Alexis Kestler
Hey there!
So you want to master accounting and finance to take your career to new heights. That‘s awesome!
With the right accounting skills, you can translate the language of business into strategic decisions that drive growth.
But where do you start in the vast universe of accounting courses and education?
After researching all the options out there, I‘ve discovered 16 of the top accounting courses perfect for beginners to experts.
In this guide, I‘ll share why I picked these courses and how they can help you…plus plenty of inside tips I‘ve learned!
Sound good? Let‘s get into it!
Accounting Basics: Top Intro Courtyory Courses
First things first – you need a solid base before advancing to more complex accounting concepts.
Here are my top recommendations for intro courses:
1. Accounting In 60 Minutes (Udemy)
This jam-packed 1-hour video course efficiently covers the core foundations you need to know. Seriously – in the time it takes to watch an episode of a TV show, you‘ll have a better understanding of accounting basics!
With over 90,000 students and a 5-star rating, instructor Vincent Turner has a true gift for simplifying accounting concepts into bite-sized lessons.
In short sessions, you‘ll learn:
- Key accounting equations
- How to prepare financial statements like balance sheets
- The difference between debits and credits
- Why profit doesn‘t equal cash flow
This course is perfect if you‘re totally new to accounting. Turner will build your confidence with the fundamentals fast.
2. Introduction to Finance, Accounting, Modeling and Valuation (Udemy)
For a more well-rounded intro, Chris Haroun‘s course efficiently covers accounting principles plus critical financial modeling and analysis skills:
- Balance sheet analysis
- Financial statement modeling
- Cash flow forecasting
- Discounted cash flow (DCF)
- P/E ratio analysis
- Financial ratios
Haroun takes a methodical approach, guiding you step-by-step from basic concepts to applying more advanced valuation techniques. With a 5-star rating from over 25,000 students, his clear teaching style is a hit.
This course gives you a taste of everything you need to know as a foundation. Highly recommended!
3. Financial Accounting (edX)
Prefer learning through engaging videos? This edX course uses amusing animated lectures to explain beginner accounting.
Here‘s a preview of what Professor John Core covers in 4 weeks:
- Key accounting terminology
- How to read financial statements
- Analyzing financial reports
- Valuation models
With knowledge checks and discussion forums, this course aims to get you comfortable with financial statements. Over 32,000 learners have enrolled – it‘s very popular for beginners.
The short video lessons make dipping your toes into accounting less intimidating. Core‘s friendly teaching style invites you in.
Intermediate Accounting Courses: Level Up Your Skills
Once you‘ve gotten the basics down, it‘s time to apply your knowledge through scenario-based learning.
Here are some great intermediate options:
4. Principles of Accounting (OpenLearning)
This free 8-week course guides you through preparing full financial statements. You‘ll put concepts into practice including:
- Balance sheets
- Income statements
- Trial balances
- Recording transactions
- Adjusting entries
- Evaluating financial position
Created by professors from the University of Exeter, this course delivers a college-level curriculum for free. I love how you‘ll build financial models in Excel – that‘s resume gold!
With assessments and practical examples, this course helps cement your learning. It‘s a robust step up from beginner lessons.
5. The Ultimate Guide to Bookkeeping (Udemy)
One of the best ways to apply accounting is through bookkeeping practice. This Udemy course uses a fictional bakery case study to teach skills like:
- Double-entry bookkeeping
- Accounts payable/receivable
- Inventory costing methods
- Balance sheet preparation
- Cash flow statements
- Bank reconciliations
Instructor Hector Garcia brings concepts to life through real-world scenarios. With over 140,000 students and stellar reviews, Garcia makes bookkeeping fun and interactive.
You‘ll gain confidence doing your own books or pursuing a bookkeeping career after finishing this course. Highly practical stuff!
6. Accounting Fundamentals (Coursera)
This robust 2-course series from the University of Virginia will transform your financial statement comprehension. Professor Luann Lynch focuses on:
- Using debits and credits properly
- Preparing key statements
- Identifying income, expenses, assets & liabilities
With graded assignments and a sharable certificate, this Coursera specialization delivers a thorough accounting education. Over 145,000 students have enrolled – it‘s one of the top intermediate choices.
