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.

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

Coursera
Skills you'll gain: Management Accounting, Cost Accounting, Operational Performance Management, Performance Management, Accounting, Cost Estimation, Cost Control, Product Knowledge, Product Strategy
Beginner · Guided Project · Less Than 2 Hours

Skills you'll gain: Budgeting, Microsoft Excel, Budget Management, Operating Budget, Excel Formulas, Spreadsheet Software, Financial Data, Microsoft Office
Intermediate · Guided Project · Less Than 2 Hours

Coursera
Skills you'll gain: Financial Forecasting, Business Valuation, Equities, Financial Modeling, Financial Analysis, Finance, Cash Flows, Investment Banking, Accounting, Capital Markets
Intermediate · Guided Project · Less Than 2 Hours

Coursera
Skills you'll gain: Financial Reporting, Financial Statements, Accounting Software, Financial Accounting, Ledgers (Accounting), Financial Statement Analysis, Accounting Records, Accounting, Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), Balance Sheet, Income Statement, Finance, Business Analysis
Intermediate · Guided Project · Less Than 2 Hours

Skills you'll gain: Microsoft Excel, Spreadsheet Software, Microsoft Office, Computer Literacy
Intermediate · Guided Project · Less Than 2 Hours

Skills you'll gain: Financial Data, Microsoft Excel, Spreadsheet Software, Excel Formulas, Microsoft 365, Financial Modeling, Mortgage Loans, Timelines
Beginner · Guided Project · Less Than 2 Hours

Skills you'll gain: Financial Statement Analysis, Financial Analysis, Return On Investment, Profit and Loss (P&L) Management, Financial Modeling, Performance Metric, Accounting, Finance, Operating Expense, Investments
Intermediate · Guided Project · Less Than 2 Hours

Skills you'll gain: Microsoft Power Platform, Business Process Automation, Microsoft 365, No-Code Development, Application Design, Document Management, Data Integration, Data Store
Beginner · Guided Project · Less Than 2 Hours

Skills you'll gain: Market Data, Financial Statement Analysis, Financial Data, Equities, Financial Analysis, Data Analysis, Accounting and Finance Software, Financial Modeling, Technical Analysis, Business Analysis, Real Time Data
Intermediate · Guided Project · Less Than 2 Hours

Coursera
Skills you'll gain: Invoicing, Billing & Invoicing, Inventory Management System, Tax Management, Accounting Software, Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Software, Small Business Accounting, Bookkeeping, Accounting, Payroll Systems, Cloud Security
Beginner · Guided Project · Less Than 2 Hours

Skills you'll gain: Google Sheets, Collaborative Software, Productivity Software, Organizational Skills, Spreadsheet Software, Project Management Software, Project Coordination, Small Business Accounting, Data Management, Project Management, Business
Beginner · Guided Project · Less Than 2 Hours
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.