Founded by Guillem Singla Buxarrais and Dimitrios Athanasiou in 2016, Neurofenix is a health tech startup that aims to revolutionise how neurological rehabilitation is delivered to drive better outcomes and recovery for patients.
Before partnering with Julia at Leask Advisory Solutions Guillem at Neurofenix encountered several challenges. The immediate response, accurate reporting, and technical support they needed were lacking. “As a startup it was easy to assume that all accountants do the same thing and have the right experience to supply everything at the high standards that we want at the low price we could afford,” Guillem said. However, they quickly realised that they required a different approach to meet their strategic forecasting and reporting needs for their planned Series A investment round. “A friendly flexible approach and CAN DO attitude was essential as was the need to set up a working (cost effective) team to support the expansion into the US and create regular Group consolidated reporting,” he added.
Guillem heard about Julia through their previous accountant/bookkeeper, who highly recommended her due to her unique skill set and fresh perspective. Recognising the need for a fresh pair of eyes and a different approach to help grow their business, Guillem decided to reach out to Julia.
Upon their initial interactions with Julia, Guillem was impressed by Julia’s blend of professionalism and expertise. Julia demonstrated a pragmatic approach, seamlessly handling the day-to-day financial needs of Neurofenix while accommodating urgent requests with grace. After having a few conversations with Julia, Guillem said he was “confident that we would work well together, and she would bring the skills and knowledge that our business demands”.
Julia has played a vital role in Neurofenix’s finance function. She manages the UK, US, and group finance functions, ensuring compliance with local and national laws and regulations. “Her vast network of contacts has meant that we can dip into the pool of professional experts with confidence that the work will be completed at the expected standard at a price we can afford,” Guillem said.
She also assists with non-finance tasks when necessary and prioritises her workload effectively. “Julia’s support during due diligence exercises, including the Series A investment round, has been invaluable,” Guillem adds. Guillem also appreciated Julia’s careful cash management, which proved essential during fluctuations in the GBP:USD exchange rate. Beyond this, Julia exuded a friendly and proactive “can-do” attitude, contributing to a positive and collaborative atmosphere within the team.
Guillem praises Julia for her competence in addressing demands from the Neurofenix team in both the UK and the US. “She has proven to be a great team player, managing her work effectively alongside other finance functions,” Guillem explains. She has even assisted with tasks outside of finance, such as collecting data for a US visa application.
When it came to switching over to Leask Advisory Solutions, Julia and Guillem’s previous provider worked alongside each other and then gradually handed over to Julia over several months. Working with Julia has provided several benefits for Neurofenix. “Julia’s not afraid to make hard decisions and confidently speaks up to suggest better options for us,” Guillem says. “Additionally, she has turned her hand to various non-finance tasks, as we have limited team members. She’s been adaptable to support the demands of our business, including adjusting urgency of work, workload and scheduling work to suit timezones of the rest of our team,” Guillem says. With Leask Advisory solutions, Neurofenix has been able to focus on operations and growth.
Julia’s impact on Neurofenix’s business has been significant. Through her expertise and network, she has helped establish a broad support structure of outsourced trusted experts, allowing Neurofenix to access specialised services without incurring the cost of hiring a full in-house team. “Her support led to securing a £5.5 million investment and facilitated the development of the business to a stage where we can afford to hire a permanent in-house Finance Director,” Guillem said. “Julia is a trusted pair of hands that shares their business values and is always willing to go the extra mile,” he adds.
The assurance of receiving high-quality work from the experts at Leask AS has been invaluable to Guillem. In summary, Julia Leask embodies a combination of approachability, reliability, professionalism, and a fun-to-work-with attitude, making her an ideal partner for a growing business.