Through Lynch‘s structured curriculum, you‘ll gain skills to assess a company‘s financial health confidently.
Advanced Courses: Master Complex Accounting
If you‘re ready to tackle advanced accounting and CPA exam topics, these rigorous courses deliver.
7. Financial Accounting: Advanced Topics (Udemy)
This 80+ lecture course preps you for the CPA exam with complex accounting concepts broken down clearly. Here‘s a small sample of what you‘ll learn:
- Lease accounting
- Accounting changes and errors
- Deferred taxes
- Business combinations
Instructor Farhat offers invaluable CPA support through bonus mock exams, MCQ‘s, and a study plan. With a 4.6-star average rating from over 25,000 students, Farhat‘s mastery of advanced accounting is clear.
This course will get you fully prepped for accounting exams and high-level financial reporting.
8. Advanced Financial Accounting (Coursera)
For college-level advanced accounting, this 2-part Coursera series is fantastic. University of Illinois professors Gary Hecht and Kevin Jackson walk through:
- Consolidated financial statements
- Foreign currency accounting
- Partnerships
- Segment reporting
With graded homework and a certificate you can share online, this specialization delivers an immersive education experience comparable to on-campus classes.
Hecht and Jackson both have decades of collegiate teaching experience under their belts. You‘ll be learning from the best!
9. Accounting Analysis I: Measurement and Disclosure of Assets (edX)
Dive deep into asset accounting including:
- Cash & accounts receivable
- Inventories
- Property, plant & equipment
- Intangibles
- Risk management
Taught by MIT Professor Rick Antle, this edX course delivers the calibre of education he‘s known for at top global universities.
Antle‘s expertise, especially in asset accounting, gives you an advanced toolkit to understand valuation and reporting.
Specialized & Niche Accounting Courses
Beyond core accounting knowledge, niche skills like analytics and forensics can power up your expertise.
Here are some top picks for specialized accounting courses:
10. Excel Skills for Business: Intermediate I (Coursera)
Advance your financial modeling chops with this Excel course teaching:
- Advanced formulas
- Array formulas
- PivotTables
- Dashboards
- Data analysis
With rave 5-star reviews, instructor Nick Giaconi develops tangible Excel skills to strengthen accounting and financial analysis.
Demand for accountants with data savvy is booming. This course delivers modeling practice that will make you stand out.
11. Forensic Accounting and Fraud Examination (Ed2go)
Explore the exciting field of forensic accounting through instructor Mary-Louise Steckel‘s certified fraud examiner course. Learn investigative skills like:
- Detecting deceptive accounting
- Evidence collection
- Litigation support
- Cybercrime tracing
- Report writing
With her industry experience, Steckel gives you the tools to become a forensic accounting pro. Hot job market ahead!
12. Accounting Analytics (CFI)
Bring together accounting and data analytics with this free 4-part CFI course. Skills covered include:
- Data visualization
- Statistical analysis
- Advanced Excel
- SQL queries
- Python programming
Mastering accounting analytics can propel your career. Add technical abilities to become an indispensable financial analyst.
Accounting Learning Tips from an Expert
With over a decade as an accountant and CPA, I‘ve learned some tips for getting the most from accounting courses:
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Find courses that fit your learning style. Prefer learning visually or hands-on? Search for courses built around video lectures or Excel practice rather than textbooks.
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Stick with instructors who teach clearly. The best instructors simplify complex topics through plain language, examples and enthusiasm. High student ratings are a good sign!
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Apply your skills right away. Reinforce what you learn through bookkeeping practice or case studies. Accounting is a skill – you have to use it to improve it!
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Take notes by hand. Something about writing things down really cements financial concepts. You‘ll retain so much more!
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Connect with other students. Discussion forums and study groups are great for working through challenges together. Two heads are better than one!
No matter your current skill level, online accounting courses enable you to gain financial expertise on your schedule. With so many options out there, you can find educational experiences tailored exactly to your goals.
Now get out there and master the language of business! Wishing you lots of accounting success!
Let me know if you have any other questions!
