A Day in the Life Of: Paul Smith, Director of Finance
Ever wondered what it’s like to manage our properties, keep our systems running, and develop community activities?
In our “A Day in the Life Of” series, we shine a light on the brilliant people who make Bristol Charities what it is, from behind-the-scenes heroes to frontline changemakers.
This month, we caught up with Paul Smith, to find out what a typical day looks like in his role, what motivates him, and what he loves about working here.
Section 1: Introductions & Role
- Can you tell us your name, job title, and how long you’ve worked at Bristol Charities?
I’m Paul Smith, Director of Finance (Deputy CEO) at Bristol Charities since July 2020 (five years ago!)
- What team are you part of, and what does your team do?
I lead the Corporate Services team which look after all the “back office” functions of the charity, including finance, HR, IT, legal and governance.
- How would you describe your role in a sentence or two?
My role is to make sure that support functions and systems are in place and working well, allowing front-line delivery staff in housing, community and grants roles to work effectively. I also act as a key link between the Trustees of the charity and the work on the ground.
Section 2: A Typical Day
- What does a typical day look like for you?
No two days are ever the same, which is how I like it! Any given day will almost always involve some involvement in finance matters, such as catching up with the Finance Team on operational finance matters like outstanding debts, or our investment portfolio.
The charity is in a “forming” stage of development at the moment, which means that there are always meetings to be had to move projects forwards. These form a key part of most days.
IT and computers almost always form part of my day too – fixing IT problems, liaising with our IT support providers, or simply sorting out some machines or accessories – it’s all part of the role.
- Are there any daily rituals or routines that help you structure your day?
I have recently started splitting my days into 30 minute chunks. I use each 30 minutes to spend 25 minutes in deep work, with the other five minutes being something completely different, such as a walk around the office, making a cuppa, or something else. This approach helps keep concentration fresh.
Also, I tend to find that 11:00 is a bit of a milestone each day. It’s around this time that I usually have my second hot drink of the day, and probably something to eat with it!
- What’s the first thing you usually do when you start work?
I will always check MS Teams for any messages first thing, as this will often tell me if there’s anything that needs my attention immediately. I then turn on my work mobile and check that too.
- What kinds of people or teams do you work with most?
I have a lot of communication with the board of Trustees, which I always find interesting. It’s a much different process to working solely with paid staff colleagues, as Trustees are not as close to the day-to-day work and need concise and easily-digestible information.
As a member of the Senior Leadership Team I naturally spend a lot of time in discussion with other members, particularly Julian (CEO).
A lot of what the charity is looking to deliver is based around partnership and I have the privilege of being in very regular contact with colleagues from other charities and organisations, and I always find this interesting and motivational.
Section 3: Highlights & Challenges
- What’s your favourite part of your job?
My favourite part is seeing daily, incremental progress towards big strategic goals. I love it when we start doing something new or differently, particularly when it makes a real difference to our ability to impact people’s lives.
- What’s something people might not realise your role involves?
People may not realise that my role involves working regularly with solicitors on lots of different matters. Whether it’s how best to structure the charities within the Bristol Charities group, an HR matter, or advice around a property disposal, the two firms of solicitors we work with form an integral part of the corporate services team!
- What’s been a recent highlight or proud moment at work?
A recent highlight has been establishing and working with a Governance Working Group of Trustees. This group was set up to look at governance structures and to make sure that there is alignment between these and the strategic objectives and operations of the charity. It’s been a really helpful piece of work to do and has led to increased Trustee engagement and enthusiasm. It will also have ultimately a positive impact on the charity’s decision-making capabilities at all levels. This will be vital for the charity as we move into our new strategic season.
- What’s the most challenging aspect of your role – and how do you tackle it?
It’s a real challenge to juggle all aspects of my remit. It covers such a broad horizontal range of topics, and a deep vertical range of requirements, from strategic to operational. I use a clear, written to-do list and also enlist the help of colleagues to assist in reminders of what’s needed and when.
Section 4: Personal Perspective
- What motivates you in your work at Bristol Charities?
My Bristol roots give me a real ambition to see Bristol become better. For me, this means seeing life improve for those people who really need it to improve, for whatever reason. I am motivated by “making things better” for people.
- Is there a part of the charity’s mission that particularly resonates with you?
I have been championing the charity’s “Total Impact” approach to its finances and investments. I would love to see every single pound of the charity’s assets and resources generating an social and impact return, as well as a financial one.
Section 5: Getting to Know You
- What do you like to do outside of work?
I am a keen golfer and love to cook, especially at weekends when time is on my side. I have also been known to dabble in some online gaming from time-to-time.
- Do you have a hidden talent, hobby or fun fact you can share?
I am the proud owner of a 1972 mini, in yellow. He’s called Harry and he’s tucked neatly in my garage.
- If your job was a film title, what would it be and why?
“The Business Partner”, because my work is all about partnering with delivery colleagues and giving them the tools needed for success.
- If you could have a superpower – what would it be?
The ability not to need sleep would be great, as there aren’t enough waking hours in a day! That being said, I love sleep, so maybe just the ability to extend the number of hours in a day for whatever reason is needed!
- What are you reading or watching at the moment?
Most parts of my life are quite intense, so I like to watch TV that can help me bring down the intensity! Current go-to programmes are Death in Paradise and Ghosts, for their brilliant wit and easy-to-follow-along storylines!
- We have a CEO with particular tea-making requirements – what’s your hot drink of choice – shaken or stirred?
I love a coffee with oat milk! My milk choice is not due to necessity – I actually prefer the taste of oat milk in coffee! I limit myself to one caffeinated coffee per day, so drink a lot of the decaf stuff which, thankfully, is pretty good quality these days.
Team Shoutouts & Tips
- Who in another team has really helped or inspired you recently?
Claire, Miranda and Diana have been brilliant at helping me handle the charity’s HR operations recently. None of us are HR professionals by trade, but they have shared ideas and supported each other as we look to improve our HR capabilities as a charity. It’s been super.
- What’s one thing you wish more people understood about your role or your team
There is a huge amount of complexity within the finances of the Bristol Charities group, and it’s important for everyone to understand that there are lots of different sources of income and expenditure and all these need treating in the right way, without getting them mixed up!
- Any tips or advice for new starters at Bristol Charities?
If you want to see great examples of how Bristol Charities’ work impacts people’s day-to-day lives them make sure you go on a tour of our housing schemes, see their quality, and speak to residents about what having a safe and high-quality home really means to them. It will really motivate and inspire you!
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