Robert Horner

Partner

I came to Lithgow Perkins LLP after qualifying with one of the largest international accountancy practices. My initial experience was gained in audit and business advisory but after qualifying as a Chartered Accountant I became a tax specialist – first in what was known as employee reward (essentially tax planning for companies with regard to pay and benefits for employees) and latterly in personal tax advisory (which involved a good deal of capital taxes planning). It was during this time that I qualified as a Chartered Tax Advisor.

I always realised that there were advantages and disadvantages in working for a large firm. The advantages are that you can gain experience with large companies and complex planning issues. You also act for some of the most demanding clients where service is paramount, deadlines have to be met and technical excellence is simply assumed.

The disadvantages are that the owners of the business are sometimes divorced from their clients. Much of the client contact is with managers not partners. This can mean that clients do not always have immediate access to the undoubted expertise of the partners. To compound this, specialists tended to be narrow in focus and to get the best advice you may need to talk to several people which takes time and costs money.

I had always wanted to take the technical and service ethos of an international firm and combine this with the personal, hands on approach of a local firm of general practitioners and that is why I joined Lithgow Perkins LLP.

What makes my job interesting and enjoyable is the breadth of what we do. We don’t just advise on one aspect of your affairs. We want to be your accountants from the day you start in business through process of sale or succession to your retirement and beyond.

Like all the partners, I have a wide range of experience but I do have specialist experience in many areas of personal tax planning and investigation work.

If you want to know more about me or Lithgow Perkins LLP, please call me on 01423 564446 or email robert.horner@lithgow-perkins.co.uk.

I look forward to working with you.