12 Best Online Accounting Classes with Certification

Best Online Accounting Classes
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What do you mean by accounting?

 

Accounting is the practice of documenting financial transactions linked to a firm. It entails describing, evaluating, and reporting these transactions to oversight authorities, regulators, and tax-collecting bodies.

 

Accounting financial statements are a brief description of a company’s activities, financial status, and cash flows throughout an accounting period.

 

In other words, accounting is a profession whose primary role is to assist firms in keeping correct and up-to-date financial records. Accountants are in charge of keeping track of the company’s daily activities and putting them into financial statements such as the balance sheet, income statement, and cash flow statement.

 

Accountants also conduct additional services such as executing periodic audits and generating ad hoc management reports.

 

12 Accounting Certificates Online

  1. Introduction to Finance and Accounting Specialization by University of Pennsylvania (Coursera)
  2. Fundamentals of Accounting Specialization by Illinois (Coursera)
  3. MicroMasters Program in Accounting offered by Indiana University (edX)
  4. Introduction to Finance, Accounting, Modeling, and Valuation by Udemy
  5. Accounting: From Beginner to Advanced by Udemy
  6. Financial Accounting Fundamentals by University of Virginia (Coursera)
  7. Accounting Essentials by edX
  8. Finance and Accounting Courses by LinkedIn Learning
  9. Discover What’s Behind The Numbers in Financial Statements by Harvard Business School
  10. Free Finance and Online Accounting Courses + Certification by CFI
  11. Accounting Basics (Outline) by Accounting Coach
  12. Introduction to Financial Accounting by Udemy

 

12 Basic Accounting Courses Online for Next Year

1. Introduction to Finance and Accounting Specialization by University of Pennsylvania (Coursera)

Introduction to Finance and Accounting Specialization by University of Pennsylvania

This specialization introduces corporate finance and accounting, focusing on their application to a wide range of real-world situations such as personal finance, corporate decision-making, financial intermediation, and how accounting standards and managerial incentives influence the financial reporting process. There are four courses in this Coursera accounting specialization with an accounting certificate online.

Rating  4.4 based on 963+ ratings
Duration  5 months online accounting class
Level  Beginners’ online accounting course
Refund Policy  7-day free trial
Certificate Provided  Yes
Course Material Provided  Yes
Live Classes/Recorded Lessons  Recorded lessons
Course Type  Paid
Instructor  Jessica Wachter, Michael R Roberts, Brian J Bushee
Scope for Improvement (Cons) Basics are not explained in this course, advanced level knowledge is imparted.

 

Topics covered in this online accounting class

Course 1 – Fundamentals of Finance

  • Net Present Value
  • Fixed Income Valuation
  • Equity Valuation
  • Internal Rate of Return

 

Course 2 – Introduction to Corporate Finance

  • Time Value of Money
  • Interest Rates
  • Discounted Cash Flow Analysis
  • Return on Investment

 

Course 3 – Introduction to Financial Accounting

  • Balance Sheet
  • Accrual accounting
  • Cash flows
  • Ratio Analysis

 

Course 4 – More Introduction to Financial Accounting

  • Working Capital Assets
  • Marketable Securities
  • Liabilities and long-term debt
  • Deferred Taxes
  • Shareholder’s Equity

 

Learning Outcomes

  • Discounting and compounding random cash flow streams to evaluate diverse claims and make smarter financial judgments.
  • The difference between NPV and Internal Rate of Return (IRR)
  • Cash flows are classified as operating, investing, or financing operations.
  • How firms account for investments in debt and equity securities
  • Corporate Finance
  • Financial Accounting
  • Financial Statement
  • Accounting
  • Decision-Making
  • Discounted Cash Flow
  • Cash Flow Analysis
  • Balance Sheet
  • Generally Accepted Accounting Principles
  • Accounting Terminology

 

Prerequisites to earn this accounting certificate online

This specialization will benefit you more with a basic high school-level knowledge in mathematics.

 

Is this the right online accounting class for you?

