The team

Learn a little more about the team behind Foot Davson

Kobus van der Merwe ACA – Principal

Kobus is a Chartered Accountant, Registered Auditor and qualified probate and estate administrator. He’s been an accountant for over 20 years, has worked in small and large accountancy firms and founded a successful London based accountancy and audit practice before joining Foot Davson in 2022.

Kobus specialises in providing financial advice to owner managed businesses and SMEs covering accountancy, auditing, tax, and business management advisory services.

In his spare time Kobus loves exploring nature and the outdoors with his wife and two children.

Email: kobus@footdavson.co.uk


Sean Chapman FCCA – Audit and accounts manager

Sean joined the Foot Davson team in 2014. Having grown up in the area, Sean has spent most of his career to date working for small accountancy practices in and around the Tunbridge Wells area. This only being broken by a switch to a London audit practice, prior to returning to Tunbridge Wells with Foot Davson.

Sean’s experience ranges from being responsible for auditing and servicing owner managed businesses, to larger national and international companies and groups, as well as auditing and independently examining a significant number and range of charities.

Email: sean.chapman@footdavson.co.uk


Eva Patry – Tax and accounts manager

Eva has thirty years’ experience of providing accountancy services for a wide range of small to medium sized businesses. She has worked both for firms of chartered accountants and as a management accountant in industry.

She speaks French and Polish, and enjoys learning languages and travelling.

Email: eva.patry@footdavson.co.uk


Fern Tarrant – Tax and accounts senior

Fern joined Foot Davson in 2016 having previously worked at a large accountancy practice in London. Fern is currently studying for her Chartered Tax Adviser (CTA) qualification and works mainly in personal taxation.

Fern enjoys cooking and spending time with her family.

Email: fern.tarrant@footdavson.co.uk


Tracy Chapman MAAT – Payroll manager

Tracy is a member of the Association of Accounting Technicians and has experience of accounts preparation, bookkeeping and payroll. She has experience in managing a payroll department with both UK and overseas clients and she has a thorough knowledge of all payroll matters and compliance.

At Foot Davson Tracy is responsible for managing our entire payroll function.

Her spare time is mainly devoted to walking her dog!

Email: tracy.chapman@footdavson.co.uk


Tina Clay FCA CTA – Consultant

Tina qualified in 1982 and had a variety of experience of both “Big Four” and smaller Chartered accountancy firms before joining Foot Davson in 1993.  As well as being a Chartered accountant, she is also a Chartered tax adviser and thus specialises in all round business and personal tax services.

Tina is married with two grown up children and lives in Southborough. She is a licenced Reader at St Thomas’ Church. In her spare time, she enjoys playing the keyboard, reading and photography.

Email: tina.clay@footdavson.co.uk


Richard Foot FCA – Consultant

Richard, son of the founding partner, trained in London, qualifying in 1974 and came to Foot Davson in 1979 after working in chartered accountancy practices in Sevenoaks and London. Richard specialises in personal and trust taxation, including estates. His attention to detail and good advice has benefited many clients over the years.

Richard retired as a partner of the firm in March 2013 but continues to be a valued member of Foot Davson in his role as Consultant.


Other members of the team

We also have other members of staff not detailed here, including accountancy and tax trainees.

We monitor the diversity of our team and the data is available here.