Philmore Ogle Receives Inaugural ICAJ Distinguished Member Award

Philmore Ogle, OD, a founding member of the ICAJ who was instrumental in the formation of a national body to represent the views and interests of members of the accountancy profession, was the recipient of the inaugural ICAJ Distinguished Member Award at the ICAJ's 40th Anniversary Awards Banquet held at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel on December 9, 2005. The Banquet was held under the distinguished patronage of His Excellency, the Most Honourable Sir Howard Cooke, ON, GCMG, GCVO, CD.

The ICAJ Distinguished Member Award, which is to be presented annually, seeks to recognise a Chartered Accountant, who, through his/her achievements, has made significant contribution to the development of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Jamaica (ICAJ) and the Accountancy profession.

Philmore Ogle was selected recipient of the inaugural award from among the four members of the profession who were nominated for the Award.

The nominees were Kenneth Lewis, Past President of the ICAJ and Chairman of the Parliament Integrity of Members Commission; Margaret Mendes, retired lecturer in the Department of Management Studies and Author; Philmore Ogle, O.D., Past President of the ICAJ and former Chairman of the ICAJ's Disciplinary Committee and Uriel Salmon, C.D., Past President of the ICAJ and former Chairman of the Parliament Integrity of Members Commission.

Mr. Ogle served as the second President of the Institute from 1968 to 1970. He was credited for drafting the Public Accountancy Act and submitting it to the then Minister of Commerce & Industry, the Honourable Robert Lightbourne, to coincide with Jamaica's Independence in 1962. The draft prescribed qualifications for persons who would provide audit services under the Companies Act 1948. The concept was accepted and the Public Accountancy Act was enacted in 1968.

At a time when no local facilities were offered for accountancy training, Philmore Ogle was part of the move by local accountants to convince the University of the West Indies (UWI) to structure extra mural classes to offer a Bachelors degree programme in Accounting in 1967, for which he was one of the first lecturers. Mr. Ogle also successfully pressed for recognition and acceptance of this degree by ACCA, gaining in the process exemption from some ACCA examination papers.

Mr. Ogle was also very instrumental in ICAJ's advocacy of the introduction of a second degree in Accounting at the University of the West Indies. The proposal in this regard was eventually accepted and the MSc. Accounting programme was introduced in 1975.

As a Past President, he continued to serve the ICAJ, chairing the Investigation and Disciplinary Committees at different times over several decades, ending his formal service in 1999. He continues to give his support to the activities of the Institute, serving as a resource person for the Current Affairs Committee.

In 1999, Philmore Ogle was rewarded for his significant service to the profession with a national honour - the Order of Distinction (Officer Class).



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