• For Individuals
  • For Businesses
  • For Universities
  • For Governments
Coursera
  • Online Degrees
  • Careers
  • Log In
  • Join for Free
    Coursera
    • Browse
    • Basic Accounting

    Basic Accounting Courses Online

    Understand basic accounting principles for managing finances. Learn to prepare financial statements, manage accounts, and ensure compliance.

    Skip to search results

    Filter by

    Subject
    Required
     *

    Language
    Required
     *

    The language used throughout the course, in both instruction and assessments.

    Learning Product
    Required
     *

    Build job-relevant skills in under 2 hours with hands-on tutorials.
    Learn from top instructors with graded assignments, videos, and discussion forums.
    Learn a new tool or skill in an interactive, hands-on environment.
    Get in-depth knowledge of a subject by completing a series of courses and projects.
    Earn career credentials from industry leaders that demonstrate your expertise.
    Earn career credentials while taking courses that count towards your Master’s degree.
    Earn your Bachelor’s or Master’s degree online for a fraction of the cost of in-person learning.
    Earn a university-issued career credential in a flexible, interactive format.

    Level
    Required
     *

    Duration
    Required
     *

    Skills
    Required
     *

    Subtitles
    Required
     *

    Educator
    Required
     *

    Explore the Basic Accounting Course Catalog

    • Status: Free Trial
      Free Trial
      M

      Macquarie University

      Excel Skills for Business: Essentials

      Skills you'll gain: Microsoft Excel, Data Visualization, Spreadsheet Software, Excel Formulas, Data Management, Data Entry, Productivity Software

      4.9
      Rating, 4.9 out of 5 stars
      ·
      50K reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • Status: Free Trial
      Free Trial
      U

      University of California, Irvine

      Finance for Non-Financial Professionals

      Skills you'll gain: Cash Management, Financial Analysis, Financial Statements, Budgeting, Accounting, Cash Flow Forecasting, Business Valuation, Financial Accounting, Finance, Financial Management, Balance Sheet

      4.6
      Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
      ·
      4.5K reviews

      Mixed · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

    • Status: Free Trial
      Free Trial
      I

      IBM

      Key Technologies for Business

      Skills you'll gain: Cloud Computing Architecture, Cloud Services, Large Language Modeling, Artificial Intelligence, Cloud Security, Data Literacy, Cloud Infrastructure, Data Mining, Cloud Platforms, Cloud Hosting, Cloud Engineering, Cloud Solutions, Generative AI, Data Ethics, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML), Big Data, ChatGPT, Cloud Computing, Data Analysis, Data Science

      4.7
      Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
      ·
      100K reviews

      Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

    • Status: Free Trial
      Free Trial
      U

      University of Virginia

      Entrepreneurship: Growing Your Business

      Skills you'll gain: Financial Statements, Financial Accounting, Balance Sheet, Financial Reporting, Financial Statement Analysis, Design Thinking, Annual Reports, Innovation, Process Design, Business Modeling, Customer experience strategy (CX), Entrepreneurship, Philanthropy, Courage, Leadership Development, Strategic Leadership, Corporate Sustainability, Stakeholder Engagement, Professional Development, Business Ethics

      4.8
      Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
      ·
      7.6K reviews

      Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

    • K

      Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology(KAIST)

      Differential Equations Part I Basic Theory

      Skills you'll gain: Differential Equations, Mathematical Modeling, Applied Mathematics, Calculus, Linear Algebra, Vibrations, Mechanics

      4.7
      Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
      ·
      1.4K reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • S

      Stanford University

      Writing in the Sciences

      Skills you'll gain: Grant Writing, Peer Review, Technical Writing, Technical Communication, Writing, Scientific Methods, Journals, Editing, Research, Media and Communications, Ethical Standards And Conduct

      4.9
      Rating, 4.9 out of 5 stars
      ·
      9.4K reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • P

      Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile

      English for Common Interactions in the Workplace: Basic Level

      Skills you'll gain: Telephone Skills, Literacy, English Language, Greeting Customers, Vocabulary, Verbal Communication Skills, Business Correspondence, Business Communication, Grammar, Scheduling

      4.7
      Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
      ·
      3.7K reviews

      Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • Status: Free Trial
      Free Trial
      G

      Google

      Process Data from Dirty to Clean

      Skills you'll gain: Data Cleansing, Sampling (Statistics), Data Integrity, Data Quality, Data Validation, Sample Size Determination, Data Analysis, Data Manipulation, SQL, Data Transformation, Spreadsheet Software

