After serving as Director of Finance & Information Systems for the City of Galesburg for 20 years, Gloria Osborn is retiring on January 19, 2024, after 37 years of service to Galesburg. Osborn holds a bachelor’s degree in business from Western Illinois University as well as a Master of Business Administration from St. Ambrose University. She was hired in 1986 as an account clerk for the City of Galesburg and has served in five positions within the Finance Department throughout her career. She was promoted to Director of Finance & Information Systems in 2004.
“Gloria is well known in communities throughout the state as a highly respected municipal finance director,” said Eric Hanson, City Manager. “When accepting the position of City Manager, I realized that one of my first major challenges would be to fill her crucial role within the organization. Luckily, Gloria is a proficient leader who has not only done an outstanding job of establishing a strong financial footing for the city and overseeing the operations of the finance department, but also building a team of well-trained and knowledgeable staff to ensure the department will continue to flourish.”
The City of Galesburg Finance Department, led by Osborn, is primarily responsible for the accounting services of the City of Galesburg, including utility billing, banking, budgeting, payroll, and purchasing. The department also encompasses the Information Systems Division, which provides for the management and implementation of internal IT needs of the City of Galesburg. Under her leadership, the Finance Department has played a pivotal role in the financial management of the City, including the establishment and implementation of sound financial policies for the long-term financial health of the organization.
“I am honored to have served as the Director of Finance & Information Systems for 20 years, and I know that I owe a lot of this to my staff as I could not have done this without their support, hard work, and dedication,” said Osborn. “The department staff continually scrutinizes our processes, suggests and implements new approaches or use of technology, and shares their ideas and knowledge with each other. All of this allows the department to be more efficient and effective, which then allows us to better serve our internal and external customers.”
A testament to the high standards upheld by the Finance Department, the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting has been awarded to the City of Galesburg by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) for the City’s annual comprehensive financial report for 27 consecutive years. The Certificate of Achievement is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting, and its attainment represents a significant accomplishment by a government and its management.
