Accounting courses can help you learn financial reporting, budgeting, tax preparation, and auditing principles. You can build skills in analyzing financial statements, managing cash flow, and ensuring compliance with regulations. Many courses introduce tools such as Excel for financial modeling, QuickBooks for bookkeeping, and various accounting software that streamline processes and enhance accuracy. By engaging with these topics and tools, you can gain practical knowledge that prepares you for various roles in finance and business.
University of Pennsylvania
Skills you'll gain: Financial Statements, Financial Statement Analysis, Accrual Accounting, Financial Accounting, Financial Reporting, Accounting, Financial Analysis, Balance Sheet, Income Statement, Cash Flows, General Ledger, Bookkeeping, Revenue Recognition, Business Metrics, Return On Investment, Depreciation
Mixed · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

University of Lausanne
Skills you'll gain: Balance Sheet, Income Statement, Cash Flows, Financial Accounting, Financial Statements, Accounting, Bookkeeping, Working Capital, General Accounting, Accrual Accounting, Financial Reporting, Financial Analysis, Ledgers (Accounting), Profit and Loss (P&L) Management, Accounts Payable and Receivable
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months

University of Pennsylvania
Skills you'll gain: Financial Statements, Financial Statement Analysis, Return On Investment, Accrual Accounting, Financial Accounting, Capital Budgeting, Financial Reporting, Accounting, Finance, Inventory Accounting, Financial Analysis, Balance Sheet, Income Statement, Portfolio Management, Capital Expenditure, Equities, Cash Flows, Corporate Finance, Forecasting, Cash Flow Forecasting
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

IESE Business School
Skills you'll gain: Financial Statements, Financial Statement Analysis, Income Statement, Accounting, Cash Flows, Balance Sheet, Accrual Accounting, Financial Accounting, Financial Reporting, Microsoft Excel, Financial Analysis, Cash Management
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

Intuit
Skills you'll gain: Reconciliation, Financial Statements, Financial Statement Analysis, Inventory Accounting, Payroll, Bookkeeping, QuickBooks (Accounting Software), Payroll Administration, Inventory Control, Payroll Processing, Income Statement, Balance Sheet, Financial Reporting, Depreciation, Fixed Asset, Payroll Tax, Property Accounting, Accounting Software, Financial Accounting, Financial Analysis
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months

Intuit
Skills you'll gain: Bookkeeping, QuickBooks (Accounting Software), Financial Statements, Accounting Software, Financial Accounting, Ledgers (Accounting), Accounting, Accounting Records, Balance Sheet, Income Statement, General Ledger, Small Business Accounting, Ethical Standards And Conduct, Cash Flows
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Skills you'll gain: Revenue Recognition, Accrual Accounting, Financial Statements, Accounting, Financial Accounting, Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), Accounting Records, Inventory Accounting, Accounts Receivable, Income Statement, Balance Sheet, Financial Reporting, Cash Flows
Build toward a degree
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months

University of Virginia
Skills you'll gain: Financial Statements, Financial Accounting, Balance Sheet, Financial Reporting, Financial Statement Analysis, Accounting, Annual Reports, Accrual Accounting, Income Statement, Financial Analysis, Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), Accounting Records, Ledgers (Accounting), Cash Flows
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Skills you'll gain: Cash Flows, Financial Accounting, Financial Statements, Fixed Asset, Financial Reporting, Financial Analysis, Depreciation, Balance Sheet, Equities, Accounting
Build toward a degree
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Skills you'll gain: Management Accounting, Income Statement, Financial Statements, Performance Measurement, Balance Sheet, Organizational Strategy, Financial Statement Analysis, Capacity Management, Cost Accounting, Cost Control, Financial Accounting, Performance Metric, Cash Flows, Asset Management, Budgeting, Financial Reporting, Financial Analysis, Accounting, Budget Management, Small Business Accounting
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

Skills you'll gain: Financial Statements, Microsoft Excel, Excel Formulas, Balance Sheet, Ledgers (Accounting), Financial Data, Bookkeeping, Financial Reporting, Financial Accounting, Profit and Loss (P&L) Management
Intermediate · Guided Project · Less Than 2 Hours

Technical University of Munich (TUM)
Skills you'll gain: Cost Accounting, Management Accounting, Income Statement, Operating Cost, Cost Management, Inventory Accounting, Profit and Loss (P&L) Management, Gross Profit, Strategic Decision-Making, Accounting, Product Planning, Resource Allocation, Product Assortment, Depreciation, Financial Accounting, Production Process, Financial Statements, Price Negotiation, Capacity Management, Decision Making
Beginner · Specialization · 1 - 3 Months
Browse the accounting courses below—popular starting points on Coursera.
These beginner-friendly courses introduce essential concepts like balance sheets, debits and credits, and financial statements:
The Introduction to Finance and Accounting Specialization by the University of Pennsylvania lasts 4 weeks and focuses on:
It uses tools like R.
On the other hand, the Financial Accounting: Master Core Concepts & Analysis by EDUCBA also spans 4 weeks but emphasizes:
It uses tools like Python and Excel.
Both courses cover core accounting and financial analysis topics but differ in specific areas of focus. Choose based on whether you prefer:
Start by identifying whether you're building a foundation, preparing for certification, or applying accounting in business, finance, or data roles.
Click here to ask ChatGPT to find the right accounting course on Coursera for your learning goals.‎
Yes. You can start learning accounting on Coursera for free in two ways:
If you want to keep learning, earn a certificate in accounting, or unlock full course access after the preview or trial, you can upgrade or apply for financial aid.‎
Accounting courses cover core concepts like financial statements, balance sheets, debits and credits, and cash flow. Some courses also teach you how to use spreadsheets or accounting software, and how to apply accounting principles in business or tax settings.‎
No prior experience is needed. Many Coursera courses start with the basics and build your understanding step by step, so you can learn at your own pace—even if you’re completely new to accounting.‎