      4.8
      Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
      ·
      18K reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • Status: Free Trial
      Free Trial
      U

      University of Pennsylvania

      Financial Acumen for Non-Financial Managers

      Skills you'll gain: Financial Reporting, Financial Statements, Income Statement, Financial Analysis, Risk Analysis, Cash Flows, Predictive Analytics, Profit and Loss (P&L) Management, Financial Forecasting, Balance Sheet, Business Metrics, Financial Management, Financial Planning, Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), Business Risk Management, Performance Analysis, Return On Investment

      4.5
      Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
      ·
      960 reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

    • T

      The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

      Epidemiology: The Basic Science of Public Health

      Skills you'll gain: Epidemiology, Public Health and Disease Prevention, Public Health, Infectious Diseases, Research Design, Health Policy, Biostatistics, Science and Research, Health Care, Probability & Statistics, Statistical Analysis

      4.7
      Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
      ·
      4.9K reviews

      Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • C

      Coursera Project Network

      Introduction to Cost Accounting

      Skills you'll gain: Management Accounting, Cost Accounting, Operational Performance Management, Performance Management, Cost Estimation, Cost Control, Product Knowledge, Product Strategy

      4.5
      Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
      ·
      198 reviews

      Beginner · Guided Project · Less Than 2 Hours

    • Status: Free Trial
      Free Trial
      I

      IBM

      IBM AI Foundations for Business

      Skills you'll gain: Large Language Modeling, Artificial Intelligence, Data Literacy, Data Mining, Generative AI, Data Ethics, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML), Big Data, Information Architecture, Strategic Decision-Making, Enterprise Architecture, ChatGPT, Cloud Computing, Data Analysis, Data Science, Deep Learning, Machine Learning, Data Strategy, Business Strategy, Business Process Automation

      4.7
      Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
      ·
      94K reviews

      Beginner · Specialization · 1 - 3 Months

    Basic Accounting learners also search

    Accounting
    Financial Accounting
    Beginner Accounting
    Advanced Accounting
    Forensic Accounting
    Managerial Accounting
    Accounting And Bookkeeping
    Cost Accounting
    1…789…293

    In summary, here are 10 of our most popular basic accounting courses

    • Excel Skills for Business: Essentials: Macquarie University
    • Finance for Non-Financial Professionals: University of California, Irvine
    • Key Technologies for Business: IBM
    • Entrepreneurship: Growing Your Business: University of Virginia
    • Differential Equations Part I Basic Theory: Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology(KAIST)
    • Writing in the Sciences: Stanford University
    • English for Common Interactions in the Workplace: Basic Level: Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
    • Process Data from Dirty to Clean: Google
    • Financial Acumen for Non-Financial Managers: University of Pennsylvania
    • Epidemiology: The Basic Science of Public Health: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

    Frequently Asked Questions about Basic Accounting

    For those looking to develop a fundamental understanding of accounting, Coursera offers a range of free online courses. The Stanford Introduction to Statistics provides an overview of statistical analysis, while the Principles of Private Equity focuses on private market investing. Finally, Unlocking Market Power provides knowledge on how to identify and exploit key levers of market power.‎

    For those looking to build an understanding of basic accounting principles and practices, these courses provide an excellent starting point: Financial Accounting from Polimi, Financial Accounting from UVA Darden, Basics of Cost Accounting and Product Costing, Accounting Fundamentals Specialization, and Liabilities and Equity in Accounting. All courses are self-paced and offer flexible learning; and each helps to build a sound foundation in basic accounting principles.‎

    If you're looking for an advanced yet basic accounting course, Coursera has a wide range of options. From Accounting Information System and Asset Measurement and Disclosure to Accounts Payable and Receivable Management and Financial Management and Accounting Data Analytics you are sure to find something that fits your needs.‎

    Basic accounting is the everyday financial transactions that a business undertakes. The basic accounting functions of a business involve keeping track of the money that comes into and goes out of the business and its bank accounts. It’s one of the most crucial regular functions of any business, and it includes recording transactions and analyzing cash flow, revenue, expenses, assets, and liabilities. As the business owner or employee who handles the basic accounting tasks, you’ll deal with bank statements and balance sheets, and you’ll report relevant transactions to tax authorities and government regulatory agencies. You may also prepare reports for stockholders or corporate boards.‎

