We are expanding our Somerset team with the appointment of a new Director.

Tara Bell, who will be based at our Bridgwater office, brings over 19 years’ experience in accountancy to the fast-growing regional firm. Tara specialises in landlord and property owners’ tax affairs, tax compliance and consultancy, inheritance tax planning, capital gains tax and personal tax issues. Westcotts’ Bridgwater office currently employs around 20 members of staff, which includes two partners.

After studying for her A Levels at Richard Huish College in Taunton, Tara joined a regional accountancy firm. She completed her ATT (Association of Taxation Technicians) qualification in 2005 and qualified as a chartered tax advisor in 2007. Tara has a broad wealth of accountancy experience in the private client sector, including advising high-net worth individuals on their personal financial matters, as well as dealing with a diverse portfolio of partnerships and trusts.

With a background in the agricultural sector, Tara will provide clients across Somerset and beyond with advice on all aspects of accountancy including personal taxation.

She feels that having grown up and lived in the local community all her life will stand her in good stead: “Local businesses need a trusted advisor and someone who knows where they are coming from. We are large enough to offer high-level expertise and a professional service but at the same time, we are easy to talk to, providing that personal touch with face-to-face relationships. I will be getting to know our clients across Somerset while looking to grow the business.

“Being a farmer’s wife and daughter, naturally you learn first-hand and looking after clients in the same sector, you have a real understanding of their business and what they are doing – it makes it much easier for clients to relate to you and build trusted relationships.

“While Somerset has a great deal of growth and development potential, Westcotts is extremely well placed – the firm is not limited by locality; we serve clients all over the country which certainly makes us more competitive. I am joining one of the largest accountancy firms in the South West at a very exciting time.”

Welcoming Tara to the firm, Partner Phil Butterworth said: “Tara is well known in the area, and she compliments the types of clients that we already have and who she is used to. It is a very exciting time for the Bridgwater office of Westcotts, there is a lot happening now and Tara brings her experience which will inevitably bolster our position in the town. Our strengths, as a firm, are being known in the local communities of Somerset and Tara’s tax specialisms will strengthen the existing offering and build on our reputation.”

Phil continued: “We deal with a lot of personal tax clients, and we can offer a whole gamut of expertise and services, including corporate tax and financial tax management. Combined with bringing more business to the team, Tara’s specialist knowledge will help support our future organic growth in the town and surrounding areas.”

Tara lives on the family’s dairy farm near Bridgwater with her husband and two young children. She is a keen horse rider and is a member of her local riding club.