Pierce celebrates milestone 90th birthday

Blackburn-based chartered accountancy and business advisory firm Pierce is celebrating 90 years in business.

The firm was founded in Accrington in 1929 by Philip Fletcher Pierce after he completed his accountancy training at Richmond Terrace, Blackburn. Today, the firm is based in Blackburn town centre and employs 65 people in departments spanning accounts, audit, payroll, tax, corporate finance, forensic services, business consultancy, admin and secretarial and IT and online services.

The success and longevity of Pierce is largely down to the innovative nature of the business, following the footsteps of Mr Pierce’s forward-thinking. The firm was one of the first to introduce the electronic adding machine during the 1950s and in 1993 was the first firm in Lancashire to introduce a dedicated forensic accounting department providing litigation support to solicitors.

Significant milestones in the business include becoming a two-partner firm in 1947 when Mr Pierce’s articled clerk, George Douglass Whipp from the late 1930s became a partner. Consequently, the firm was renamed “PF Pierce & Co”.

The firm relocated to Blackburn in 1987 and four years later changed the business name to Pierce Chartered Accountants, before renaming to Pierce C.A. in 2004. In 1996 the business returned back to its roots and relocated to Richmond Terrace, where Mr Pierce had trained, before moving to its current location in Ainsworth Street in 2005.

Pierce has 65 employees who cover all areas of running a business and provides not only the critical numbers, but most importantly the advice that goes alongside them, whether it’s protection of assets, structuring, succession planning, business consultancy, R & D tax credit work and much more. Pierce prides itself on adding value to its clients and working and planning with them to reach their corporate and personal goals.

Jimmy King, managing director at Pierce said: “The strong traditions set by Mr. Pierce in 1929 continue to be nurtured by the firm today. His uniquely Lancastrian way of doing business is still the biggest characteristic of Pierce and something we still hold dear which is why we are still incredibly proud to operate under his name.

“Pierce built its reputation on solid foundations and has over the years successfully combined the best of tradition with the dynamics required to meet the challenges of the future.”

“Pierce welcomes and responds to the ever-growing demands of the business world and has a demonstrated commitment to developing its human and technical resources. We very much look forward to the coming years and to growing the firm further.”

Pierce prides itself on a high staff retention rate, with many members of staff being at the firm for in excess of a decade and the firm continues to develop its staff and grow its team. The firm has a strong focus on CSR to give something back to the local community and is currently participating in East Lancashire Hospice’s Corporate Challenge.

Events of 1929

The Wall Street Crash, the most devastating stock market crash in the history of the United States, happened in October. The first Oscars award ceremony took place which lasted just 15 minutes and had 270 people in attendance A pint of milk in the UK cost 13p George V was on the throne and Queen Elizabeth II was just three years old 69 years before the youngest employee Layton Smalley at Pierce was born