What are the best accounting courses on Coursera?

Popular accounting courses include the University of Illinois’s Fundamentals of Accounting , Introduction to Financial Accounting from the University of Pennsylvania , and courses offered by industry leaders like Intuit . You can find both beginner-level intros and more advanced topics like managerial accounting and financial reporting .

Can I learn accounting for free on Coursera?

Yes. Many accounting courses let you audit for free, which gives you access to lectures and reading materials. If you’d like to complete graded assignments or earn a certificate, you’ll need to pay or apply for financial aid.

What will I learn in an accounting course?

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 .

Do I need any experience to start learning accounting?

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.

Can an accounting course on Coursera help me get a job?

Yes. Accounting is a valuable skill for roles in finance , bookkeeping, auditing , and business management . A course or certificate from Coursera can help you build practical knowledge, demonstrate your skills, and prepare for job opportunities or further study.

Top Accounting Courses - Learn Accounting Online

Find the Best Accounting Course for Your Goals

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Mergers & Acquisitions Graduate Certificate
Skills you'll gain: Data Storytelling, Management Accounting, Fund Accounting, Operations Management, Mergers & Acquisitions, Financial Statement Analysis, Marketing, Risk Management, Machine Learning Algorithms, Extract, Transform, Load, Business Strategy, Financial Auditing, Descriptive Statistics, Variance Analysis, Process Improvement, Marketing Analytics, Generative AI, Financial Market, Strategic Decision-Making, Corporate Tax
Credit offered
Graduate Certificate · 6 - 12 Months
O.P. Jindal Global University
MBA Business Analytics
Skills you'll gain: Data Storytelling, Operations Management, Design Thinking, Active Listening, Data Visualization, Environmental Social And Corporate Governance (ESG), Working Capital, Database Management, Sampling (Statistics), Project Estimation, Financial Statements, Business Analytics, Global Marketing, Financial Accounting, Predictive Analytics, Big Data, Marketing, Emerging Technologies, People Management, Time Series Analysis and Forecasting
Earn a degree
Degree · 1 - 4 Years
University of London
Bachelor of Science in Marketing
Skills you'll gain: Process Design, Global Marketing, Consumer Behaviour, Statistical Analysis, Organizational Change, Integrated Marketing Communications, Advertising, Innovation, Mergers & Acquisitions, Supply Chain Management, Training and Development, Virtual Teams, Diversity and Inclusion, Databases, Cost Accounting, International Finance, Research, Branding, Economic Development, Cultural Diversity
Earn a degree
Degree · 1 - 4 Years
University of London
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
Skills you'll gain: Process Design, Global Marketing, Consumer Behaviour, Statistical Analysis, Organizational Change, Integrated Marketing Communications, Advertising, Innovation, Mergers & Acquisitions, Supply Chain Management, Training and Development, Virtual Teams, Diversity and Inclusion, Databases, Cost Accounting, International Finance, Research, Branding, Economic Development, Cultural Diversity
Earn a degree
Degree · 1 - 4 Years
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Master of Science in Management
Skills you'll gain: Data Storytelling, Management Accounting, Fund Accounting, Operations Management, Mergers & Acquisitions, Financial Statement Analysis, Marketing, Risk Management, Machine Learning Algorithms, Extract, Transform, Load, Business Strategy, Financial Auditing, Descriptive Statistics, Variance Analysis, Process Improvement, Marketing Analytics, Generative AI, Financial Market, Strategic Decision-Making, Corporate Tax
Earn a degree
Degree · 1 - 4 Years
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Financial Management Graduate Certificate
Skills you'll gain: Data Storytelling, Management Accounting, Fund Accounting, Operations Management, Mergers & Acquisitions, Financial Statement Analysis, Marketing, Risk Management, Machine Learning Algorithms, Extract, Transform, Load, Business Strategy, Financial Auditing, Descriptive Statistics, Variance Analysis, Process Improvement, Marketing Analytics, Generative AI, Financial Market, Strategic Decision-Making, Corporate Tax
Credit offered
Graduate Certificate · 6 - 12 Months
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
Certificado en Gestión de Inversiones
Skills you'll gain: Financial Statement Analysis, Financial Statements, Capital Markets, Portfolio Management, Accrual Accounting, Financial Analysis, Investments, Income Statement, Risk Management, Financial Reporting, Balance Sheet, Financial Data, Financial Accounting, Financial Market, Accounting, Business Ethics, Business Risk Management, Finance, Financial Modeling, Financial Trading
Credit offered
Mastertrack · 6 - 12 Months
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Graduate Certificate in Digital Marketing
Skills you'll gain: Data Storytelling, Management Accounting, Fund Accounting, Operations Management, Mergers & Acquisitions, Financial Statement Analysis, Marketing, Risk Management, Machine Learning Algorithms, Extract, Transform, Load, Business Strategy, Financial Auditing, Descriptive Statistics, Variance Analysis, Process Improvement, Marketing Analytics, Generative AI, Financial Market, Strategic Decision-Making, Corporate Tax
Credit offered
Graduate Certificate · 6 - 12 Months
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
Certificado en Finanzas Corporativas
Skills you'll gain: Financial Statement Analysis, Financial Statements, Capital Markets, Accrual Accounting, Financial Analysis, Income Statement, Derivatives, Digital Transformation, Risk Management, Business Valuation, Financial Reporting, Balance Sheet, Financial Data, Financial Accounting, Corporate Strategy, Value Propositions, Securities (Finance), Capital Budgeting, Corporate Finance, Technology Strategies
Credit offered
Mastertrack · 6 - 12 Months
University of North Texas
Bachelor of Science in General Business
Skills you'll gain: Operations Management, Mediation, Compensation and Benefits, Integrated Marketing Communications, Organizational Change, Event Management, Grammar, Sales Process, Data Mining, Data Visualization, Design Thinking, Global Marketing, Probability & Statistics, Cultural Diversity, Digital Media Strategy, Organizational Leadership, Political Sciences, Social Justice, Music History, Sociology
Earn a degree
Degree · 1 - 4 Years
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Master of Business Administration (iMBA)
Skills you'll gain: Data Storytelling, Management Accounting, Fund Accounting, Operations Management, Mergers & Acquisitions, Financial Statement Analysis, Marketing, Risk Management, Machine Learning Algorithms, Extract, Transform, Load, Business Strategy, Financial Auditing, Descriptive Statistics, Variance Analysis, Process Improvement, Marketing Analytics, Generative AI, Financial Market, Strategic Decision-Making, Data Collection
Earn a degree
Degree · 1 - 4 Years
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Managerial Economics & Business Analysis Graduate Certificate
Skills you'll gain: Data Storytelling, Management Accounting, Fund Accounting, Operations Management, Mergers & Acquisitions, Financial Statement Analysis, Marketing, Risk Management, Machine Learning Algorithms, Extract, Transform, Load, Business Strategy, Financial Auditing, Descriptive Statistics, Variance Analysis, Process Improvement, Marketing Analytics, Generative AI, Financial Market, Strategic Decision-Making, Corporate Tax
Credit offered
Graduate Certificate · 6 - 12 Months