Why I started Tideline CPA Inc.

For more than a decade, I’ve worked with numbers for a living. As a Chartered Professional Accountant, I’ve held roles as a Senior Accountant, Executive Director, Financial Controller and Chief Financial Officer, and I’ve worked across numerous industries including trades, aquaculture, forestry and national sports associations.

In every role, I noticed the same thing. The businesses that did well weren’t always the ones with the best product or the most customers. They were the ones whose owners understood their numbers and made decisions with clear information in front of them.

I also noticed how many small business owners didn’t have that. Not because they weren’t capable, but because nobody had ever sat down and explained it to them in plain language. They got their taxes filed every spring and heard nothing from their accountant the rest of the year.

I started Tideline CPA Inc. to be a different kind of accountant for BC businesses: one who’s involved all year, explains things clearly, and helps owners plan ahead instead of just looking back.

Why “Tideline”?

The tideline is where the land meets the sea. It’s always moving, but it follows a rhythm you can learn to read. That felt like a good description of running a business. Things change constantly, but once you understand the patterns in your numbers, you can plan for them.

Having lived in BC my entire life and on Vancouver Island for the past 16 years, this coastal environment is central to who I am, whether I’m out mountain biking the local trails or advocating for our ocean ecosystems. I originally moved here for the outdoor adventure, but I put down roots because of my profound appreciation for the people, the vibrant lifestyle, and the environment we all share.

How I can help

I work with sole proprietors, start-ups, and owner-managed corporations across British Columbia, but my approach goes far beyond standard compliance accounting. Having built my own businesses and served as a CFO for large national organizations, I’ve sat on your side of the table. I know firsthand the operational pressure you face; from managing day-to-day cash flow to making high-stakes decisions about sustainable growth.

While I handle all the essentials, personal and corporate tax, start-up and succession planning. My true focus is acting as a strategic partner to your business. Through fractional CFO support, robust financial planning, and tailored business advisory, I help bridge the gap between looking backward at historical data and looking forward to where you want to go.

Whether you’re just getting started or you’ve been in business for twenty years, my goal is the same: to help you feel confident about your numbers and your next move.

If that sounds like what you’ve been looking for, I’d love to hear about your business. Reach me at info@tidelinecpa.ca or (250) 816-1127.

— Adrien Stewart, CPA, Founder, Tideline CPA Inc.