Allowed to be clever in the finish (7)
I believe the answer is:
enabled
'allowed' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'clever in the finish' is the wordplay.
'clever' becomes 'able' (I've seen this before).
'in' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'the finish' becomes 'end' (I've seen this in other clues).
'able' put within 'end' is 'ENABLED'.
'to be' is the link.
(Other definitions for enabled that I've seen before include "Made possible, facilitated" , "Qualified" , "Allowed" , "Permitted" , "Facilitated or empowered" .)