This is the best online accounting course for

  • Financial experts
  • Accountants
  • Students

 

 

2. Fundamentals of Accounting Specialization offered by Illinois (Coursera)

You will master the principles of each of these accounting purposes in this Specialization. More particularly, you will comprehend the financial statements that managers prepare and read and analyze these statements to assess the organization’s financial status.

 

You will also recognize and comprehend the nature, purpose, and significance of several forms of decision-useful accounting information and employ analytical tools and techniques to use this information to make business decisions.

 

Rating  4.6 based on 844+ ratings
Duration  Approximately 6 months
Level  Basic accounting course online
Refund Policy 7-day free trial
Certificate Provided  Yes
Course Material Provided  Yes
Live Classes/Recorded Lessons  Recorded lessons
Course Type  Paid Coursera accounting specialization
Instructor Kevin E Jackson, Gary Hecht, Sharon P. Cox
Scope for Improvement (Cons) More practical knowledge would’ve helped the students. Like teaching forward with a real company balance sheet or so.

 

Topics covered in this online accounting course

Course 1 – Understanding Financial Statements: Company Position

  • Accounting and the importance of financial reports
  • Assets and liabilities
  • Equity

 

Course 2 – Understanding Financial Statements: Company Performance

  • Income Statement
  • Managing Cash
  • Elements of Financial Statement

 

Course 3 – Accounting for Business Decision Making: Measurement and Operational Decisions

  • Managing Capacity
  • Managing Pricing
  • Planning and Monitoring Operations
  • Managing Organizational Strategy

 

Learning Outcomes

  • Income Statement
  • Cost
  • Financial Statement
  • Balance Sheet
  • Accounting
  • Accounting Terminology
  • Financial Ratio

 

Basic accounting course online prerequisites

This Specialization does not require any prior knowledge.

 

Is it the right online accounting course for you?

This is a good accounting certificate online course for:

  • Managers
  • Entrepreneurs
  • Students

 

 

3. MicroMasters Program in Accounting offered by Indiana University (edX)

MicroMasters Program in Accounting offered by Indiana University

Courses in the three most essential areas of accounting are included in the program curriculum: financial accounting, managerial accounting, and income taxation.

 

Learn from world-renowned, award-winning accounting experts at Indiana University’s top-ranked Kelley School of Business.

 

Duration  Approximately 9 months
Level  Intermediate online accounting course
Refund Policy  14-day return policy
Certificate Provided  Yes
Course Material Provided  Yes
Live Classes/Recorded Lessons  Recorded lessons
Course Type  Paid accounting certificate online
Instructor Ken Merkley, Brian P. Miller, Greg Geisler
Scope for Improvement (Cons) Expensive course

 

Topics Covered

  • Financial Reporting
  • Financial Accounting and Corporate Control
  • Taxes and Decision-making

 

Learning Outcomes

  • Accounting Principles
  • S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (U.S. GAAP)
  • International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).
  • Key elements of Financial Reporting
  • Impact of Income Taxes
  • Product costs, cost allocations, customer profitability, budget

 

Is it the right course for you?

This is the best online accounting course for anyone interested in

  • Banking
  • Investing
  • Corporate management
  • Students

 

 

4. Introduction to Finance, Accounting, Modeling and Valuation by Udemy

Introduction to Finance, Accounting, Modeling and Valuation by Udemy

By the end of this online accounting course, you will also understand how to value businesses utilizing a variety of valuation approaches. You will also be able to examine financial statements utilizing a variety of financial ratios/formulas.

 

This online accounting class will teach you the fundamentals of accounting, finance, financial modeling, and valuation.

 

Rating  4.5 based on 24141 ratings
Duration  4.5 hours
Level Beginners’ accounting certificate online course
Refund Policy  30-day return policy
Certificate Provided  Yes
Course Material Provided  Yes
Live Classes/Recorded Lessons  Recorded lessons
Course Type  Paid
Instructor Chris Haroun
Scope for Improvement (Cons) The accent of the instructor is not comprehensible

 

Topics Covered

  • Income Statement Analysis
  • Balance Sheet Analysis
  • Cash Flow statement analysis
  • Getting historical data
  • Building a model for LinkedIn
  • Financial Model Exercise
  • Discounted Cash Flow Analysis
  • Price to Revenue
  • Price to earnings
  • Final Target Price Calculation
  • TAM Sanity check
  • Comparing TAM to the Target Price

 

Learning Outcomes

  • Analyzing Balance Sheet
  • Income Statement
  • Cash Flow Statement
  • Creating a financial model
  • Analyzing financial statements
  • Application of Discounted Cash Flow
  • Analyzing financial statements using debt and inventory formulas
  • Analyzing financial statements using profitability ratios

 

Online Accounting Course Prerequisites

A fundamental grasp of Microsoft Excel is a must.

