✨ “A Day in the Life Of: Diana Finch”

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” series, we shine a light on the brilliant people who make Bristol Charities what it is, from behind-the-scenes heroes to front-line change-makers. 

This month, we caught up with Diana Finch, Finance Manager, to find out what a typical day looks like in their role, what motivates them, and what they love about working here. 

Introductions & Role 

1. Can you tell us your name, job title, and how long you’ve worked at Bristol Charities? 

My name is Diana Finch. I’m the finance manager and I’ve been working at Bristol Charities since December 2024. 

2. What team are you part of, and what does your team do? 

I’m part of the finance team. We make sure the staff and bills get paid, and also keep an eye on the money that should be coming in, giving a nudge here and there if we think we’ve been overlooked. We provide management accounts for the leadership team and trustees. At the year end, we invite in the auditors and help them go through all the accounts with a fine-toothed comb, to make sure our filed accounts are accurate. We also spend a fair bit of time planning, trying to make sure we manage the money we have as best as possible, so that we can create the maximum impact with our funds. 

3. How would you describe your role in a sentence or two? 

My role is mainly about internal financial control – making sure we do things properly and that everything adds up. 

A Typical Day 

4. What does a typical day look like for you? 

I’m part time, which is great. I get to work about 9.30am, and after catching up on emails, there are usually a few big reconciliations or documents to get my teeth into. I help keep on top of the day to day transactions too, and various month end processes. I spend quite a lot of time looking at the many different systems that are used across the charity, making sure they all match what the accounts system says. Then, when I get home, I have a number of other projects I’m working on, including trying to promote my book and think about alternative economic systems. Basically, I spend a lot of time imagining what the world might look like if we got rid of money! A bit ironic, given my main skillset! 

5. Are there any daily rituals or routines that help you structure your day? 

I try to start each day with a meditation practice based on indigenous American spirituality. It’s about understanding my connection to the earth and all living things, and to the ‘all that is’. It’s also about trying to make sure I show up each day as a balanced human being who is able to be in service of people and planet. 

6. What’s the first thing you usually do when you start work? 

I make a cup of coffee. 

7. What kinds of people or teams do you work with most? 

I work mainly with my finance colleagues, Claire and Paul. But the nature of finance means that I have contact with every team. 

Highlights & Challenges 

8. What’s your favourite part of your job? 

I like making sense of things. A lot of my job is a bit like doing sudoku.  

9. What’s something people might not realise your role involves? 

Face painting! We held an event in the park last month, and I got to practice my rather rusty skills. 

10. What’s been a recent highlight or proud moment at work? 

Finding an error that had crept into the accounts five years ago, and coming up with a way to put it right. 

11. What’s the most challenging aspect of your role – and how do you tackle it? 

I think the hardest thing is that part of sorting things out is spotting errors, and often people don’t like to have their errors pointed out. I try to just be honest and open. At Bristol Charities I’m finding this part of my job fairly easy. In the past, I’ve had some very difficult situations, and even got walked off the premises by one organization who didn’t like what they perceived to be negativity. I’m not negative – I just like to sort things out and improve things. 

Personal Perspective 

12. What motivates you in your work at Bristol Charities? 

Knowing that the back office accounts work is just as important as the community-facing work. 

13. Is there a part of the charity’s mission that particularly resonates with you? 

I love the fact that we’re so place-based, focusing on creating lovely homes for people who might otherwise have a very different life experience, and building community around those homes.  

Getting to Know You 

14. What do you like to do outside of work? 

Dancing, walking, cooking, and eating. I also play the piano badly and am learning Greek on Duolingo. 

15. Do you have a hidden talent, hobby or fun fact you can share? 

I did linguistics and Japanese at university. I’m fascinated by the way different languages create different ways of experiencing the world. Like in Greek, dreaming is always passive – ‘I was dreamt a horse’, rather than ‘I dreamed about a horse’. It’s subtle, but it’s eye-opening. Of course! Dreams happen to us, beyond our conscious control, so the passive makes so much sense! 

16. If your job was a film title, what would it be and why? 

“The Cliffhanger”. Because my life always seems to be part of an epic drama, and I’m always wondering what will happen in the next scene. 

17. If you could have a superpower – what would it be?   

Flying – I love dreams that I fly in!  

18. What are you reading or watching at the moment? 

I’ve very nearly finished The Dawn of Everything, David Graeber and David Wengrow. A lot of the detail passes me by – reading is not my best skill – but the overall wonder of the many ways of doing society that they talk about makes me inspired and hopeful. It’s not my best ever book though – that goes to Braiding Sweetgrass, by Robin Wall Kimmerer.   

19. We have a CEO with particular tea-making requirements – what’s your hot drink of choice – shaken or stirred? 

Black coffee, with one sugar that I can’t quite let go of. 

20. Who in another team has really helped or inspired you recently? 

Paul is a fabulous boss – very caring, and manages to leave what would be a well-deserved ego on the shelf when he comes to work. 

Claire is a stalwart – despite the many frustrations of day to day finance work, especially with our accounting software which can drive us all nuts at times, she is always helpful, polite and calm.