About us
Over 55 years of chartered accountancy,
rooted in Somerset
Maxwells has been helping businesses and individuals across the South West since 1968 — one of the largest Chartered Accountancy firms in Somerset, with more than 50 staff and a straightforward commitment to adding real value.
Our history
Founded in 1968.
Still growing.
More than five decades of continuous practice have made Maxwells one of the largest Chartered Accountancy firms in Somerset. Operating from Bridgwater, our team of over 50 staff serves clients throughout the South West, South Wales, and nationally — bringing the same depth of expertise to a local sole trader as to a business operating across the UK.
Every client at Maxwells is assigned a named partner and a named manager as their primary contacts. That isn't a promise made lightly — it reflects how we've always worked, and why clients stay with us.
Our philosophy
We work more closely with clients
than traditional accountants.
Maxwells is selective about who it acts for. The goal is to get to know each client's business inside out — understanding the numbers well enough to identify problems early and surface opportunities that might otherwise go unnoticed. High partner involvement at every stage, a fully qualified team, and sustained investment in training and technology make that possible in practice.
"It's unwise to pay too much, but it's worse to pay too little. When you pay too much, you lose a little money — that is all. When you pay too little, you sometimes lose everything."— John Ruskin
That philosophy is reflected in the firm's structure: nine partners, a specialist tax department, and an ICAEW Probate Licence — all operating from a single Bridgwater office where partners remain directly accessible to clients.
Meet the partners
Nine partners.
Each one accountable to you.
Debbie Villis
Partner — BA FCA CTA
Debbie holds dual chartered accountancy (FCA) and chartered tax adviser (CTA) qualifications. She is a named contact for probate enquiries and leads on inheritance tax planning. Contact: debbiev@maxwellsaccountants.co.uk
Clive Hall-Tomkin
Partner — FCA
Clive is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (FCA), one of nine partners providing direct, senior-level involvement across the firm's client portfolio.
Nigel Blannin
Partner — BSc FCA
Nigel holds a BSc alongside his FCA qualification, bringing both academic grounding and the full rigour of chartered accountancy to his client work.
Gavin Roberts
Partner — FCA
Gavin is a Fellow of the ICAEW, contributing to the firm's commitment to high partner involvement across its diverse client base in Somerset and beyond.
Jon Shorney
Partner — BA FCA
Jon is a named contact for probate enquiries alongside Debbie Villis. Contact: jon@maxwellsaccountants.co.uk
Philip Littler
Partner — FCA AABRP
Philip holds the AABRP credential — Accredited Associate of the Business Recovery Professionals — alongside his FCA qualification, reflecting specialist expertise in insolvency and business restructuring.
Adam Turrell
Partner — BA FCA
Adam holds a BA alongside his FCA qualification, and is part of the firm's nine-partner team ensuring senior-level accountability for every client relationship.
Mike Villis
Partner — FCA
Mike is a Fellow of the ICAEW, part of a partnership that collectively ensures clients across the South West and beyond receive direct, qualified oversight of their affairs.
Jodie Maisey
Partner — FCA CTA
Jodie holds both the FCA and CTA qualifications — a dual credential reflecting expertise across accountancy and tax, making her a key resource for complex tax matters.
Tax department
Management & tax specialists
Our tax department is staffed by managers with specialist qualifications that go beyond the standard accountancy credential.
Nicola Hayes
Manager, Tax Department — TEP
Nicola is a Trust and Estate Practitioner (TEP) — a specialist qualification awarded by STEP that is directly relevant to probate, inheritance tax, and estate planning work. Her TEP credential complements the firm's ICAEW Probate Licence and the CTA qualifications held by partners Debbie Villis and Jodie Maisey.
Martin Batten
Manager, Tax Department
Martin is a manager within the tax department, supporting clients across the firm's range of business and personal tax services.
Careers
Join a firm
that's still growing.
Maxwells is expanding — we recently acquired additional office space at King Square — and we're looking for talented people to grow with us. Working here means exposure to a genuinely diverse client portfolio, alongside experienced partners who are involved in client work at every level.
We currently have the following vacancies:
-
01
Private Client Tax Technician
A role within our tax department supporting private client tax compliance and advisory work.
-
02
Accounts Senior (ACA/ACCA)
A senior accounts role suited to a qualified or part-qualified ACA or ACCA candidate looking to develop within a large Somerset practice.
-
03
Experienced Accounts Preparation Clerk
An accounts preparation role for an experienced candidate comfortable working across a varied client base.
-
04
VAT & Bookkeeping Technician
A technical role focused on VAT compliance and bookkeeping, supporting clients across the firm's portfolio.
To find out more or to apply, please get in touch with our team.
Contact us about careersReady to work with accountants
who are genuinely invested in your success?
Every Maxwells client has a named partner and manager. Call us on 01278 423008 or visit us at 4 King Square, Bridgwater.