Chartered Accountants & Registered Auditors
Leigh-on-Sea: 01702 714743 | Chelmsford: 01245 266831
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Buckley Watson

Our Story

We’re a modern, dynamic firm of Chartered Accountants and Registered Auditors with an ever expanding and evolving team of quality professionals based across Essex with offices in Leigh-on-Sea and Chelmsford.

Our team comprises highly skilled professionals with expertise in various areas of accounting, taxation, audit and advisory services and we continuously invest in training and development to stay at the forefront of industry trends and regulations. We have an unwavering commitment to excellence in every aspect of our service and focus on accuracy, reliability, and timeliness to ensure that our clients receive the best possible support and guidance.

Our History

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Spencer Watson: Establishes his own practice

March, 1998
Spencer Watson, our managing director and founder, began working in the world of chartered accountancy back in the 1980s. Having obtained his Chartered Accountancy qualifications and having worked for successful local firms for many years, his ambition to succeed drove him to begin his own practice journey in 1998.
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Acquistion: Brian Buckley Accountants

November, 1998
Spencer's first acquisition was of Brian Buckley in 1998, forming the basis of our firm today as 'Buckley Watson'. Brian had himself been practicing as an accountant since 1972. Accountants have therefore been trading at our Leigh-on-Sea office, 57a Broadway, for over 50 years.
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Acquisition: Haydens Accountants

March, 2003
In March of 2003, Buckley Watson acquired a portfolio of clients from Ralph Hayden, who was based in Hullbridge. Ralph stayed with the firm for a few short years before enjoying his retirement abroad.
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Acquisition: Tomlyns Accountants

August, 2012
Based in Brentwood, Essex, Buckley Watson acquired Tomlyns Limited and at the same time moved from our offices upstairs to the first floor, to accommodate the ever growing firm, to where we are today. Phil Osborn (the founder and director of Tomlyns) still works alongside the firm today as a consultant.
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Acquisition: Accounting Kiwi Chartered Accountants

November, 2020
Buckley Watson acquired the Rayleigh based Chartered Accounting firm, Accounting Kiwi. The practice is long established with a property based focus and the original partner Mike Slade and his step-daughter Tabby Mote both still work with the firm today.
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Sean Tierney: Becomes an equity partner

July, 2021
After joining the firm in 2018 and progressing to equity partner, Sean Tierney has successfully built and continues to expand his portfolio of clients using expertise gained from working within local, well-established accountancy practices for the last 14 years. His leadership qualities have been pivotal in creating the valuable firm unity we possess today and have aided the establishment of a quality team of professionals that now work at and represent Buckley Watson.
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Acquisiton: Masons Chartered Accountants

July, 2022
Masons Chartered Accountants was acquired by Buckley Watson in July 2022, and with the team relocating to our Leigh-on-Sea office along with the original partners of Masons remaining involved as Consultants, the original Mason's office based in Hadleigh was closed.
Bob Bye, Steve Barker and David Seymour still work alongside the firm today as consultants.

Julia Edwards: Becomes an equity partner

August, 2022
Julia Edwards joined the firm in 2021 before becoming an equity partner of Buckley Watson Limited in August of 2022. After working locally in chartered practices throughout her career and obtaining her Chartered Accountancy & Licensed Practitioner Certificates along the way, Julia started her own accountancy practice. She has brought a fresh perspective and enthusiasm to the profession and since joining Buckley Watson has continued to grow her existing portfolio, fostering strong, collaborative relationships with clients.
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Acquisiton: Spencer Fellows & Co Chartered Accountants

August, 2023
Based in Chelmsford, Essex, and originally established in 1944, Spencer Fellows & Co are a chartered firm with specialist expertise in the agricultural sector. The firm was acquired by Buckley Watson in August of 2023, establishing our presence and office location in Chelmsford. Richard Harman and Richard Worboys still work alongside the firm today as consultants.

Where we are now...

September, 2026
Fast forward to present day, we are now a modern and progressive firm with a team of over 30 professionals and an ever expanding client base. With offices based in Leigh-on-Sea and Chelmsford we're perfectly placed to service clients in Essex and the surrounding areas of London.

Our Promise

We embrace innovation and leverage cutting-edge technologies and tools to enhance the efficiency, effectiveness and value of our services. By staying ahead of the curve, we can provide innovative solutions that address the evolving needs of our clients and the dynamic business landscape.

Integrity and trust are the cornerstones of our business. We operate with the utmost honesty, integrity and transparency in all our dealings, earning the trust and confidence of our clients on a long term basis.

Our track record of success speaks for itself. We have a long history of helping clients achieve their financial goals, navigate complex challenges, and unlock opportunities for growth and prosperity.

We are dedicated to continuous improvement and strive to raise the bar higher with every client engagement. We regularly solicit feedback, evaluate our performance and make necessary adjustments to ensure that we are always delivering the best possible service

We believe that our unwavering commitment to excellence, client-centric approach, exceptional service delivery, innovative solutions, integrity, trust, proven track record, and commitment to continuous improvement sets us apart from the rest. With us, you can trust that your financial success is our top priority.

The Buckley Watson Team