Coopers plans ad burst

Overwhelming demand for accountants has forced Coopers & Lybrand to launch its first national recruitment advertising campaign.

The #150,000 programme will use billboard poster sites around the country to attract more than 8,000 key staff for positions created by the planned merger with Price Waterhouse.

‘The new firm will bring with it fantastic career opportunities and we want to start laying down the foundations for that now in this campaign,’ said Peter Wyman, head of tax at Coopers.

Reed Accountancy Personnel confirmed demand for staff at most firms exceeded supply and said the shortage was creating a crisis within the profession.

‘There is definitely a great demand for accountants at the moment,’ said David Callaghan, a Reed AP director. ‘Demand is strongest for newly qualifieds and has reached record levels in the City of London and Thames Valley.’

He said the shortage is a result of worldwide demand for Western accounting skills and the use of accountants in a variety of jobs outside practice.