 

Is it the right accounting certificate online for you?

This is the best online accounting class for anyone curious about how accounting tasks, financial tasks, modeling tasks, valuation tasks, and financial ratios work.

 

 

5. Accounting: From Beginner to Advanced by Udemy

Accounting: From Beginner to Advanced by Udemy

This online accounting course will teach you the principles and essentials of accounting in a FUN way! Additional problems and exercises, as well as suitable explanations, are included.

 

In addition, this course’s curriculum contains animated films that are simple to grasp. Also included are problem-solving videos that show you how to put what you’ve learned into practice.

 

Rating  4.5 based on 4747+ ratings
Duration  4 hours
Level Beginners
Refund Policy  30-day return policy
Certificate Provided  Yes
Course Material Provided  Yes
Live Classes/Recorded Lessons  Recorded lessons
Course Type  Paid
Instructor Stefan Ignatovski
Scope for Improvement (Cons) The course has not been updated for a long time. Many important facts and changes seem missing, which makes this course less relevant.

 

Topics Covered

  • Accounting Principles and Fundamentals
  • Accounting during the year and at the year-end
  • Bank Reconciliation Statement
  • About Accounts Receivable
  • Accounting for Merchandising Businesses
  • Tracking Inventory
  • Fixed Assets and Depreciation
  • Accounts Payable and Bonds
  • Equity – Stocks and Dividends
  • Investments and Time Value of money
  • Statements of Cash Flow
  • Financial Statement and Analysis

 

Learning outcomes of this basic accounting course online

  • Preparing Financial Statements
  • Analyzing business transactions
  • Accounting Regulations
  • Accounting Cycle
  • Process of depreciation, amortization, and disposal of assets
  • Short-term and long-term investments
  • Statement of Retained Earnings
  • Preparation of trial balance
  • Bonds
  • Shares

 

There are no prerequisites for this online accounting course.

 

Is it the right course for you?

  • Owners of businesses and students
  • Businesses
  • Accountants\Bookkeepers
  • Takers of the CPA Exam

 

 

6. Financial Accounting Fundamentals offered by the University of Virginia (Coursera Accounting Course)

Financial Accounting Fundamentals offered by University of Virginia

This is one of the best online accounting courses offered by the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business and taught by top-ranked experts. It will provide you with the skills you’ll need to comprehend the principles of financial accounting.

 

Concise films, a small business’s financial records, and “your turn” exercises take you through the three most regularly used financial statements: the Balance Sheet, the Income Statement, and the Statement of Cash Flows.

 

Aside from documenting transactions, you’ll learn how to compile these financial statements and evaluate and analyze them to make fundamental inferences about a company’s financial health.

 

Rating  4.8 based on 1972+ ratings
Duration  14 hours
Level Beginner online accounting class
Refund Policy  14-day return policy
Certificate Provided  Learners awarded with accounting certificate online
Course Material Provided  Yes
Live Classes/Recorded Lessons  Recorded lessons
Course Type  Paid
Instructor Luann J. Lynch
Scope for Improvement (Cons) Questions asked in the discussion forum are not answered by the instructor. Answers to the queries with benefit the students in better learning

 

Coursera accounting course contents

  • Introduction to Financial Accounting, the Financial Statements and the Balance Sheet
  • Recording Transactions
  • The Income Statement
  • Revenue and Expense transactions
  • Adjusting entries
  • Statement of Cash flows
  • Financial Statement Preparation
  • Analysis of Financial Statements and
  • Making of Annual Report

 

What will you learn from this online accounting course?

