Mary Ellen Blower

Head of Operations

Something you might not know about Med

She owned a Morgan sports car and absolutely loved it, long before husband and children came along.

Her favourite city

Choosing just one is difficult. After London, Med’s favourites include New York, Dublin and Rouen.

Three songs you’ll find on Med’s Spotify playlist

• I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) – The Proclaimers
• 9 to 5 – Dolly Parton
• Something Inside So Strong – Labi Siffre

What got Med started

Med’s route into accountancy began with a surprisingly simple decision. After university, the shortest graduate application form she came across was for PwC, so she applied. What started as a practical choice quickly developed into a rewarding career. After qualifying as a Chartered Accountant in audit, she discovered a particular interest in restructuring, where she could combine financial expertise with problem-solving and support businesses through challenging periods of change.

Med is excellent at

• Managing cashflow and financial stability. Med helps organisations understand their financial position and make informed decisions with confidence.
• Driving operational improvements. She identifies practical ways to strengthen performance and improve efficiency.
• Supporting refinancing and business recovery. Med has extensive experience helping organisations navigate complex financial situations and secure sustainable outcomes.

About Med

Med is a Chartered Accountant whose career has spanned audit, restructuring, charity leadership and education finance. After qualifying with PwC, she spent much of her professional life working in restructuring, supporting businesses facing financial challenges and helping them navigate periods of uncertainty through practical financial and operational solutions. Her expertise includes cashflow management, refinancing, operational improvement and stakeholder communication.

One of the projects she remembers most fondly involved supporting a well-known cinema business through a complex refinancing process. While the technical work was challenging, the most rewarding aspect was helping the CFO and CEO feel supported during an extremely stressful period. Providing reassurance and guidance throughout the process ensured they never felt they were facing the situation alone.

Since taking on family commitments, Med has continued to apply her financial expertise in purpose-led organisations. She has served as CFO of the charity Operation Smile and worked within the finance department of a secondary school, bringing the same combination of technical knowledge, empathy and practical problem-solving that has defined her career.

She’s inspired by

Med is inspired by Denis Goldberg, the youngest man sentenced alongside Nelson Mandela and the only white member of the group. She admires his courage and conviction in standing up against injustice, despite not being directly affected by it himself, and his willingness to sacrifice so much for a cause he believed in.