Alison Aylmer-Kelly - Partner
Alison started her career at Grant Thornton where she worked for 10 years gaining extensive accountancy and audit experience. She also spent six months working in the firm's insolvency division in the early 1990s.
Alison joined Robson Taylor as a Senior Corporate Manager in 1998, heading up the Corporate Services Division. Working on a portfolio of approximately 90 clients of varying sectors and sizes, Alison prepared management and statutory accounts, forecasts and budgets, conducted and managed audit work, prepared due diligence reports and assisted with funding requirements.
On becoming a Partner, Alison jointly ran the firm's Bristol office and was responsible for around 250 limited company, partnership and sole trader clients and helped both existing and new businesses in audit, accountancy and taxation matters.
Alison has also gained a wealth of industry experience as Finance and Operations Director for an engineering company with overall responsibility for the accounting function. This included management of the daily cash flow, regular contact and relationships with Bank Managers, monthly presentation of financial results to the Board of Directors, liaising with key customers and suppliers and dealing with contracts and negotiations. During her time in this role she was also responsible for HR, IT, Facilities and quality assurance.
Away from work, Alison enjoys walking, swimming and going to the Gym.
James Aylmer-Kelly - Partner
James started his career at Westinghouse, Chippenham where he trained as an engineering apprentice. James then became a production controller for a range of high power semiconductors. It was during this time that he realised his flair for computers and IT so he moved into the role of Systems Administrator.
He then moved into the professional services industry working for a firm of Chartered Accountants becoming their IT Manager responsible for systems across their three offices. James has also ran his own IT Consultancy business which included migrating accountancy firms’ infrastructure to the cloud, worked as an IT Manager for an FSA regulated fund supermarket & wrap platform and more recently as Head of IT for an insight, strategy and media agency responsible for the entire infrastructure working to ISO27001 standards.
As partner James is responsible for the overall running and development of the practice, introducing technologies to help it run efficiently. He is also able to advise clients on their use of technology and accountancy software and is a certified Xero professional.
Away from work, James enjoys running, walking their Labrador dog and generally keeping fit. His fundraising activities include the 100 mile Bath to London cycle ride, climbing Kilimanjaro in Africa and more recently completing the London Marathon in just over 3 hours 25 mins.