His great-uncle and former organist of Westminster Abbey, Sir William McKie, who lived during his last years in Ottawa, encouraged him in his early musical activities.
[5] Expanding his repertoire, Finley sang the title role of Eugene Onegin at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden in March 2008.
He returned for lead roles in the premieres of two important new productions: the Forester in Janáček’s Příhody lišky Bystroušky in June 2014, and Amfortas in Wagner’s Parsifal in March 2017.
After a recital at Carnegie Hall in March 2007, he was praised by New York Times critic Bernard Holland as having a "bass-baritone of easy luxury" and that his "sensibilities begin with the pre-eminence of words.
[10][11] Finley was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2017 Birthday Honours (UK) for services to opera.
In September 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Finley played the titular role in Bluebeard's Castle in a London Symphony Orchestra performance which was made available online.