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The Firm

We are one of the largest independent firms of Chartered Accountants and Business Advisers based in the South West.

Robson Taylorwas founded in the 1960’s to help owner managed businesses improve their financial reporting and performance, through:

• Experience and knowledge led business advice
• A holistic approach to service delivery
• Excellent taxation advice
• Efficient systems and fast response times

We operate from two main locations: Bath and Bristol and act for a number of large private companies and a multitude of smaller owner- managed businesses and non profit organisations on both a national and local basis.

The Partners

Ruth Foreman

Having trained and qualified with Arthur Andersen in London, Ruth has added breadth and depth to her knowledge and experience by working for both large and small firms of accountants.

Joining Robson Taylor in 1986, she is the firm’s managing partner and heads the Corporate Services teams in the Bath and Bristol offices. She is closely involved in all aspects of the advice given to, and work done for, the firm’s clients. In particular, she assists clients in achieving their ambitions through business and tax planning, adopting project management tools and disciplines to ensure objectives are met.

Ruth enjoys travelling and long distance walks.

Stephen Fox

tephen joined the firm in 1989 and specialises in personal and corporate tax related planning for owner-managed businesses. He has a wide range of experience in acting for businesses of all sizes; from small to medium sized firms to large tax groups with offshore subsidiaries.

As a former Tax Inspector he also specialises in Tax, NIC and VAT investigations on behalf of Robson Taylor clients and on a consultancy basis for other firms of accountants. He handles a wide variety of enquiries from local district investigations to more serious fraud enquiries with the Special Compliance Office.

Stephen is the Robson Taylor contact partner with DFK International, an international network of independent accountancy and consultancy firms representing over 70 countries.

He is retained as an expert witness on behalf of insurance companies on litigation involving tax issues.

Married with three children he lives in the beautiful cathedral city of Wells and his interests include; mountaineering, rugby, motor sport and golf.

Julian Humphries

A West Country person by birth, Julian was educated in Bath before obtaining his Modern History degree at Keble College, Oxford. Julian qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1982 and became a partner in Robson Taylor in 1988.

With John Sarsby, Julian heads the Business Services Team based in Bath and he specialises in advising owner managed businesses whether they are sole traders, partnerships or family owned limited companies.

Julian spends a significant amount of time assisting his clients through the early years of their business life and advising them on how to cope with the ‘growing pains’ that many successful businesses go through.

Julian also acts as Finance Director of Bath Tourism Plus and Kilmersdon Rural Housing Association.

Married with two daughters, Julian lives in Hilperton.

John Sarsby

Born in Yorkshire, John moved to South Wales to complete his education and qualified as a Chartered Accountant before joining Robson Taylor in its infancy.

As senior partner he has been actively involved in the development of the practice from its sole practitioner roots, and this has proved to be of great benefit to clients in assisting them setting and achieving their own personal and commercial goals.

He enjoys acting for owner managed businesses with a particular interest in professional and farming partnerships where sound and innovative tax planning is essential.

Throughout his time in practice John has also developed extensive experience in successfully dealing with Inland Revenue Investigations and the financial aspects of matrimonial and partnership disputes.

John is the Robson Taylor Group finance partner.

Married with five children and living in North Colerne, John enjoys the countryside and being a passionate supporter of Bath Rugby.

Alison Aylmer-Kelly

Alison runs our Bristol Office in conjunction with Managing Partner, Ruth Foreman. Alison also continues to head up our Bureau Services Division across the practice. She has worked for Robson Taylor since 1998 and lives with her husband and three children in the village of Rode.