• For Individuals
  • For Businesses
  • For Universities
  • For Governments
Coursera
  • Online Degrees
  • Careers
  • Log In
  • Join for Free
    Coursera
    • Browse
    • Financial Accounting

    Financial Accounting Courses Online

    Master financial accounting for accurate financial reporting. Learn to prepare and analyze financial statements in compliance with accounting standards.

    Filter by

    Subject
    Required
     *
    Language
    Required
     *

    The language used throughout the course, in both instruction and assessments.

    Learning Product
    Required
     *
    Build job-relevant skills in under 2 hours with hands-on tutorials.
    Learn from top instructors with graded assignments, videos, and discussion forums.
    Learn a new tool or skill in an interactive, hands-on environment.
    Get in-depth knowledge of a subject by completing a series of courses and projects.
    Earn career credentials from industry leaders that demonstrate your expertise.
    Earn career credentials while taking courses that count towards your Master’s degree.
    Earn your Bachelor’s or Master’s degree online for a fraction of the cost of in-person learning.
    Earn a university-issued career credential in a flexible, interactive format.
    Graduate level learning within reach.
    Level
    Required
     *
    Duration
    Required
     *
    Skills
    Required
     *
    Subtitles
    Required
     *
    Educator
    Required
     *

    Explore the Financial Accounting Course Catalog

    • U

      University of Pennsylvania

      Introduction to Financial Accounting

      Skills you'll gain: Accounting, Accounts Payable and Receivable, Finance, Financial Accounting, General Accounting, Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), Account Management, Cash Management, Cost Accounting, Financial Analysis

      4.7
      Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
      ·
      8.3K reviews

      Mixed · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

    • U

      University of Virginia

      Financial Accounting Fundamentals

      Skills you'll gain: Account Management, Accounting, Accounts Payable and Receivable, Finance, Financial Accounting, Financial Analysis, General Accounting, Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), Cash Management, Payments

      4.8
      Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
      ·
      2.7K reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • I

      IESE Business School

      Accounting: Principles of Financial Accounting

      Skills you'll gain: Accounting, Financial Accounting

      4.8
      Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
      ·
      3.1K reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

    • U

      University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

      Financial Accounting: Foundations

      Skills you'll gain: Accounting, Accounts Payable and Receivable, Cost Accounting, Finance, Financial Accounting, Financial Analysis, Financial Management, General Accounting, Management Accounting

      Build toward a degree

      4.7
      Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
      ·
      4.5K reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • U

      University of Pennsylvania

      Introduction to Finance and Accounting

      Skills you'll gain: Accounting, Finance, Financial Accounting, General Accounting, Financial Analysis, Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), Accounts Payable and Receivable, Cost Accounting, Account Management, Cash Management, Decision Making, Investment Management, Taxes, Budget Management, Estimation, Management Accounting, Problem Solving, Mathematics, Data Analysis, Entrepreneurship, Strategy and Operations

      4.6
      Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
      ·
      14K reviews

      Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

    • U

      University of Pennsylvania

      More Introduction to Financial Accounting

      Skills you'll gain: Accounting, Finance, Financial Accounting, General Accounting, Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), Financial Analysis, Accounts Payable and Receivable, Account Management, Cost Accounting, Taxes

      4.8
      Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
      ·
      528 reviews

      Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • Placeholder
      U

      University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

      Financial Accounting: Advanced Topics

      Skills you'll gain: Account Management, Accounting, Finance, Financial Accounting, Financial Management, General Accounting, Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), Accounts Payable and Receivable, Financial Analysis, Management Accounting

      Build toward a degree

      4.7
      Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
      ·
      1.7K reviews

      Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • Placeholder
      U

      University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

      Financial Management

      Skills you'll gain: Financial Management, Finance, Financial Analysis, Financial Accounting, Leadership and Management, Accounting, Investment Management, Risk Management, Cash Management, Accounts Payable and Receivable, General Accounting, Management Accounting, Account Management, Corporate Accouting, Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), Cost Accounting, Decision Making, Market Analysis, Securities Trading, Strategy, Correlation And Dependence, Mergers & Acquisitions

      Build toward a degree

      4.7
      Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
      ·
      6.7K reviews

      Intermediate · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

    • Placeholder
      U

      University of California, Irvine

      Introduction to Financial Accounting: The Accounting Cycle

      Skills you'll gain: Accounting, Financial Accounting, Accounts Payable and Receivable, General Accounting, Finance, Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), Microsoft Excel, Spreadsheet Software, Account Management, Financial Management, Business Analysis

