As an award-winning firm of accountants and business advisors in Lewes, at TC Knill James we take immense pride in serving the local business community.
Whether you’re a start-up business or an established company, our aim is to empower you to make informed business decisions with a holistic service tailored to you.
Our talented team of financial experts offers specialist and compliance services across accounts, audit and assurance, business tax advisory, corporate finance and tax reliefs, all underpinned by our commitment to understanding our clients’ needs, challenges and opportunities to successfully achieve your short- and long-term goals.
If you’re looking for a personable, professional accounting and business advisory team in East Sussex, then you’ve come to the right place. You’ll also benefit from the experience and knowledge of the TC Group’s wider network as a ‘Top 20’ firm in Accountancy Age, with offices across the UK.
- Lewes One Bell Lane
Lewes
East Sussex
BN7 1JU - Phone 01273 480480
- Email enquiries@tc-group.com
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Like what you see? We’re always looking for the best talent to add to our team, find out more about our current vacancies on our Careers page.
CLIENT TESTIMONIALS
“I’m hugely indebted for the support that my practice receives from the TC Knill James Tax team. The advice that I receive from them is both timely and authoritative. You rarely find such expertise under the one roof.”
Philip Woodman – Managing Partner, Opass Billings Wilson & Honey LLP
CLIENT TESTIMONIALS
“I’m very grateful to the team at TC Knill James for their hard work and brilliant support to help get the transaction across the line. There were several challenges along the way, but the easy-to-understand and practical advice and guidance provided were second to none. I was extremely impressed by their skill and responsiveness.”
Nick Porter – MD, SAS Energy
CLIENT TESTIMONIALS
“TC Knill James have been a part of our team since the very beginning of our farm nearly 40 years ago. Throughout this time, they have overseen our growth into a substantial family enterprise over five generations, and they are now helping us to diversify and plan for the succession of our business to the next generation in a tax-efficient way.
TC Knill James are a great asset to local businesses large and small and totally trustworthy in their advice.”
Peter Barton – Director, Grassington Rangers Ltd
Meet members of the team
Alex Robinson
Joint Head of Business Hub
Alex is Joint Head of TC Knill James’ Business Hub. With over a decade of experience in private practice, Alex boasts a deep understanding of financial statements, bookkeeping, and management accounting.
He’s successfully guided clients in wide range of sectors, including charities and education, farming, professional services, property, and retail.
Chris Ketley
Partner
Chris is a Partner at TC Knill James and a specialist in proactive, multi-disciplinary business consultancy with over 30 years of significant SME/OMB expertise. He’s been a Partner with TC Knill James since 1988.
Chris specialises in business coaching and mentoring, strategic development and non-exec services, and is passionate about delivering these to clients who are equally as passionate about their businesses and future plans. He’s an expert in the provision of agile business improvement advice, as a result of his extensive experience within Audit, Assurance, ATOL and FCA reporting, management accounting and proactive taxation advice (including International).
Chris is a member of the global Mindshop Business Strategy, Development & Facilitation network of advisors.
David W Martin
Joint Managing Partner
David joined TC Knill James from Mazars LLP in 2010 where he’d been a Partner for nine years. He also has experience in two Big Four practices, where he worked internationally providing assurance and business advisory services.
With over 30 years’ audit experience, David specialises in advising international groups and Owner-Managed Businesses, notably in the property and manufacturing sectors. He also has a particular focus on schools and charitable organisations.
David has a wealth of experience in advising on special purpose reporting, investigations, and due diligence. He’s South East Member of the UK200 Group’s Corporate Finance Panel and is a regular speaker on Corporate Finance at international conferences.
George Clayson
Business Advisory Director
George has specialised in due diligence and deal advisory services for over 20 years, and has advised clients across a wide range of sectors and deal sizes. He’s also experienced in providing strategic and business advice to start-ups and growing companies.
Jacquie Wood
Payroll Manager
Jacquie’s worked in the payroll sector for over 30 years and her experience covers the whole range, from single employee payrolls to Umbrella payrolls in the construction industry, processing over 15,000 employees per week over multiple frequencies.
As head of TC Knill James’ Payroll Bureau, Jacquie aims to provide a friendly, professional, accurate and personalised service to all our clients, large or small.
Jamie Bird
Tax Partner
Jamie’s a Tax Partner in our TC Knill James Private Client team and has worked in tax and accounting for over ten years. Initially he trained as an accountant before specialising in Private Client Tax.
