Supporting a family business through leadership transition, tax planning and long-term succession

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Robert had worked in the business for eight years before becoming Managing Director four years ago. When Rick stepped back, the handover required careful planning across finance, operations and ownership. Bernard Rogers & Co supported the transition by managing the practical and strategic financial changes needed to move leadership from father to son. This included reviewing shareholder structures, advising on shareholdings and options, and ensuring responsibilities, reporting and governance aligned with Robert’s new role. Jo, their Client Manager, oversaw the process and ensured the transition was smooth, structured and fully understood.

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Alongside the operational changes, Bernard Rogers & Co worked closely with the family on tax and succession planning. This included reviewing the wider group structure, considering inheritance and estate planning, and ensuring future tax efficiency for both the business and the family. The focus was on protecting the business, minimising risk and creating a clear plan for the future, while allowing Robert to step into leadership with confidence. These conversations were handled with care, clarity and discretion, reinforcing the trust built over many years.

Bernard Rogers & Co produce Soma’s annual accounts and manage payroll for their eight employees. Robert has an annual review meeting with Jo and communicates regularly by email whenever questions arise.

When QuickBooks was introduced, Jo visited the business to provide hands-on training for Robert and his team, ensuring everyone felt comfortable with the new system. In Robert’s first year-end accounts as Managing Director, Jo took time to walk him through every figure, removing jargon and explaining the numbers in plain language. This gave him immediate confidence and a clear understanding of the business he was now leading.

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Soma also operates as part of a wider group following the acquisition of another business twelve years ago, a process that Bernard Rogers & Co supported from a financial and structural perspective. That experience continues to inform how the group is managed today, ensuring consistency across companies and a clear view of performance at both individual and group level.

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Consistency is extremely important to Robert, and he values having a trusted adviser who understands both the history of the business and its future direction. He describes Bernard Rogers & Co as highly competent, dependable and supportive, and has never felt the need to consider changing accountants. As Soma Services, a specialist in sewage systems, continues under Robert’s leadership, Bernard Rogers & Co remain a trusted partner, providing stability, expertise and long-term guidance rooted in a deep understanding of the family business.