Long-serving Chartered Institute of Management Accountants' stalwart honoured

Philip Osborn from Barnt Green has been honoured with a special presentation by the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA).

CIMA board member Edwin Josephs made the presentation at this year’s retired West Midlands’ CIMA members’ event at the Charlecote Pheasant Hotel near Stratford-upon-Avon.

Having been a CIMA member for more than 50 years Mr Osborn, aged 75, has stepped down from organising the retired members’ event after 23 years.

He has been a CIMA qualified accountant for 54 years and marked 50 years of service to the Birmingham committee in 2013, having joined in May 1963.

Mr Osborn was the Birmingham CIMA chairman in 1968-9. During that time he has worked tirelessly for the CIMA in Birmingham and the West Midlands sitting both on the Birmingham committee and the area board. He still sits on the Birmingham committee serving as welfare officer.

He was awarded the Institute’s Bronze Medal in 2004 for his services to CIMA.

Mr Josephs said: ”Philip is seen as the ‘father figure’ of CIMA in Birmingham and the West Midlands.

“He has been a fantastic, enthusiastic and dedicated member of CIMA in the area for over half a century and contributed an enormous amount to the development and recognition of management accountants in the region.

“He has worked tirelessly and attended nearly every meeting over that time bringing a real passion to raising the profile of the profession.”

Mr Osborn said: “I have thoroughly enjoyed being involved with CIMA in Birmingham and the West Midlands over such a long time.

“I see myself as ‘committee man’ and have been dedicated to serving the cause that CIMA pursues to raise its profile, through my involvement in the region.

“I believe that it has added great benefit to my career and that the work we have done has helped countless other CIMA members develop and shine in their careers too.”

During his career Mr Osborn spent 14 years at GKN in the screw and fastenings division, and in 1972 moved into the local government arena.

Shortly after joining the local government field, he was involved in a working party set up to facilitate the introduction of management accounting within local government. He retired in 1992 and since then has undertaken some consultancy work.