BLM finance heading north to escape staff departures

Berrymans Lace Mawer (BLM) is moving its finance department from London in September because it has become exasperated by losing staff to US banks and rival law firms.

The move north is part of a firm-wide overhaul of the accounts department following the merger of London firm Berrymans and north west practice Lace Mawer in 1998.

As part of the review, the firm decided to move accounts to Manchester to take advantage of the more stable job market and lower overheads.

BLM's finance director, Frank Lewitt, said there is 'enormous competition' for accounts staff in London, while in Manchester employees are cheaper and tend to stay longer.

'We do have a problem with keeping staff.

We've got to pay them higher and higher salaries and it gets to a point when it's not cost effective to do that...

we want a more stable finance department,' said Mr Lewitt.

When Berrymans merged with Lace Mawer, the latter firm's accounting system was scrapped in favour of Berrymans' Southern system.

In September 1999, BLM brought in Deloittes Consulting to review its accounts and operating systems.

Mr Lewitt was recruited in March to implement the changes to central accounting in the 38.5 million turnover business.

Cashiering and billing will remain at the local offices in London, Liverpool, Leeds, Manchester and Southampton, but the account books, credit control and payroll and a new automated billing system will be stationed in Manchester.

Mr Lewitt said there were no forced redundancies.

London staff members were offered jobs in Manchester but many, including the former finance director, did not take the firm up on its offer.

Anne Mizzi