Beales finance director Ken Owst has stepped down from the department store.

Owst has been at Beales for 18 years. He stands leaves the department store on June 26.  The retailer is yet to find a successor.

The department store group has 32 stores following its acquisition of 19 stores from Anglia Regional Co-operative Society last year for £7.5m.

In its last reported financial year, ending October 30, 2010, Beales narrowed losses before tax by 32% to £670,000.