PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) has confirmed it is to lose 15% of its HR department by 2012.

Responding to reports last week that the accountancy firm will be cutting its HR workforce, a spokeswoman told HR magazine: "At the moment we have a number of HR functions in the company and we want to bring them together into one team.

The firm has an HR department of approximately 400 and it is hoped the 15% reduction will be made predominantly through redeployment of staff and natural attrition. Staff have been aware of the process for six months.

In a statement the spokeswoman added: "A transformation process of PwC's HR function began six months ago to create a firm-wide, centralised HR team with common processes, tools and technologies that improve the efficiency and integration of the function. Lower costs, streamlining and improved use of technology will result in a reduction of roles required in the team."

The news comes just days after the firm announced it was poised to recruit 125 graduate trainees.