We sat down with Sarah to find out what life in the finance team is really like.
Tell us a bit about your role in Capacity’s Finance team.
I’m the Finance Assistant, so I handle a lot of the day-to-day transactions across our ventures, so the scope is pretty broad!
I started at Capacity four years ago this month. Before Capacity, I worked at a health and social care charity – similar role, but coming to Capacity felt like something a bit different.
What’s something about your role that might surprise people?
I think people assume it’s all spreadsheets and invoices (and there is plenty of that!), but especially with Juno (Capacity’s not-for-profit children’s residential care homes), it’s actually really people-based. We’re talking to staff and managers about what they can spend, and you get to know a bit about their lives and work. We’ve started going out to visit Juno homes – seeing the staff, meeting the children. That’s been really nice.
What does a typical day look like (we know that probably isn’t a thing!)?
It really isn’t! I usually start by going through the various finance inboxes, checking if there’s anything urgent. After that, it literally changes week by week. Some weeks it’s payroll, the next is month-end or whatever lands. Where I’ve worked before, it was always ‘this is what you do on this day’ – at Capacity, it’s more flexible. I quite like that. Keeps you on your toes.
Is there a moment in the week that you particularly enjoy?
Oh, this is going to sound very finance-nerdy, but getting the bank reconciliation done, because there’s just so much going through. But when you get that bank reconciliation completely clean. I’m like, look at it. It’s empty. It’s gorgeous. I send screenshots to everyone. They probably couldn’t care less, but I love it!
What’s one project or moment that’s made you think, ‘this is why I love working here’?
For me, it’s Juno. I started at Capacity right around the time Juno was being set up, so I’ve watched it grow from an idea into something brilliant. A lot of the practical stuff that goes into opening new homes and bringing new staff on board, I’ve had a hand in that. We don’t open the homes ourselves, we don’t directly look after the children, but none of it happens without the finances being right. That’s our bit. And it feels like a really important one.
If you could describe the culture at Capacity for a future teammate, what would it be (in 3 words)?
Three words are hard! I’d say positive and friendly. (That’s two, Sarah, we’ll let you off)
Even when things get a bit chaotic – and they sometimes do – there’s a positive attitude across the team of ‘it’s fine, we’ve got this’. Everyone’s got that energy. We’re a relatively small team, but we all get to know each other on away days and all-in lunches. Even if you’re not working directly with someone, you still know them. It makes a real difference.
What’s the one thing people wouldn’t know about Capacity but secretly love about being part of the team?
There’s always a Diet Coke in the fridge. (Sarah is definitely someone to grab a Diet Coke with!)
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