Getting to know....Sam Keenan

1. What does your job involve?

I am the Financial Planning and Analysis Manager. My job is to manage the financial planning of CLIE's course portfolio, provide analysis for cost effectiveness and profitability and support teaching and business development initiatives. I work closely with and provide key financial advice to, Anne Moore, the Business Development Manager and Dr Christine Hoffmann, CLIE Director.

2. How long have you been at UCL? What did you do before this role?

I officially started my current post in June 2017, but have been in CLIE Finance since 2010. Before I worked at UCL, I lived in Carlisle and Newcastle and managed music stores - one specialized in retail of instruments and the other was a professional staging and lighting company.

3. What are you working on at the moment?

This is an extremely busy time of the year for us in Finance, as it is UCL's financial year end. This means current year budgets are closed and reviewed and we need to ensure all incomes and expenditure are accounted for correctly. Once my day job is completed, I currently spend the evenings and weekends supervising the Pre-University group, which is a group of 31 Summer School Students who study with us for two weeks.

4. What working achievement or initiative are you most proud of?

There has been increasing pressure and financial scrutiny across UCL for departments to become more efficient, while returning more.

CLIE underwent a thorough financial review. During this time, I worked closely with Margaret Lloyd, Manager Financial Planning at UCL Finance and Business Affairs. Our 'strengthened academic focus and refined objectives' combined with 'significant improvement in financial performance' were commended by the Provost and Senior Management Team at the annual planning round meeting.              

I am proud of the role I played in presenting CLIE as a strong centre financially, academically and strategically.

5. What's your favourite film and book?

This is an impossible question! But I'll give it a go.

A book I could easily read several times is probably 'The Crow Road' by Iain Banks.

Film wise, I have always loved the 'Alien' franchise, but a film I have watched many times in the last few years would be 'The Big Short'.

6. Who would be your dream dinner guests?

I suppose they'd have to be alive? Then again, this is 'dream' dinner guests so I think I could sneak some past icons in there.

I'd have Jim Carrey, Gillian Anderson, Robin Williams, Anthony Kiedis, Joe Walsh and Al Pacino.

The films and music these artists have been involved in would be fascinating to talk and laugh about over dinner.

7. What would it surprise people to know about you?

I am a musician who has featured on several recorded albums, YouTube videos and even a full length feature film.

8. What's your favourite place in the world?

The Hang Song river in Vientiane, Laos.

It's a beautiful river lined with mountains on both sides. I went there in 2016 and found it so peaceful and relaxing to just float along in a 'tube' (the inner tube of a truck tyre) and take in the scenery.

9. Fiona Wallace's question for you from the last newsletter: "What job would you do in another life?"

I suppose 'rock and roll star' doesn't really count as a job, more a lifestyle?!

I always liked the idea of marine biology when I was younger, but I was put off by all of the science. I'd probably give that a proper go, in another life.

10. What's your question for the next colleague?

If you could bring back one icon from the past, who would it be and why?