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Staff spotlight: Grit Gansch

A head and shoulders photo of Grit Gansch from BSMS, taken outside in front of grass and a building

Name: Grit Gansch
Job title: NIHR Global Health Research Finance Officer
Department: Global Health and Infection
Year started at BSMS: 2017

Tell us a bit about your background

I came to the UK from Germany over 20 years ago as part of a European exchange programme which included a 2-month internship. My plan was to stay on afterwards for a year or so to get more work experience. My background and qualification are in Operations (Supply Chain, Wholesale and Import/Export) but I never enjoyed working in this field. So some years ago I decided to study accountancy while still working in Supply Chain. When I was made redundant, I got that final push to pursue my accountancy career which led me to some interesting roles in local colleges and ultimately to BSMS. I have been a qualified bookkeeper, accountant and part-qualified chartered accountant for some time now.

What’s your role like day-to-day?

Not one day is like the next. Every day brings new challenges and a massive variety of tasks, from compiling funder finance reports, attending finance meetings to paying invoices, correcting accounting entries in the finance system or processing expense claims, and everything else in between. I work with many colleagues across the university, overseas collaborators and PhD students from different countries and cultures.

What aspect of your role do you enjoy the most?

I enjoy getting involved in many projects and events - big and small, and working with such a variety of people. As an accountant I obviously enjoy getting into the nitty-gritty parts of financial analysis and reporting. When everything balances, I am happy.

In terms of successes, which accomplishments are you most proud of?

Looking back over the last 20 years, I came to the UK without really knowing what to expect or having a real plan, but I have managed to not only establish myself but also pursue a new career of my choice.

BACKGROUND IMAGE FOR PANEL

Who are some of your biggest inspirations within your personal or professional life?

My role models are my parents. They kept me in the real world and always encouraged me to finish what I started, even when I didn’t enjoy it, as you never know when things come in handy one day.

Tell me something about you that most people don’t know about you.

I was born and grew up in the former GDR. I was a young teenager when the Berlin wall fell. It was a different life but certainly not all bad. Later on, I used to go to summer music camps in Southern France with my music school (I played keyboard/piano) which usually ended with a final concert in some village hall in the middle of nowhere. One summer we performed a baroque dance as we didn’t have enough musical instruments. For many years I attended one of the largest Wave-Gothic festivals in the world every year on Whitsun, in Leipzig, Germany.

What are your other interests / hobbies?

I love spending time with our dog, Ella. My partner and I go out on daily adventures in the South Downs National Park and beyond. I love nature and visiting historic places. In the evening, I love watching either detective stories or any kind of zombie/apocalyptic film/series.