Maxwells Chartered Accountants

ABOUT

About Maxwells Chartered Accountants

Maxwells was established in 1968 and has grown to become one of the largest chartered accountancy firms in Somerset, with over fifty staff working from the King Square office in Bridgwater.

The partners

Debbie Villis BA FCA CTA joined the firm on work experience in 1989, won the Tolley's Tax Prize in her final year, qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1996 and as a Chartered Tax Advisor in 2003, becoming a partner that same year. She is Head of Legal Practice and is licensed by the ICAEW for non-contentious Probate. Clive Hall-Tomkin FCA qualified in 1991, joined Maxwells in 1992 and became a partner in 1995, specialising in management accounts and business development. Nigel Blannin BSc FCA has been at Maxwells since 1980 and a partner since 1982, having originally trained with Kidsons in Brighton and qualified in 1976; his focus is audit, corporation tax planning and mentoring growing businesses. Gavin Roberts FCA joined straight from sixth form in 2004, qualified as a Chartered Certified Accountant in 2008, was admitted to ICAEW membership in 2020 and served as ICAEW South West president and chairman in May 2023; he specialises in SME advisory, VAT and QuickBooks Online. Jon Shorney BA FCA joined in 2001, qualified in 2005 and became a partner in May 2013; he is Head of Finance and Administration, specialises in large corporate audits and is also licensed for non-contentious Probate. Philip Littler FCA AABRP qualified in 1978, joined the predecessor firm in 1979 and became a partner in 1990, with specific knowledge of company audit, solicitors' accounts and personal insolvency; he is Secretary and Treasurer of ICAEW Chartered Accountants South West. Adam Turrell BA FCA trained locally, worked in internal audit at Sun Life in Bristol and joined Maxwells in 1995, specialising in company financial reporting, fraud investigations and internal control reviews. Mike Villis FCA joined as a trainee in 1989, qualified as a Certified Accountant in 2002 and as a Chartered Accountant in 2008, and maintains the firm's IT infrastructure alongside advising clients on Sage, Xero and QuickBooks. Jodie Maisey FCA CTA joined in 2006, qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 2010 and as a Chartered Tax Advisor in 2015, specialising in corporate tax, business acquisitions and sales, restructures and VAT on land and property.

Managers and tax department

Nicola Hayes TEP is Tax and Probate Manager. She spent ten years with Big Four firms, including a year offshore, before joining Maxwells in 2010. She holds the STEP Diploma in Taxation of Trust and Estates and is a registered Trust and Estate Practitioner. Her specialisms are Capital Gains Tax, non-resident and non-domicile issues, trusts, and the inheritance tax position of estates in the Probate department. Martin Batten is Tax Manager. He trained with HM Revenue and Customs before joining Maxwells in April 1987 and specialises in personal taxation for high net-worth clients, HMRC enquiries, the Construction Industry Scheme and company taxation.

Careers at Maxwells

Maxwells is a growing firm actively recruiting. Current vacancies include a Private Client Tax Manager for the Personal Tax department, an Accounts Senior (ACA or ACCA qualified, minimum three years post-qualification experience preferred) and an Experienced Accounts Preparation Clerk. The firm offers competitive salaries, private healthcare, flexible working, a contributory pension and incremental holiday increases for long service.

THE PARTNERS

Meet the partners

Each one a named contact for their clients.

  • Debbie Villis

    BA FCA CTA

    Partner

    Debbie first came to Maxwell's in 1989 for work experience and then proceeded to obtain a training contract whilst she attended college and subsequently university. Debbie studied Accounting and Finance and won the Tolley's Tax Prize for the highest mark in her final year Tax paper. She qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1996 and became a Chartered Tax Advisor in 2003, becoming a partner in the same year.

  • Clive Hall-Tomkin

    FCA

    Partner

    Clive qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1991 through a Devon practice and moved to Maxwells in 1992. He became a Partner in 1995. Clive specialises in developing businesses and analysis via Management Accounts, and has expertise in taxation matters. He is known for accessibility and communication in plain English.

  • Nigel Blannin

    BSc FCA

    Partner

    Nigel has worked for Maxwells in Bridgwater since 1980 and has been a Partner of the firm since 1982. He originally trained with Kidsons in Brighton and qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1976. His degree is in Biochemistry from the University of Sussex. The majority of his client portfolio consists of family owned limited companies and professional practices.

  • Gavin Roberts

    FCA

    Partner

    Gavin joined Maxwells after leaving sixth form college in 2004, qualified as a Chartered Certified Accountant in 2008, became a Fellow of the ACCA in 2013, and was admitted to membership of the ICAEW in 2020. He was given the honour of representing the ICAEW as its South West president and chairman in May 2023. Gavin works with owner managed businesses in the SME sector, is fully qualified in QuickBooks Online, and specialises in VAT.

  • Jon Shorney

    BA FCA

    Partner

    Jon joined the firm as a trainee accountant in 2001 following his graduation from the University of the West of England with a BA (Hons) Degree in Accounting and Finance. He qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 2005 and became a partner in May 2013. He specialises in large corporate audits and has experience with a diverse range of unincorporated and incorporated businesses.

  • Philip Littler

    FCA AABRP

    Partner

    Philip qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1978 with a national firm in Bristol. He joined the predecessor firm of Maxwells in 1979 and became a partner in 1990. Philip is an all-round General Practitioner with specific knowledge of Company Audit, Solicitors' Accounts and Personal Insolvency. He is also the Secretary and Treasurer of ICAEW Chartered Accountants South West, a post he has held for many years.

  • Adam Turrell

    BA FCA

    Partner

    Adam trained with a local Somerset firm, then moved to Bristol as part of the internal audit department at Sun Life, and finally joined Maxwells in 1995 as a manager in their corporate department. He holds a BA (Hons) Degree in History from Keele University. Adam is experienced in all aspects of company financial reporting, taxation and audit procedures, and has particular knowledge of fraud investigations, internal control reviews and corporate consultancy.

  • Mike Villis

    FCA

    Partner

    Mike joined Maxwells as a trainee accountant in 1989. He qualified as a Certified Accountant in 2002 and a Chartered Accountant in 2008. He has considerable experience in all aspects of both corporate and non-corporate accounting and has a good knowledge of taxation. He is a qualified Sage software advisor and has knowledge of Xero and QuickBooks. Mike maintains the IT infrastructure within Maxwells and advises clients on their IT and day-to-day processing.

  • Jodie Maisey

    FCA CTA

    Partner

    Jodie first came to the firm as a school leaver on work experience in 2004 and officially joined in 2006. She completed an AAT apprenticeship followed by her ACA Training Contract and qualified as a Chartered Accountant with the ICAEW in 2010. She qualified as a Chartered Tax Advisor in 2015. Jodie advises on all aspects of taxation with a particular focus on Corporate Tax and bespoke business transactions including business tax reliefs, restructures, business acquisitions and sales.

Maxwells Chartered Accountants — heritage office detail

OUR APPROACH

We make your business our business.

  • Modern, forward-thinking practice

    A modern forward thinking accountancy practice. We provide a cost-effective, high value solution to meet all of your financial needs.

  • Plain English, always

    Accessibility and communication in plain English is the key — so that liaison with your accountant feels second nature.

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Bridgwater — get in touch.

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