Instant Teams

Hi! I’m Naseem Matteson. I’m a veteran of the U.S. Navy and proud military spouse of an active duty Sailor and have two beautiful, lively boys.

My family loves to travel and explore the U.S. and the world, and we immerse ourselves in all the culture and landscape at every duty station. We are involved in outdoor sports and activities like hiking, biking, and family-friendly recreation.

I am the President of Small Business ABCs, LLC and was recently named Treasurer of the Women in Defense Greater Hampton Roads (WIDGHR), a local organization that mentors women and men in national defense and security contracting.

I am an experienced finance professional with a strong background in all aspects of small business accounting, bookkeeping, and financial management. I love working with numbers and have an Associate of Science degree in Accounting and Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration. As a Certified QuickBooks Pro Advisor, I am passionate about helping my customers manage the financial aspects of their business.

Before launching my own business, I served as Director of Finance for a small local company in Virginia Beach. During my tenure, I revamped the accounting quality system to prepare for audits, created analysis reports highlighting risks and profit opportunities, managed full cycle payroll, accounts receivable/payable, bank reconciliations, as well as performed quarterly and annual financial reporting.

In my spare time, I enjoy real estate investment and rooting for the New England Patriots!

What was your first move towards working in a remote capacity and/or becoming a military spouse entrepreneur?

My main reason to become an entrepreneur was to maintain family stability because my husband’s schedule fluctuates tremendously. I wanted to be able to contribute to the welfare of our family financially and take care of their needs when my Sailor deployed or worked odd hours.

Experience in the corporate and public accounting world was necessary for me to maintain a professional career. Childcare for our two boys was astronomical. I weighed the pros and cons of remaining in the corporate finance world, and I decided to work from home. Telling my last employer about my decision to become self-employed rather than continue to work as an employee was the turning point.

I became a Quickbooks Pro Advisor. Learning to use the number one accounting software for small businesses gave me a great platform to become an entrepreneur. The QuickBooks software and technology gave me the flexibility and support to work from home and help clients virtually. I provide accounting, bookkeeping and payroll services with minimal cost to business owners. I also offer Intuit products as they are web-based and applicable in all states. I began my business with a few clients gained through networking and continue to grow through positive referrals.

What is your definition of military spouses as an ‘untapped resource’?

I believe military spouses are untapped resources who take on supporting roles from day one. We take care of our family and support our active duty spouse while they protect the country. In doing so, we tend to forget about ourselves and sometimes, our own worth as professionals. Once we forget ourselves, then we become an untapped resource for the whole world because we get too consumed in our bubble of caring about our immediate family. Military spouses are not always acknowledged or noticed because we don’t complain. We often volunteer rather than seek out gainful employment because our military lifestyle always has us on the go. Frequent moves don’t always give us enough time to get acclimated to our surroundings before the next orders arrive.

What would you tell other military spouses looking to start a professional career?

I would recommend spouses network, even if it means getting out of their comfort zone. Be open to new ideas and technology. Try new approaches and think outside the box. Don’t get distracted by what other people think or say or do. Your only measure should be the goals you want to achieve. Always look out for resources that are available to you as a military spouse. Don’t try to reinvent the wheel. If you have a question or are feeling stressed, use your network to seek advice. They can also be a sounding board to help you work through a dilemma or make an introduction.

If you want to be an entrepreneur, become knowledgeable about the business start-ups in your industry. Evaluate what your industry requires. Continue to educate yourself as your business grows, and never hesitate to hire and delegate essential services to other professionals that can help you succeed.

If you were put on a panel involved in an initiative to improve military spouse employment opportunities and corporate awareness of the MadSkills that professional spouses bring to the workforce, what suggestions would you make?

Knowledge is power. MadSkills can provide resources for military spouses to become successful in their profession by connecting members to tools, training, and guidance. The MadSkills platform is an awesome tool for companies committed to hiring military spouses. I would suggest continuing to reach out to companies hiring military spouses and in turn, educate military spouses about MadSkills – it is a great place to network and seek a professional career!

Connect with Naseem on Facebook.