    Basic accounting is vital to the success of businesses, nonprofit organizations, and government agencies. Owners, investors, executives, and stockholders need to know how successful a business is, and understanding how well a company is performing financially makes business decisions clearer and easier. Tracking income and expenses provides you with insight into how much money your company has at any given moment. Proper accounting helps you to know how much to pay in taxes and whether your company is successful and profitable. Skills in basic accounting also prevent you from making mistakes that can cost the business money. Nonprofits need to be able to report accurate finances to key decision-makers, create and track funding streams, and ensure they maintain their nonprofit status. Government agencies need to be good stewards of taxpayers' money and be accountable for spending.‎

    With basic accounting skills, you can find career opportunities in bookkeeping, accounts payable, and auditing positions. Small businesses often hire employees who can balance all of the company’s finances. Larger corporations everywhere need professionals to keep track of various facets of the accounting process, so you can find jobs handling specific tasks, such as keeping up with the income that comes into a business or paying its bills. Look for opportunities to prepare taxes or handle tax compliance for one or more companies or organizations. There are also jobs that allow you to audit a company’s finances or solve financial mysteries as a forensic accountant.‎

    When you take online courses about basic accounting, you’ll have the chance to pick up the skills and knowledge needed to manage the financial transactions of a business or organization. Learn the foundational concepts and applications of business accounting with survey courses that show you the basics, and when you’re ready to dive deeper, unearth knowledge in more specialized topics like compliance with tax law, how information technology relates to accounting, or data analytics.‎

    Online Basic Accounting courses offer a convenient and flexible way to enhance your existing knowledge or learn new Basic Accounting skills. With a wide range of Basic Accounting classes, you can conveniently learn at your own pace to advance your Basic Accounting career skills.‎

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

    This FAQ content has been made available for informational purposes only. Learners are advised to conduct additional research to ensure that courses and other credentials pursued meet their personal, professional, and financial goals.

    Other topics to explore

    Arts and Humanities
    338 courses
    Business
    1095 courses
    Computer Science
    668 courses
    Data Science
    425 courses
    Information Technology
    145 courses
    Health
    471 courses
    Math and Logic
    70 courses
    Personal Development
    137 courses
    Physical Science and Engineering
    413 courses
    Social Sciences
    401 courses
    Language Learning
    150 courses

    Coursera Footer

    Technical Skills

    • ChatGPT
    • Coding
    • Computer Science
    • Cybersecurity
    • DevOps
    • Ethical Hacking
    • Generative AI
    • Java Programming
    • Python
    • Web Development

    Analytical Skills

    • Artificial Intelligence
    • Big Data
    • Business Analysis
    • Data Analytics
    • Data Science
    • Financial Modeling
    • Machine Learning
    • Microsoft Excel
    • Microsoft Power BI
    • SQL

    Business Skills

    • Accounting
    • Digital Marketing
    • E-commerce
    • Finance
    • Google
    • Graphic Design
    • IBM
    • Marketing
    • Project Management
    • Social Media Marketing

    Career Resources

    • Essential IT Certifications
    • High-Income Skills to Learn
    • How to Get a PMP Certification
    • How to Learn Artificial Intelligence
    • Popular Cybersecurity Certifications
    • Popular Data Analytics Certifications
    • What Does a Data Analyst Do?
    • Career Development Resources
    • Career Aptitude Test
    • Share your Coursera Learning Story

    Coursera

    • About
    • What We Offer
    • Leadership
    • Careers
    • Catalog
    • Coursera Plus
    • Professional Certificates
    • MasterTrack® Certificates
    • Degrees
    • For Enterprise
    • For Government
    • For Campus
    • Become a Partner
    • Social Impact
    • Free Courses
    • ECTS Credit Recommendations

    Community

    • Learners
    • Partners
    • Beta Testers
    • Blog
    • The Coursera Podcast
    • Tech Blog
    • Teaching Center

    More

    • Press
    • Investors
    • Terms
    • Privacy
    • Help
    • Accessibility
    • Contact
    • Articles
    • Directory
    • Affiliates
    • Modern Slavery Statement
    • Manage Cookie Preferences
    Learn Anywhere
    Download on the App Store
    Get it on Google Play
    Logo of Certified B Corporation
    © 2025 Coursera Inc. All rights reserved.
    • Coursera Facebook
    • Coursera Linkedin
    • Coursera Twitter
    • Coursera YouTube
    • Coursera Instagram
    • Coursera TikTok