How a Mid-Ulster-connected Chartered Accountant became part of a founding team’s finance function during a pivotal fundraising stage.
The challenge
Biomarx Innovative Diagnostics engaged Gortreagh Consulting in October 2025 during their pre-seed fundraising process. As a first-time founding team managing institutional investment in a highly regulated biotechnology sector, they needed more than year-end accounts. They needed a finance partner who could keep pace with fundraising milestones, employment setup and investor-ready reporting — without building a full in-house finance team overnight.
Early-stage biotech brings unusual pressure: grant and investment timelines, compliance expectations, and the need to look organised before headcount grows. Spreadsheet-only processes and ad hoc payroll create risk just when credibility matters most.
What we did
- Set up and stabilised cloud accounting on Xero as the single source of truth for cash, invoices and costs.
- Automated payroll, PAYE, National Insurance and employment tax processes so the founding team could hire without drowning in admin.
- Acted as an extension of the leadership team — available for strategic questions as well as routine compliance.
- Kept reporting clear enough for internal decisions and external conversations during fundraising.
The outcome
Gortreagh became an integral part of Biomarx’s finance rhythm. The founding team describe the relationship as going beyond traditional accounting: operational efficiency improved through Xero-led automation, and they gained a trusted adviser they could bring into leadership-level conversations.
In their own words, they would recommend Gortreagh Consulting to ambitious startups and high-growth businesses that need experienced financial and strategic support — not a distant processing service.
Since then, Gortreagh Consulting has become an integral part of our business, providing far more than traditional accounting services… We view Eoin and his team not simply as our accountants, but as trusted advisers and an extension of our leadership team.
— Biomarx Innovative Diagnostics