He now advises clients on all aspects of taxation relating to their personal tax affairs, ranging from Income Tax, Capital Gains Tax and Inheritance Tax to employee share schemes/incentivisation, including EMI schemes.
Jamie’s also a member of the Chartered Institute of Tax Advisors.
Kirsty Royds-Jones
Tax Manager
Kirsty’s a Tax Manager with over 20 years’ experience in Private Client Tax. She leads our Probate service and provides expert advice on a range of personal taxation issues, including Income Tax, Capital Gains Tax, Inheritance Tax, and Trust Taxation.
As an ICAEW Authorised Individual for Probate Services and a Chartered Tax Advisor, Kirsty brings a detailed and nuanced understanding to her work, ensuring each client receives personalised and effective tax advice.
Kirsty Wilson
Corporate Finance Partner (South Coast)
Kirsty’s an award-winning Corporate Finance advisor for Owner-Managed Businesses. She joined TC Knill James in 2007 from a Top 15 accountancy practice and has nearly 20 years’ experience in lead advisory Corporate Finance.
Kirsty provides support to business owners at all stages of the business life cycle. She’s led many businesses through transactions and has a particular specialism for acquisitions, disposals, company valuations, MBOs, MBIs, and restructuring.
In 2023, Kirsty was named Corporate Finance Advisor of the Year at the South East Dealmakers Awards, and she also won the Financial Services category at the Sussex & Surrey Dynamic Awards for Women Business Leaders.
Lauren Empringham
Audit Manager
Lauren’s a Manager in the Audit and Assurance team and is responsible for a mixed portfolio of clients, including corporates and those in the Not-For-Profit sector.
Having trained at TC Knill James, she has experience across a wide range of industries and uses this knowledge to support both her clients and colleagues within the firm. Lauren also jointly manages our ACA training programme, facilitating the learning and development of the firm’s trainee Chartered Accountants.
Leanne Chant
Director
Leanne’s the Director of TC Knill James’ Audit and Assurance Group and specialises in Audits and Accounts preparation for larger corporate clients.
With over 20 years’ experience, she has detailed knowledge of a wide variety of businesses and organisations, ranging from construction companies and insurance brokers to travel agents and academies.
Matthew Archer
Audit Manager
Matt’s a Manager in the TC Knill James Audit and Assurance team. Having qualified as a chartered accountant in 2019, and been an audit manager since 2020, he has overseen numerous audits of owner-managed businesses for small, medium and large companies and groups with turnover ranging up to £145m.
With the significant experience gained across a wide variety of industries, including leisure, construction, renewable energy and motor vehicles franchises, he enjoys advising clients on the more technically complex areas of financial accounting.
Michael Williams
Tax Manager
Michael’s a Manager specialising in Corporation Tax matters and more complex projects as part of Corporate Finance transactions.
He has significant experience in a broad range of tax services, including compliance, advisory and tax accounting and assists clients ranging from large groups of companies and inbound subsidiaries to owner managed businesses.
In addition to Corporate Tax, Michael advises on employment tax issues, including the off-payroll working (IR35) rules.
Mike Chapman
Tax Consultant
A Partner at TC Knill James until August 2024, Mike continues to provide our clients with his corporate tax expertise.
Before joining in 2015, he enjoyed a career providing tax advisory services while working at a number of international mid-tier and Big Four practices.
Nick Rawson
Joint Managing Partner
Nick’s been a Partner at TC Knill James since 1995, providing Audit and Assurance services to some of TC Knill James’ largest clients. He also has significant experience in providing business advisory services to a wide range of clients, both individuals and companies.
Nick delivers tailored business and tax advice to clients from a diverse range of sectors, including Professional practices, Food & Drink, Manufacturing, as well as Property and Construction.
Steven Thomson
Joint Head of Business Hub
Joint Head of TC Knill James’ Business Hub, Steven has over 20 years’ experience working with Owner-Managed Businesses and UK subsidiaries of overseas businesses, successfully advising and supporting them to achieve their goals.
A systems advisory expert, Steven also provides guidance to clients on the implementation of new technologies to refine existing systems, processes, and controls, ensuring these continue to meet the evolving needs of the business as it grows and develops.
Zelie Byrne
Tax Manager
Zelie’s a Manager in the Tax team and focuses on corporation tax and employment taxes. She joined TC Knill James after training at KPMG and has over 15 years’ experience working in tax.
As well as managing the tax compliance of our largest clients, she also advises on R&D and capital allowances, venture capital reliefs, employment benefits, and compliance obligations. She also works with our Not-For-Profit clients on tax compliance obligations and structuring.