About ClearMark Advisory
Tom Dougherty, Founder & Lead Strategist
Who We Are
I’m Tom Dougherty, and I founded ClearMark Advisory to bring the same rigor I applied to billion-dollar M&A transactions to an area where most people get template solutions: credit strategy.
After two decades leading technology transformations and post-acquisition integrations as a Managing Director at Accenture, I saw a pattern. The clients who succeeded in securing funding didn’t just have better credit—they had better strategy. They understood the forensics. They knew what lenders actually evaluated. They didn’t guess; they executed with precision.
When I decided to build my own firm, I chose credit strategy because it’s one of the few areas where investigation-first methodology can create immediate, measurable value. Every founder I knew had either been burned by credit repair mills or was flying blind on credit decisions that would cost them tens of thousands in financing.
ClearMark Advisory isn’t a credit repair service. We’re a boutique consultancy that applies the same forensic analysis, documentation standards, and execution rigor you’d expect from McKinsey or Bain—but focused exclusively on making you funding-ready.
Background & Credentials
Corporate Leadership: Managing Director, Accenture (2021-2023)
Consulting Experience: 20+ years in M&A, digital transformation, and operations strategy across global consulting firms
M&A Expertise: Led due diligence, post-merger integration, and value creation strategies for private equity and corporate clients
Deal Experience: Built and managed $10M–$40M+ pipelines across life sciences, fintech, medical technology, and enterprise software sectors
Education: BS Chemical Engineering, University of Missouri
Global Experience: Lived and worked across Americas, Asia Pacific, and Europe
Why ClearMark Advisory Exists
Credit affects real outcomes: homes, businesses, and the cost of capital. Yet most credit services operate like mills—automated disputes, templated letters, and promises they can’t keep. Meanwhile, founders, investors, and high-stakes borrowers are making financing decisions worth hundreds of thousands of dollars based on incomplete information.
ClearMark Advisory exists to fill that gap. We bring investigation-first rigor to credit strategy. We review tri-merge reports, alternative bureaus, and shadow files. We document everything. We sequence actions against lender timing. We don’t chase score improvements—we chase funding readiness.
This isn’t credit repair. It’s strategic advisory for people who can’t afford to guess.
How We Work
Investigation-First: Forensic analysis across tri-merge, alternative bureaus, and shadow files to identify what’s actually blocking approvals.
Documentation-Driven: Audit-ready reports you can hand to lenders, attorneys, or underwriters. Every recommendation is backed by FCRA-informed methodology.
Execution-Focused: Not just advice—sequenced action plans, bureau letter packs, and paydown strategies timed to your funding window.
Ready to Get Started?
Book a complimentary clarity call to discuss your goals, timeline, and the best path forward: Schedule Your Clarity Call.