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    • Basic Accounting

    Basic Accounting Courses Online

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

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    Explore the Basic Accounting Course Catalog

    • C

      Coursera Instructor Network

      Precision Bookkeeping: Records, Reconciliation, Reporting

      Skills you'll gain: Reconciliation, Accounting Records, Bookkeeping, Financial Reporting, Accounting, Financial Data, Compliance Management, Financial Statements, Internal Communications, Verbal Communication Skills, Automation

      4.4
      Rating, 4.4 out of 5 stars
      ·
      91 reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

    • U

      University of Michigan

      Accounting for Decision Making

      Skills you'll gain: Bookkeeping, Financial Statements, Accounting, Depreciation, Cash Flows, Balance Sheet, Income Statement, Financial Analysis, Inventory Accounting, Financial Reporting, Accrual Accounting, Business Metrics, Revenue Recognition, Asset Management

      4.7
      Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
      ·
      468 reviews

      Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • Status: Free Trial
      Free Trial
      A

      Automatic Data Processing, Inc. (ADP)

      ADP Entry-Level Payroll Specialist

      Skills you'll gain: Payroll, Payroll Processing, Payroll Systems, Payroll Administration, Payroll Tax, Payroll Reporting, Compensation Strategy, Tax Management, Data Entry, Employee Onboarding, Labor Compliance, Human Resource Strategy, Compensation Management, Non-Profit Accounting, Tax Compliance, Human Resources, Benefits Administration, Specialized Accounting, Record Keeping, Accounting

      4.7
      Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
      ·
      446 reviews

      Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months

    • Status: Free Trial
      Free Trial
      T

      The University of Melbourne

      Essentials of Corporate Finance

      Skills you'll gain: Financial Analysis, Financial Statement Analysis, Financial Statements, Corporate Finance, Financial Management, Accounting, Financial Systems, Financial Modeling, Investments, Capital Markets, Market Liquidity, Balance Sheet, Derivatives, Financial Market, Income Statement, Financial Data, Business Valuation, International Finance, Mergers & Acquisitions, Capital Budgeting

      4.6
      Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
      ·
      1.9K reviews

      Intermediate · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

    • Status: Free Trial
      Free Trial
      G

      Google

      Crash Course on Python

      Skills you'll gain: Programming Principles, Python Programming, Computer Programming, Computational Thinking, Algorithms, Problem Management, Data Structures, Integrated Development Environments, Debugging, Development Environment

      4.8
      Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
      ·
      39K reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • Status: Free Trial
      Free Trial
      U

      University of Pennsylvania

      Fundamentals of Finance

      Skills you'll gain: Finance, Equities, Financial Modeling, Corporate Finance, Financial Analysis, Business Valuation, Investments, Investment Management, Risk Analysis, Cash Flows

      3.9
      Rating, 3.9 out of 5 stars
      ·
      1K reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • Status: Free Trial
      Free Trial
      G

      Google

      Google Advanced Data Analytics

      Skills you'll gain: Exploratory Data Analysis, Data Storytelling, Statistical Hypothesis Testing, Data Ethics, Data Visualization Software, Sampling (Statistics), Data Presentation, Regression Analysis, Feature Engineering, Data Transformation, Descriptive Statistics, Professional Networking, Data Visualization, Tableau Software, Data Manipulation, Statistical Analysis, Statistical Machine Learning, Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Data Analysis, Interviewing Skills

      Build toward a degree

      4.7
      Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
      ·
      6.2K reviews

      Advanced · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months

    • Status: New
      New
      Status: Free Trial
      Free Trial
      V

      Vanderbilt University

      AI Agents and Agentic AI in Python: Powered by Generative AI

      Skills you'll gain: Prompt Engineering, ChatGPT, Generative AI Agents, OpenAI, Productivity, Python Programming, Agentic systems, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML), Generative AI, Artificial Intelligence, Large Language Modeling, Creative Thinking, Ingenuity, Brainstorming, Software Development Tools, Application Development, Prototyping, Persona (User Experience), Business Logic, Automation

      4.8
      Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
      ·
      6K reviews

      Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

    • Status: Free Trial
      Free Trial
      I

      Intuit

      Financial Statement Analysis

      Skills you'll gain: Reconciliation, Financial Statements, Financial Statement Analysis, Income Statement, Balance Sheet, Financial Analysis, Accounting, Analysis, Cash Flows, Sales Tax, Equities, Payroll

      4.6
      Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
      ·
      660 reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

    • Status: Free Trial
      Free Trial
      A

      Arizona State University

      TESOL Certificate, Part 1: Teach English Now!

      Skills you'll gain: Oral Comprehension, Language Competency, Pedagogy, English Language, Learning Strategies, Instructional Strategies, Enthusiasm, Motivational Skills, Oral Expression, Learning Styles, Language Learning, Education Software and Technology, Vocabulary, Design Elements And Principles, Learning Theory, Design Strategies, Grammar, Self-Awareness, Stress Management, Goal Setting

      4.9
      Rating, 4.9 out of 5 stars
      ·
      19K reviews

      Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

    • Status: Free Trial
      Free Trial
      U

      University of Pennsylvania

      Finance & Quantitative Modeling for Analysts

      Skills you'll gain: Return On Investment, Financial Reporting, Capital Budgeting, Financial Statements, Financial Modeling, Mathematical Modeling, Statistical Modeling, Regression Analysis, Business Modeling, Income Statement, Financial Analysis, Risk Analysis, Cash Flows, Business Mathematics, Financial Planning, Corporate Finance, Predictive Analytics, Spreadsheet Software, Google Sheets, Microsoft Excel

      4.5
      Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
      ·
      17K reviews

      Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

    • Y

      Yale University

      Financial Markets

      Skills you'll gain: Investment Banking, Risk Management, Financial Market, Financial Regulation, Financial Services, Finance, Business Risk Management, Securities (Finance), Financial Policy, Enterprise Risk Management (ERM), Capital Markets, Behavioral Economics, Banking, Corporate Finance, Governance, Investments, Insurance, Underwriting, Derivatives, Market Dynamics

      4.8
      Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
      ·
      31K reviews

      Beginner · Course · 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…456…293

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

    • Precision Bookkeeping: Records, Reconciliation, Reporting: Coursera Instructor Network
    • Accounting for Decision Making: University of Michigan
    • ADP Entry-Level Payroll Specialist: Automatic Data Processing, Inc. (ADP)
    • Essentials of Corporate Finance: The University of Melbourne
    • Crash Course on Python: Google
    • Fundamentals of Finance: University of Pennsylvania
    • Google Advanced Data Analytics: Google
    • AI Agents and Agentic AI in Python: Powered by Generative AI: Vanderbilt University
    • Financial Statement Analysis: Intuit
    • TESOL Certificate, Part 1: Teach English Now!: Arizona State University

    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.

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