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, Market Opportunities, Storytelling, Marketing Planning, International Relations, Artificial Intelligence, Policy Development, Political Sciences
Earn a degree
Degree · 1 - 4 Years
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
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, 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
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, 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
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
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
HEC Paris
Executive MSc & MSc in Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Skills you'll gain: New Product Development, Research Methodologies, Intellectual Property, Performance Measurement, Financial Modeling, Design Thinking, Value Propositions, Business Strategy, Private Equity, Team Building, Social Media Strategy, Business Modeling, Active Listening, Business Planning, Supplier Relationship Management, Ideation, Entrepreneurship, Stakeholder Engagement, Innovation, Corporate Sustainability
Earn a degree
Degree · 1 - 4 Years
Status: New
Coursera Instructor Network
Cybersecurity Strategies for AI-Driven Organizations
Skills you'll gain: Threat Modeling, MITRE ATT&CK Framework, Cyber Security Strategy, Data Ethics, Cybersecurity, Penetration Testing, Threat Detection, Vulnerability Assessments, Artificial Intelligence, Data Security, Incident Response, Tensorflow, Risk Management Framework, Data Integrity
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
HEC Paris
Leading Innovation With Creativity University Certificate
Skills you'll gain: Design Thinking, Active Listening, Innovation, Creativity, Organizational Structure, Business Modeling, Talent Management, Creative Thinking, Self-Awareness, Initiative and Leadership, Consumer Behaviour, Creative Problem-Solving, User Research, Organizational Effectiveness, Intellectual Property, Entrepreneurship, Technology Strategies, Business Strategy, Leadership, Ideation
University Certificate · 6 - 12 Months
Status: Free Trial
Microsoft
Microsoft SQL Server
Skills you'll gain:
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 1 - 3 Months
Status: New
Coursera Instructor Network
SD-WAN: Optimizing Network Performance & Security
Skills you'll gain: Software-Defined Networking, Network Architecture, Network Planning And Design, Wide Area Networks, Virtual Private Networks (VPN), Network Security, Network Performance Management, Network Infrastructure, Firewall, Network Routing, Encryption, Real Time Data
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
Microsoft
Data Manipulation and Transactions in SQL Server
Skills you'll gain: Transaction Processing, Database Management, Microsoft SQL Servers, Operational Databases, SQL, Data Manipulation, Relational Databases, Data Integrity, Generative AI, Performance Tuning
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks