What is management accounting?

Management accounting, also called managerial accounting is a branch of accounting that is used by company managers to analyze internal costs and budgets. Unlike financial accounting, it is not for use by people outside of the organization. At a fundamental level, management accounting is concerned with cost behaviors, cost systems, and cost analysis. It affects pricing, budgets, and other key internal decisions. Data presentation and data analysis are key parts of the work of a management accountant. Management accountants are comfortable with spreadsheets, and they are able to communicate with people inside the organization. Understanding management accounting is key to successful business management.

What are typical careers that use management accounting?

Management accounting is used by accountants and business analysts inside an organization. Corporate tax accountants also have an understanding of management accounting. People working in lower or middle management levels in an organization could benefit from an understanding of management accounting, as it will help them understand why and how decisions are being made. This will help them manage their objectives more effectively. Senior managers and executives need to understand management accounting because they are the folks who will be making key budget decisions and holding people accountable to them. Small business owners and other entrepreneurs should understand managerial accounting so that they have the information they need to grow their businesses.

How can online courses help me learn management accounting?

Online courses can help you learn management accounting as well as financial accounting and tax accounting. There are courses at all levels, from introductory courses for beginners to continuing education course for practitioners. Some classes look at practical matters, like Excel functions and spreadsheet design. Others go into theories of value chain management and approaches to accounting for decision making. Online courses include video lectures, readings, exams, class discussions, and projects. Some online courses in managerial accounting are Guided Projects to help people apply managerial accounting to a specific situation. Others lead to Professional Certificates or Specializations. Many courses stand alone and can help you extend your management accounting skills.

What are the benefits of taking an online Management Accounting course?

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

What Management Accounting courses are best for training and upskilling employees or the workforce?

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

Top Management Accounting Courses - Learn Management Accounting Online

Explore the Management Accounting Course Catalog

Georgetown University
Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies
Skills you'll gain: Vulnerability Assessments, Operations Management, Data Storytelling, Business Strategy, Design Thinking, Competitive Intelligence, Survey Creation, Cyber Threat Intelligence, Social Justice, Descriptive Statistics, Environment, Business Ethics, Capital Budgeting, Multimedia, Market Opportunities, Marketing Planning, International Relations, Artificial Intelligence, Policy Development, Political Sciences
Earn a degree
Degree · 1 - 4 Years
Status: Free Trial
Microsoft
SQL Foundations
Skills you'll gain: Microsoft SQL Servers, SQL, Transact-SQL, Data Transformation, Relational Databases, Data Manipulation, Databases, Database Management, Microsoft Copilot, Generative AI, Data Analysis
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Universidad de Palermo
Maestría en Dirección de Empresas (MBA)
Skills you'll gain: Business Modeling, Data Storytelling, Selling Techniques, Human Capital, Business Process Management, Portfolio Management, Business Planning, Business Analytics, Strategic Marketing, Digital Transformation, Equities, Management Accounting, Organizational Strategy, Corporate Sustainability, Entrepreneurial Finance, Market Dynamics, Online Advertising, B2B Sales, Statistical Methods, Marketing Planning
Earn a degree
Degree · 1 - 4 Years
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Entrepreneurship and Strategic Innovation 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
Global Challenges in Business 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
Status: Free Trial
Microsoft
Web Development Fundamentals
Skills you'll gain: Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), Hypertext Markup Language (HTML), HTML and CSS, Web Applications, Event-Driven Programming, Web Development, Front-End Web Development, Responsive Web Design, Javascript, Data Storage, Data Management, UI Components
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: New
Coursera Instructor Network
GenAI for Medical Coders: Simplifying Documentation
Skills you'll gain: Generative AI, Regulatory Compliance, Medical Records, Medical Billing and Coding, Health Information Management and Medical Records, Technical Documentation, Automation, Natural Language Processing
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: New
Coursera
YouTube Growth: Boost Your Engagement
Skills you'll gain: Drive Engagement, Live Streaming, Social Media Marketing, Growth Strategies, Customer Engagement, Social Media Content, Video Production, Content Strategy, Content Creation, Production Schedule, Scheduling
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: New
Status: Free Trial
Coursera
Creating Engaging Content for Facebook
Skills you'll gain: Facebook, Social Media Content, Content Creation, Social Media Management, Social Media, Content Performance Analysis, Social Media Strategy, Content Strategy, Drive Engagement, Video Production, Photo/Video Production and Technology, Storytelling, Community Development, Workflow Management, Target Audience, Live Streaming
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: New
Coursera Instructor Network
.NET & .NET Core Mastery: Cross-Platform Development
Skills you'll gain: Cloud Applications, Containerization, .NET Framework, Cross Platform Development, Application Deployment, Application Development, C# (Programming Language), Development Environment, Application Performance Management, Web Applications, Debugging
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Instructional Design MasterTrack® Certificate
Skills you'll gain: Process Improvement, Supply Chain, Supply Chain Management, Supply Chain Systems, Operations Management, Supply Chain Planning, Change Management, Business Operations, Process Analysis, Statistical Process Controls, Instructional Design, Materials Management, Continuous Improvement Process, Learning Management Systems, Education Software and Technology, Augmented and Virtual Reality (AR/VR), Game Design, Interactive Design, Solution Design, System Implementation
Credit offered
Mastertrack · 6 - 12 Months
Status: New
Coursera
Instagram Monetization: Collaborate with Brands
Skills you'll gain: Instagram, Social Media Content, Content Strategy, Marketing Planning, Social Media Marketing, Business Planning, Social Media Strategy, Content Creation, Brand Management, Brand Awareness, Target Audience
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks