Basic accounting courses can help you learn financial statements, bookkeeping, budgeting, and tax preparation. You can build skills in analyzing financial data, managing cash flow, and understanding regulatory compliance. Many courses introduce tools like spreadsheets and accounting software, that support tracking expenses, generating reports, and ensuring accuracy in financial records.

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

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

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

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 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 California, Irvine
Skills you'll gain: Ledgers (Accounting), Accounting Systems, Accounting, Month End Closing, Accounting Records, Bookkeeping, Financial Accounting, Financial Statements, General Accounting, General Ledger, Accrual Accounting, Standard Accounting Practices, Financial Reporting, Accruals, Income Statement, Balance Sheet, Revenue Recognition, Business Ethics, Ethical Standards And Conduct, Reconciliation
Beginner · Specialization · 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: Balance Sheet, Financial Statements, Income Statement, Management Accounting, Financial Statement Analysis, Performance Measurement, Organizational Strategy, Capacity Management, Cost Accounting, Cost Control, Financial Reporting, Performance Metric, Asset Management, Financial Accounting, Financial Analysis, Budgeting, Budget Management, Accounting, Business Metrics, Small Business Accounting
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
University of Michigan
Skills you'll gain: Financial Statements, Accounting, Ledgers (Accounting), General Accounting, Financial Acumen, Revenue Management, Inventory Control Systems, Inventory Management, Decision Making
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 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

Skills you'll gain: Excel Formulas, Spreadsheet Software, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office, Microsoft 365, Data Analysis, Business Mathematics
Beginner · Guided Project · Less Than 2 Hours
For those looking to develop a fundamental understanding of accounting, Coursera offers a range of free online courses. The Stanford Introduction to Statistics provides an overview of statistical analysis, while the Principles of Private Equity focuses on private market investing. Finally, Unlocking Market Power provides knowledge on how to identify and exploit key levers of market power.‎
For those looking to build an understanding of basic accounting principles and practices, these courses provide an excellent starting point: Financial Accounting from Polimi, Financial Accounting from UVA Darden, Basics of Cost Accounting and Product Costing, Accounting Fundamentals Specialization, and Liabilities and Equity in Accounting. All courses are self-paced and offer flexible learning; and each helps to build a sound foundation in basic accounting principles.‎
If you're looking for an advanced yet basic accounting course, Coursera has a wide range of options. From Accounting Information System and Asset Measurement and Disclosure to Accounts Payable and Receivable Management and Financial Management and Accounting Data Analytics you are sure to find something that fits your needs.‎
Basic accounting is the everyday financial transactions that a business undertakes. The basic accounting functions of a business involve keeping track of the money that comes into and goes out of the business and its bank accounts. It’s one of the most crucial regular functions of any business, and it includes recording transactions and analyzing cash flow, revenue, expenses, assets, and liabilities. As the business owner or employee who handles the basic accounting tasks, you’ll deal with bank statements and balance sheets, and you’ll report relevant transactions to tax authorities and government regulatory agencies. You may also prepare reports for stockholders or corporate boards.‎
Basic accounting is vital to the success of businesses, nonprofit organizations, and government agencies. Owners, investors, executives, and stockholders need to know how successful a business is, and understanding how well a company is performing financially makes business decisions clearer and easier. Tracking income and expenses provides you with insight into how much money your company has at any given moment. Proper accounting helps you to know how much to pay in taxes and whether your company is successful and profitable. Skills in basic accounting also prevent you from making mistakes that can cost the business money. Nonprofits need to be able to report accurate finances to key decision-makers, create and track funding streams, and ensure they maintain their nonprofit status. Government agencies need to be good stewards of taxpayers' money and be accountable for spending.‎
With basic accounting skills, you can find career opportunities in bookkeeping, accounts payable, and auditing positions. Small businesses often hire employees who can balance all of the company’s finances. Larger corporations everywhere need professionals to keep track of various facets of the accounting process, so you can find jobs handling specific tasks, such as keeping up with the income that comes into a business or paying its bills. Look for opportunities to prepare taxes or handle tax compliance for one or more companies or organizations. There are also jobs that allow you to audit a company’s finances or solve financial mysteries as a forensic accountant.‎
When you take online courses about basic accounting, you’ll have the chance to pick up the skills and knowledge needed to manage the financial transactions of a business or organization. Learn the foundational concepts and applications of business accounting with survey courses that show you the basics, and when you’re ready to dive deeper, unearth knowledge in more specialized topics like compliance with tax law, how information technology relates to accounting, or data analytics.‎
Online Basic Accounting courses offer a convenient and flexible way to enhance your existing knowledge or learn new Basic Accounting skills. With a wide range of Basic Accounting classes, you can conveniently learn at your own pace to advance your Basic Accounting career skills.‎
When looking to enhance your workforce's skills in Basic Accounting, it's crucial to select a course that aligns with their current abilities and learning objectives. Our Skills Dashboard is an invaluable tool for identifying skill gaps and choosing the most appropriate course for effective upskilling. For a comprehensive understanding of how our courses can benefit your employees, explore the enterprise solutions we offer. Discover more about our tailored programs at Coursera for Business here.‎