What is financial reporting?

Financial reporting is the process in which companies disclose financial results and related financial information to external audiences like investors, customers, and regulators, as well as to their internal managers and employees. Financial reports provide these audiences a snapshot of the financial status of the company and how it has performed during a specific set of time. Financial reporting in publicly-traded companies is an ongoing process, with the official public announcement of the financial results usually done in quarterly intervals during the year. However, industry analysts and other insiders are usually briefed more often during the year.

Why is it important that I learn about financial reporting?

It's important to learn about financial reporting to better comprehend how revenues in a business are balanced out against the costs of running the company. When you learn about financial reporting, you will get a strong understanding of a company’s assets and liabilities, what an income statement is, how to understand a profit and loss report, and how important a cash flow statement is on a company’s financial activities. Learning about financial reporting is an integral asset for anyone with an aptitude for numbers, mathematics, and financial accountability.

What are careers that use financial reporting?

Some of the careers associated with financial reporting include accountant, financial manager, financial analyst, senior tax accountant, and controller. Many of these positions exist in large organizations, especially publicly-traded companies, as there are financial positions in order to handle the work of strict financial reporting measures. To move into a career in financial reporting, it helps to have a background of knowledge in such areas as accounting, financial analysis, and financial management and reporting, along with more general knowledge of sales, project management, and data analytics.

How can taking online courses help me learn financial reporting?

When you take online courses to learn financial reporting, you will gain specific knowledge on topics like accounting analysis, financial statements, cash flow reporting, and profit and loss statements. You can become proficient in using the top financial statements common in organizations: balance sheet, income statement, and the statement of cash flows. As you learn more about financial reporting in online courses, your interests may widen to include other areas of financial accounting and financial reporting. Understanding these subjects is integral to your accounting experience in working on an accounting team at a professional organization.

What are the benefits of taking an online Financial Reporting course?

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

What Financial Reporting courses are best for training and upskilling employees or the workforce?

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

Top Financial Reporting Courses - Learn Financial Reporting Online

Explore the Financial Reporting Course Catalog

Amazon Web Services
Amazon Connect: Introduction to the Administrative Interface
Skills you'll gain: Dashboard, Report Writing, Business Reporting, Management Reporting, Performance Reporting, Ad Hoc Reporting, Real Time Data, Call Center Experience, Administration, Workforce Management
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: New
Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo
IDB New Environmental and Social Policy: In a Nutshell
Skills you'll gain: Pollution Prevention, Environmental Resource Management, Environmental Social And Corporate Governance (ESG), Natural Resource Management, Environmental Policy, Sustainability Reporting, Stakeholder Engagement, Environmental Regulations, Land Management, Labor Law, Community Development, Occupational Safety And Health, Risk Management, Mitigation, Diversity and Inclusion, Cultural Diversity
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
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, Business Strategy, Financial Auditing, Descriptive Statistics, Variance Analysis, Process Improvement, Marketing Analytics, Generative AI, Financial Market, Strategic Decision-Making, Corporate Tax, Global Marketing
Credit offered
Graduate Certificate · 6 - 12 Months
University of Colorado Boulder
Engineering Management Graduate Certificate
Skills you'll gain: User Story, Supplier Management, Project Schedules, Sustainability Reporting, Project Closure, Engineering Management, Financial Analysis, Milestones (Project Management), Financial Statement Analysis, Cost Estimation, Personal Development, Environmental Social And Corporate Governance (ESG), Team Leadership, Stakeholder Management, Resilience, Agile Project Management, Self-Awareness, Capital Budgeting, Project Risk Management, Cost Management
Credit offered
Graduate Certificate · 6 - 12 Months
Indian School of Business
Certificate in Investment Management
Skills you'll gain: Financial Statement Analysis, Portfolio Management, Financial Statements, Financial Analysis, Income Statement, Balance Sheet, Investments, Financial Market, Financial Trading, Equities, Business Valuation, Return On Investment, Performance Analysis, Financial Modeling, Finance, Risk Management, Cash Flows, Working Capital, Capital Markets, Market Dynamics
University Certificate · 6 - 12 Months
O.P. Jindal Global University
MBA Business Analytics
Skills you'll gain: Data Storytelling, Operations Management, Design Thinking, Data Visualization, Active Listening, Business Ethics, Working Capital, Database Management, Sampling (Statistics), Environmental Social And Corporate Governance (ESG), Project Estimation, Financial Statements, Business Analytics, Global Marketing, Financial Accounting, Predictive Analytics, Big Data, Marketing, Business Economics, Emerging Technologies
Earn a degree
Degree · 1 - 4 Years
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
Status: New
Coursera Instructor Network
Salesforce CLM & CPQ: Streamlining Contract Operations
Skills you'll gain: Salesforce, Contract Management, Business Reporting, Systems Integration, Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Software, Sales Management, Workflow Management, Process Optimization, Business Process Automation, Configuration Management, Automation, Compliance Management, Scalability
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: New
Status: Free Trial
University of Minnesota
Business Model & Product Pitch
Skills you'll gain: Business Modeling, Entrepreneurship, Growth Strategies, Price Negotiation, Business Planning, Financial Modeling, Cost Accounting, Product Strategy, Product Development, New Product Development, Business Strategies, Value Propositions, Presentations, Business Metrics, Customer Acquisition Management, Market Analysis, Fundraising
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 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 Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Accounting Foundations 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, Business Strategy, Financial Auditing, Descriptive Statistics, Variance Analysis, Process Improvement, Marketing Analytics, Generative AI, Financial Market, Strategic Decision-Making, Corporate Tax, Global Marketing
Credit offered
Graduate Certificate · 6 - 12 Months
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, Business Strategy, Financial Auditing, Descriptive Statistics, Variance Analysis, Process Improvement, Marketing Analytics, Generative AI, Financial Market, Strategic Decision-Making, Corporate Tax, Global Marketing
Earn a degree
Degree · 1 - 4 Years