      4.7
      Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
      ·
      628 reviews

      Beginner · Specialization · 1 - 3 Months

    • Placeholder
      U

      University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

      Financial Reporting

      Skills you'll gain: Accounting, Financial Accounting, General Accounting, Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), Financial Analysis, Finance, Accounts Payable and Receivable, Financial Management, Management Accounting, Cost Accounting, Leadership and Management, Account Management, Corporate Accouting

      Build toward a degree

      4.7
      Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
      ·
      848 reviews

      Intermediate · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

    • Placeholder
      Status: Free
      Free
      U

      University of Lausanne

      Accounting 1

      Skills you'll gain: Accounting, Financial Accounting

      4.8
      Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
      ·
      81 reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • Placeholder
      C

      Coursera Project Network

      Create a Financial Statement using Microsoft Excel

      Skills you'll gain: Microsoft Excel

      4.5
      Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
      ·
      667 reviews

      Intermediate · Guided Project · Less Than 2 Hours

    Searches related to financial accounting

    financial accounting: foundations
    financial accounting: advanced topics
    financial accounting fundamentals
    financial accounting explained
    formal financial accounting
    introduction to financial accounting: the accounting cycle
    what is financial accounting?
    introduction to financial accounting
    1234…111

    In summary, here are 10 of our most popular financial accounting courses

    • Introduction to Financial Accounting: University of Pennsylvania
    • Financial Accounting Fundamentals: University of Virginia
    • Accounting: Principles of Financial Accounting: IESE Business School
    • Financial Accounting: Foundations: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
    • Introduction to Finance and Accounting: University of Pennsylvania
    • More Introduction to Financial Accounting: University of Pennsylvania
    • Financial Accounting: Advanced Topics: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
    • Financial Management: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
    • Introduction to Financial Accounting: The Accounting Cycle: University of California, Irvine
    • Financial Reporting: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

    Skills you can learn in Finance

    Investment (23)
    Market (economics) (20)
    Stock (18)
    Financial Statement (14)
    Modeling (13)
    Corporate Finance (11)
    Financial Analysis (11)
    Trading (11)
    Evaluation (10)
    Financial Markets (10)
    Pricing (10)

    Frequently Asked Questions about Financial Accounting

    Financial accounting is the process of recording, categorizing, and reporting the transactions of a business. In contrast to other fields in accounting such as personal accounting or managerial accounting, financial accounting is specifically concerned with the preparation of financial statements for public use as required by banks, government regulators, shareholders, and other stakeholders. These statements typically include a company’s income statement (also known as a profit and loss or P&L statement), balance sheet, and statement of cash flows.

    Accurate financial accounting plays a critically important role in financial management, as these statements collectively provide an agreed-upon framework for both internal and external parties to evaluate the financial health of a company. As such, professionals in this field must have a rigorous understanding of accounting terminology and concepts as established in the Generally Accepting Accounting Principles (GAAP) that are standard in the U.S. - and potentially the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), which are increasingly used by multinational corporations.‎

    Businesses of all kinds must produce financial statements in line with GAAP and IFRS methodologies, as required by taxation authorities as well as potential investors and lenders. Thus, accountants with the ability to organize and maintain financial records, rigorously apply financial accounting principles, and produce clear reports according to these standards are always in demand.

    According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, accountants and auditors earned a median annual salary of $71,550 as of May 2019. These jobs are expected to grow as fast as other jobs in the economy, since they are dependent on the growth of businesses requiring their services. And, while entry-level positions may require only a bachelor’s degree in accounting, job prospects will be best for those with Certified Public Accountant (CPA) recognition, a masters of science in accountancy, or a master’s in business administration (MBA) with an accounting concentration.‎

    Absolutely. Coursera offers a wide range of courses and Specializations in business and finance topics, including financial accounting, from top-ranked schools such as the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Virginia. You can even pursue a masters of science in accounting from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign’s prestigious Gies College of Business - a top-three university in the field.

