Hanno Kirsch

Prof. Dr. Hanno Kirsch is a Professor of controlling-oriented corporate accounting and international accounting at the West Coast University of Applied Sciences. He has held leadership roles including Vice-Rector (2000-2003), Rector (2003-2007), and President (2007-2019) of the institution. His academic career began with a diploma in business administration from the University of Mannheim (1990) and a PhD on 'Cost Recovery as a Corporate Objective' (1992). Prior to academia, he worked as a Project Manager at BASF AG (1992-1996) and as a lecturer at Ludwigshafen University of Applied Sciences. He currently serves as a Visiting Professor at the University of Karlstad, Sweden, and holds an Honorary Professorship at Zhejiang University of Science and Technology (China).

His research focuses on financial statement analysis, international accounting standards, and the impact of commercial law on investor decision-making. He explores behavioral aspects of accounting through the HRK research focus 'Human Behavior in Work and Leisure.' Key publications include works on KPI selection, BCG portfolio models, and bias in financial reporting.

As a faculty leader, he has shaped the Business School's academic programs and serves as Dean of the Faculty of Economics. His teaching spans controlling methodologies, operational management, and strategic decision-making frameworks. He is also spokesperson for the AKC Working Group on Controlling Professorships at Universities.