then my life has changed, and programming has become my new passion.
In Taxback.com, of which Sprintax is part, I was given the opportunity to develop and progress my career and from a QA Specialist I became a .NET Developer. I started training so I could become a programmer, but in the meantime, I also performed the QA tasks I had. For a while, I combined both positions, but once I became good enough, my position changed and I started to deal mainly with programming, and the training of new QA specialists.
I’m currently working as a Mid-Level .NET Developer. My job is mostly to program and to create the desired functionality for a particular software product, whether it’s a new or old product. I am also the person who onboards all of our new team members, providing them with the relevant training so they can also move forward with their careers once they’re ready.
What motivates me is the desire to see something finished and working, which will please not only the people who invented it, but also the people that will use it and whose work we can make easier. It is extremely intriguing to observe people's reactions when you present them with something you have developed. It’s rewarding to be able to feel their enthusiasm and excitement, especially if what you’re presenting is better than what they expected.
Perhaps the biggest challenge is to try to dispel the doubts in others that you will not be able to cope because you are of the fairer sex. Fortunately, over time, these doubts disappear completely.
Fortunately for me, the department I work in right now is great, and there are a lot of talented people working in it. All of my colleagues are true professionals, extremely understanding, and would always respond if you need help. With us, you either do your job or not, it doesn't matter what your gender is.
Unfortunately, there are many that I have heard, but I will mention those that have impressed me the most. They are that women don't have logical thinking, that they are not good at STEM, or my favorite, that women can't build a career because they have to start a family.
In my free time I draw, arrange puzzles, read books or just meet with friends and play board games.
The tech field is quite an extensive area, and it offers great development if you have the desire for this and if you are motivated. My advice to all girls is to not be influenced by other people's opinions, to fight for what they like, because to me, the most important thing is to that I enjoy what I do.
Fancy a career with us? Check out our open vacancies at www.clunetech.com/careers
*The interview was originally posted on Economy.bg.
July 14, 2025
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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.
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.
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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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.
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.
Albena Pashova’s full interview can be found at Economy.bg
July 14, 2025
Read MORETuesday, 29th October, 2024. WeCan, a CluneTech initiative, has been awarded Best Deposit Return Initiative at the 2024 Pakman Awards, held at The Shelbourne Hotel, Dublin on Thursday, October 24th.
Launched in June 2024, WeCan has achieved its first major recognition, marking a significant milestone in its commitment to inclusion and sustainability.
The Pakman Awards are Ireland’s premier environmental awards, recognising excellence in recycling and waste management among businesses, community groups, and individuals. Celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, the awards shine a spotlight on organisations demonstrating outstanding sustainability efforts.
WeCan blends social inclusion with environmental responsibility by providing adults with intellectual disabilities meaningful employment that is in line with their capabilities. The initiative drives participation in the deposit return scheme and thus assists with boosting the country’s recycling rates, with the EU mandating Ireland to achieve 77% recycling of plastic bottles by 2025, escalating to 90% by 2030. It actively plays a role in protecting our environment by reducing litter and waste.
WeCan also offers businesses a sustainable and practical solution for returning their cans and bottles that they can leverage to benefit their own operations, ESG, and CSR objectives. By advocating for an inclusive society, WeCan enables adults with intellectual disabilities to bring value to their local communities. Additionally, the initiative further benefits communities by donating any excess funds raised to local charities and causes.
Commenting on the award, Terry Clune, CEO and Founder of CluneTech, said:
“Winning the Best Deposit Return Initiative at the 2024 Pakman Awards is a tremendous honour and a testament to the meaningful impact of WeCan. Since its launch, WeCan has not only promoted sustainability but has also empowered individuals with intellectual disabilities to secure meaningful employment. I want to extend a special thanks to Johnny McCarthy, his son Adam, and the wider team for their contributions in bringing this idea to life. I am excited about WeCan’s potential to grow and create even more opportunities for our communities as we move forward.”
The initiative collaborates closely with the Work4Life Employment Support team from SOS Kilkenny CLG, a not-for-profit organisation that supports individuals with intellectual disabilities and autism in Kilkenny. This collaboration aids in workplace integration and reflects CluneTech’s dedication to positively impacting both the community and the environment.
The Pakman Awards are Ireland’s leading National Environmental Awards, recognising excellence in recycling and waste management among businesses, organisations, community groups, and individuals. Divided into 12 categories, including the Overall Pakman Award, the awards cover areas such as ESG leadership, innovation in waste resource management, and business recycling.
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.
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, Sprintax, Taxback International, Taxback, Benamic and Visa First. 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 nine consecutive years by Great Place to Work®, the global authority on workplace culture.
For more information, please contact:
Lauren Cleere, Marketing and Engagement Specialist, CluneTech
July 14, 2025
Read MORECareers
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!
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!
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!
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!
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.
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.
Would you like to be a part of our team? Visit www.clunetech.com/careers and view our wide range of opportunities today!
July 14, 2025
Read MORECareers
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.
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
July 14, 2025
Read MORECareers
Plamenna Zlatanova works at CluneTech's global leader in VAT compliance, reclaim and consultancy, Taxback International.
Plamenna began her journey with CluneTech in October 2002. Over the years, she has held various roles within Taxback and Taxback International, including pivotal roles such as Global Solutions Manager, EU Sales TL and ISO Quality Auditor. After eighteen years in the group, Plamenna left the company to pursue a different path, but it didn’t take long until she realized she wanted to go back to Quality – this time as Quality Analyst, which she says is to an extent similar to her previous role. As soon as Plamenna got her certifications for Quality Assurance, she rejoined our team as a Quality Analyst at Taxback International.
In her current role, Plamenna focuses on designing test cases, tracking issues, and collaborating with different tech teams to ensure all projects at Taxback International progress smoothly, delivering the best possible service to our clients.
To delve deeper into Plamenna's career journey within the group, learn about her typical workday, and discover her favorite employee benefits, check out our career blitz video. 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.
July 14, 2025
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