Meet the Team

Directors

Jim Lewis BA FCA (Director)

Jim is a Chartered Accountant with a tax and general practice background. He qualified in 1991 with a regional practice before joining DixonWalsh in 1998. His range of experience incorporates individuals and businesses of all sizes across all sectors. Jim has held a number of honorary positions in local organisations and charities including Taunton Rugby Football Club and is presently the Honorary Treasurer of Taunton Flower Show. Away from the practice he is an active member of Taunton Round Table and has a number of other hobbies and interests, many of which have a sporting theme including golf and rugby.

Rory O’Donnell FCA (Director)

Rory is a Chartered Accountant with an audit, tax forensic accounting and general practice background. He qualified in 1975 with a London firm that became part of Ernst & Young. His experience covers small businesses to quoted companies. He was president of South Western Society of Chartered Accountants in 2000 and chaired the Support Members Steering Group and in that capacity was a member of the Ethics Committee of the ICAEW (Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales). In addition to DixonWalsh, he has held numerous director posts over the past 20 years. This broad range of experience places him in a unique position to advise businesses and their owners on structuring their affairs to maximise profitability and minimise their exposure to taxation. His outside interests include classic cars and cricket. He held the role of honorary treasurer with Somerset County Cricket Club for 20 years.

Trudi Routledge BSc FCA (Director)

Trudi gained a BSc in Business Studies and went on to qualify in the audit department with Touche Ross in Leeds. She then spent two years in their corporate tax department before moving down to Butterworth Jones & Co in Taunton.

She has advised on various corporate taxation areas including the implementation of Employee Share Schemes and Enterprise Investment Schemes. She advises her clients in a business consultancy capacity, often attending board meetings and becoming closely involved with the financial strategy of the company.

Associates

David Johnson BSc ACA (Associate)

David hails from Devon. He studied at Cardiff University and qualified locally before joining DixonWalsh in 1991. His portfolio comprises a varied client base and he has particular experience in a number of sectors including the medical profession, motor trade, property, and social care. He also deals with business start-ups and takes a “hands on” approach, working closely with clients to develop their ideas into a successful business. David is married with three children. He is a trustee of a local charity and involved with the local primary school, scout group and football club.

Caroline Thorne FCCA (Associate)

Caroline joined DixonWalsh in 2001. She has an extensive audit background and whilst Somerset born and bred, she spent a number of years in practice in the London area. Her sector experience includes manufacturing, property, farming and the healthcare industry for clients large and small. She also specialises in due diligence in acquisitions. She grew up near Wiveliscombe and hails from a third generation farming family based on the Brendon Hills. Her outside interests include horse riding.

Sheila Scott (Associate)

Sheila was a Tax Officer with H M Revenue & Customs for a number of years before returning to the South West & joining Butterworth Jones in 1987. She has over 30 years experience in personal taxation & now heads up the personal tax department. She specialises in dealing with high net worth individuals, advising a number of clients nationally. Outside of BJ DixonWalsh she enjoys gardening & the theatre.

Amy Murray ACCA (Associate)

Amy joined Butterworth Jones in 2004. She trained with the firm and qualified in 2008 as a member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants. She manages a portfolio mostly consisting of small companies, partnerships and sole traders that encompasses a wide variety of business activities. She specialises in reviewing and implementing effective financial controls and accounting systems. Amy loves the outdoors and can often be found surfing in North Devon or walking in the Quantocks.

Staff group

To maintain high standards of service delivery and enhance client services as well as staff careers, we invest heavily in staff training and development. This is a contributing factor towards the exceptionally high staff retention level we experience and helps deliver the all-important continuity of service which we always strive to maintain.

We also encourage our staff to maintain good health and to this end, as well as helping the environment, we encourage the bike2work scheme, providing secure bicycle racks and shower facilities. We believe in creating a great environment in which to work, which in turn helps create a great environment for you when you visit us. A staff gym and superb on-site catering facilities which can be accessed by staff (and clients renting premises facilities) are just two of the innovative ways in which we look after our valued team (and because of our unique consortium structure, with no add-on costs to our clients!).

Working for us

We seek to achieve a balance between trainee members of staff and our long-standing team members (our low turnover rate contributes to the business continuity and personal relationship building for which we have an enviable reputation). Staff are supported to achieve relevant qualifications. We also encourage work placements wherever possible – those interested should contact us in the first instance on JLewis@bjdixonwalsh.com

We love to celebrate staff good news, be it training successes, qualifications, marriages, births, or personal achievements such as in fundraising or sponsored events. See our press release archive click here.