    Regardless of whether you’re a beginner looking for introductory-level education or a mid-career professional looking to dive deeper into a specific topic or pursue your master’s degree, Coursera lets you learn remotely on a flexible schedule that fits with your existing work or family life. And, with a lower tuition than on-campus alternatives, you don’t need to be an accounting expert (yet) to know that learning online is a smart decision for your own finances.‎

    The skills and experience that you might need to have before starting to learn financial accounting could include having a strong interest in understanding financial statements and being comfortable working with numbers, spreadsheets, and income statements. To do this work, you might need to already have a good sense of financial discipline. This might include having organizational skills, paying close attention to detail, as well as being capable of both analytical and critical thinking. Because financial accounting involves preparing financial statements for companies to show their financial performance and status to interested outside parties, it's crucial that those working in financial accounting get the numbers absolutely correct.‎

    The kind of people who are best suited for work that involves financial accounting may include those who are extroverted, sensing, thinking, and judging. It’s a personality type known as ESTJ. Being extroverted to learn financial accounting is helpful, as accountants often have to interface with CEOs, department heads, and business leaders, so communication skills are necessary. The sensing aspect means that you may learn to use all five senses to judge a situation well. A thinking person seeks to find logical explanations to problems and challenges, thus helping to make objective decisions. And having a judging aspect in your personality means that you may enjoy structure and organization in your life more than others. These personality characteristics have been shown to be in more than one-third of accountants.‎

    You might know if learning financial accounting is right for you if you develop an interest in areas like budgets, numbers, and financial statements. If previous work has found you getting passionate about analyzing numbers in worksheets, journal entries, and general ledgers, then accounting might be an area to learn more about. Our world will always need people who can track financial figures, understand cash flows, and balance costs and expenses. Accounting may be right for you if you find yourself often seeking to manage the numbers in your home or business.‎

    Online Financial Accounting courses offer a convenient and flexible way to enhance your knowledge or learn new Financial Accounting skills. Choose from a wide range of Financial Accounting courses offered by top universities and industry leaders tailored to various skill levels.‎

    When looking to enhance your workforce's skills in Financial 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.‎

    This FAQ content has been made available for informational purposes only. Learners are advised to conduct additional research to ensure that courses and other credentials pursued meet their personal, professional, and financial goals.

    Other topics to explore

    Placeholder
    Arts and Humanities
    338 courses
    Placeholder
    Business
    1095 courses
    Placeholder
    Computer Science
    668 courses
    Placeholder
    Data Science
    425 courses
    Placeholder
    Information Technology
    145 courses
    Placeholder
    Health
    471 courses
    Placeholder
    Math and Logic
    70 courses
    Placeholder
    Personal Development
    137 courses
    Placeholder
    Physical Science and Engineering
    413 courses
    Placeholder
    Social Sciences
    401 courses
    Placeholder
    Language Learning
    150 courses

    Coursera Footer

    Learn Key Technologies

    • Python
    • SQL
    • Microsoft Excel
    • Power BI
    • Tableau
    • R Programming
    • Git
    • Docker
    • AWS
    • TensorFlow

    Essential Skills

    • Data Analytics
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • Cybersecurity
    • Digital Marketing
    • Machine Learning
    • Statistical Analysis
    • Database Management
    • Web Development
    • Financial Modeling
    • Business Analysis

    Industry Solutions

    • Healthcare Analytics
    • Sales
    • Digital Transformation
    • Supply Chain
    • Marketing Analytics
    • HR Analytics
    • Social Media Marketing
    • Risk Management
    • Sustainability
    • E-commerce

    Career Paths

    • Data Scientist
    • Data Analyst
    • Machine Learning Engineer
    • Full Stack Developer
    • Project Manager
    • Product Manager
    • Data Engineer
    • Digital Marketing Specialist
    • Cybersecurity Analyst
    • Career Aptitude Test

    Coursera

    • About
    • What We Offer
    • Leadership
    • Careers
    • Catalog
    • Coursera Plus
    • Professional Certificates
    • MasterTrack® Certificates
    • Degrees
    • For Enterprise
    • For Government
    • For Campus
    • Become a Partner
    • Social Impact
    • Free Courses
    • ECTS Credit Recommendations

    Community

    • Learners
    • Partners
    • Beta Testers
    • Blog
    • The Coursera Podcast
    • Tech Blog
    • Teaching Center

    More

    • Press
    • Investors
    • Terms
    • Privacy
    • Help
    • Accessibility
    • Contact
    • Articles
    • Directory
    • Affiliates
    • Modern Slavery Statement
    • Do Not Sell/Share
    Learn Anywhere
    Placeholder
    Placeholder
    Placeholder
    © 2025 Coursera Inc. All rights reserved.
    • Placeholder
    • Placeholder
    • Placeholder
    • Placeholder
    • Placeholder
    • Placeholder