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Certifications

Every certification on this page belongs to Daniel Cope, who does the bookkeeping for every Tides client himself. The dates come straight off the certificates. Where the issuer runs a public directory, there's a link so you can check it yourself instead of taking our word for it.

Intuit ProAdvisor QuickBooks Level 2 Certified badge

Advanced QuickBooks ProAdvisor

Intuit · QuickBooks Online Level 1 & 2, payroll and Enterprise Suite

Certified by Intuit in QuickBooks Online Level 1 and Level 2 (current through July 1, 2027), QuickBooks payroll and Intuit Enterprise Suite. Rated 5.0 across 8 reviews.

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Certified Puzzle Advisor badge issued to Daniel Cope, March 16, 2026

Certified Puzzle Advisor

Puzzle · issued March 16, 2026

Passed Puzzle's certification program for running client books on its AI-native ledger, built for startups and modern fintech stacks.

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Gusto Payroll Certification badge

Gusto Payroll Certified

Gusto Academy · completed March 19, 2026

Gusto's payroll certification, worth 4 CPE credits. It's the platform our payroll service is built on.

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A2X Certified badge

A2X Certified

A2X · graduated September 18, 2026

A2X Certification for Accountants and Bookkeepers: reconciling Shopify, Amazon and other marketplace payouts into QuickBooks or Xero.

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Why these four

Each one maps to a system your books actually run on. QuickBooks Online is where most of our clients keep their books. Gusto and QuickBooks Workforce cover payroll. Puzzle is the ledger we use for startups that live on Stripe and modern banks. A2X is how ecommerce sellers get marketplace payouts to match their bank deposits.

A software certification means someone was trained on the system by the company that makes it, and then passed that company's test. It doesn't replace experience, and it isn't a license. It does tell you your bookkeeper won't be learning the platform on your books.

What these are not

None of these is a CPA license, and Tides isn't a CPA firm. We keep your books clean and reconciled every month, and we hand your CPA a tax-ready file. Your CPA prepares and signs the return. If you're not sure where one job ends and the other starts, bookkeeper vs. CPA vs. accountant lays it out.

Other credentials

  • Client Advisory Services Foundations, Intuit ProAdvisor graduate program (Sept. 2026)
  • Intuit Bookkeeping, trained
  • B.S. Finance, Indiana University (Daniel Cope)
  • Insured: professional liability (errors & omissions) insurance, including cyber liability coverage. Certificate available on request.

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Certifications FAQ

Who holds these certifications?

Daniel Cope, Tides' lead bookkeeper. He's the person who does the work on every client's books, so the certifications apply to your account directly, not to a sales team.

How can I verify them?

The QuickBooks certifications show on Daniel's Intuit Find a ProAdvisor listing. The Puzzle and A2X certificates carry a certificate ID, and all three certificates are shown on their pages here. We'll send a copy of any of them on request.

Are you a CPA?

No. Tides is a bookkeeping firm. We do the monthly bookkeeping, reconciliation, reporting and payroll support, and we work alongside your CPA, who handles tax returns and tax advice.

Do software certifications expire?

Some do. Intuit requires QuickBooks ProAdvisors to recertify every year, which is why the Intuit directory is the best place to check someone's current status. We keep this page to what's current.

Do you only work in these platforms?

Most clients are on QuickBooks Online, with Gusto or QuickBooks for payroll. We also keep books in Puzzle and Restaurant365, and use A2X for ecommerce sellers. If you're on something else, ask. We'll tell you honestly whether we're the right fit.

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