Military wife recognised for her support to the armed forces community

A military wife and chartered accountant has set up a firm to help people in the armed forces’ community – from creating a business to supporting soldiers’ charities.

Nadia Hossen Mamode, of Bee Accountancy, also supports personnel, veterans and their spouses to manage their tax affairs, grow a business and oversee a property portfolio.

And now her work has been recognised by a national award in the start-up business category.

The mum-of-two has been shortlisted for a Soldiering On Award, which marks the outstanding achievements of those who support the armed forces community.

Nadia, 32, who offers business training for the military, said: “I am delighted to be nominated for such a prestigious award, in an area of work which is very meaningful to me.”

Nadia set up Bee Accountancy, an acronym for ‘building, empowering and engaging’, during a career break from her job at a multi-billion pound global firm and while pregnant with her second child.

Nadia mixed with people at her patch’s baby group, book club and knitting evening, and found they had specific accountancy needs due to their lifestyle.

The former University of Buckingham business studies student said: “People in the military often move around every couple of years and an online service, which they can access anywhere, often suits their needs.

“Often veterans or their spouses set up a business because they have the drive and want a sense of purpose. They want a business where they can be themselves and be challenged.

“There are also many accidental landlords in the military community. They would buy a property with the intention of making it a home, but a new posting order would mean they would have to move with no choice other than to rent it out.

“It helps working from someone from the military community, who understands their needs and can offer a one-stop solution for accounting services.”

Nadia, who met her husband, Adam, six years ago, has adapted to military life – with four moves and three different jobs in that short time.

She went on to take an armed forces business start-up course at the University of Wolverhampton, which is designed for military personnel and their families who want to start their own business.

Combined with her experience, expertise and enthusiasm for entrepreneurialism, she was able to set up a fully-operational online business to serve the forces’ community.

She said: “I can take away the headache of managing their tax affairs or guide them to do it themselves, where appropriate.”

The Soldiering On Awards aims to encourage support for armed forces’ community by celebrating the achievements of the people, teams and businesses within it. A winner will be announced in April.

For more information, visit https://beeaccountancy.co.uk/

Nadia Hossen Mamode set up Bee (Building, Empowering and Engaging) Accountancy in January, 2018.

She had been on a career break from a job with a multi-billion pound global company, while pregnant with her second child. She was keen to help those in need and in her own voice, rather than as part of a big corporation.

Nadia’s dad had been a successful entrepreneur, who started with an import business. But he felt he had lacked a thorough understanding of accountancy.

Spurred on by her dad’s influence, Nadia took studied for a degree in Business Studies at the University of Buckingham.

She then started work as an accountant in 2010 and qualified as an ICAEW Chartered Accountant,a highly-respected professional qualification, 2015.

The ICAEW (Institute Of Chartered Accountants In England and Wales (ICAEW)  is a world leading professional membership organisation and regulator.

Nadia met her husband, Adam O’Hora, in 2012 and they married a year later. They now have two young children.

Nadia has learned to adapt to military life, which has involved four moves and three jobs. She found there was a need for her skillset while mixing in the military community.

Personnel, veterans and military spouses would often ask her advice on tax issues. She set up free courses on self-assessment returns, for more straight-forward situations.

Bee Accountancy, which is starting to employ others from the military community, is a one-stop solution for accounting needs.

Services include helping personnel, veterans and their spouses to manage their tax affairs, grow a business, oversee a property portfolio and support military charities.

Bee Accountancy has been listed by former Dragon’s Den star Theo Paphitis on his Small Business Sunday which highlights selected small businesses each week.

The chairman of Ryman Stationery, Boux Avenue lingerie, Robert Dyas and London Graphic Centre, chooses his favourite six and retweets them to his half million Twitter followers.

Bee Accountancy has also been shortlisted for a Soldiering On Award, which marks the outstanding achievements of those who support the armed forces community. The firm has been nominated in the national award in the start-up business category.

For more information, visit www.BeeAccountancy.co.uk/