  • How to utilize journal entries to record transactions and t-accounts to summarize transactions logged throughout an accounting period.
  • The three most widely used financial statements and how they work together.
  • How to produce these financial statements based on transactions recorded within an accounting period.
  • How to draw basic conclusions about a company’s Financial Health.

 

Prerequisites

No prior knowledge is mandatory to pursue this course.

 

Is it the right course for you?

This is the best online accounting class for:

  • Accountants
  • Entrepreneur
  • Financial Experts

 

 

7. Accounting Essentials by edX

Accounting Essentials by edX

This online accounting course will teach you the fundamental accounting skills required to succeed in an MBA program and business in general.

 

You will be exposed to accounting concepts as well as fundamental financial statements, such as the income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statement. You will learn how to understand and evaluate this data to make sound business decisions.

 

Duration 6 weeks
Level Beginner level
Refund Policy  14-day return policy
Certificate Provided  Yes
Course Material Provided  Yes
Live Classes/Recorded Lessons  Recorded lessons
Course Type  Paid accounting certificate online
Instructor Jeremy Fernando
Scope for Improvement (Cons) Certificate not included in free track

 

Topics covered under online accounting class

  • Accounting statements and principles
  • The income statement
  • Balance sheet
  • The cash flow statement
  • Short-term decision making
  • Long-term decision making

 

Learning Outcomes

  • To prepare and analyze the three basic accounting statements: the income statement, the balance sheet, and the cash flow statement
  • How management accounting differs from financial accounting
  • How financial information is utilized in an MBA program and in the company to make educated decisions

 

Prerequisites

Secondary school mathematics knowledge is a must.

 

Is it the best online accounting class for you?

This is the best online accounting course for students on the lookout for a course in MBA study and to impart knowledge in their own business.

 

 

8.  Finance and Accounting Courses by LinkedIn learning

Finance and Accounting Courses by Linkedin learning

Improve your bookkeeping abilities for professional accountancy, small company, or personal finance. With LinkedIn Learning, you can learn about fundamental finance concepts and how to utilize tools such as Excel. The various courses offered by LinkedIn Learning are listed below:

 

a) Develop your Finance and Accounting Skills

Examine principles such as financial analysis, accounting, and budgeting. Learn how to use financial data to assess business situations, identify challenges, and establish goals.

 

Investigate strategies for determining how the money will be spent to complete tasks and how to create and stick to reasonable budgets. The instructors for this course are Jim Stice, Earl Kay Stice, and Michael M.

 

Topics covered under accounting training online

  • Accounting Foundations
  • Bookkeeping
  • Financial accounting foundations
  • Business Tax Foundations
  • Finance Foundations
  • Income Taxes
  • Corporate Financial Statement Analysis

 

b) Finance and Accounting Tips

Accounting professors Jim and Kay Stice, who have been studying financial information for a combined 60 years, break down fundamental accounting and finance ideas into accessible, bite-sized morsels in this series.

 

They assist you in comprehending the balance sheet, debits and credits, corporate operating cycles, and other topics. They also explain where to get accounting information in the real world and what to do with it once you have it.

 

Topics Covered

  • Limitations of the balance sheet
  • Accrual Accounting
  • Income Statement
  • Financial Statement Ratios
  • Return on Equity
  • Company’s Operating Cycle
  • Ratios and liquidity
  • Leverage Ratios
  • Cash Flow
  • Earning Management

 

c) Accounting Foundations

Accounting employs financial data from the past to make decisions in the now that affect the future. This course introduces the four main forms of accounting—bookkeeping, financial, management, and tax accounting—and discusses the relationships between accounting, decision-making, company success, and financial health.

 

Accounting experts Jim and Kay Stice go over the three basic financial statements, using real-world examples from firms like Walmart. They demonstrate how firms utilize management accounting to create budgets and establish the cost of items, as well as how income taxes, credits, and deductions are computed in the United States.

 

The online accounting course is self-contained; no qualifications or specialist expertise are necessary to follow along. In conclusion, you should better grasp accounting and how it affects your business or personal finances.

 

Topics Covered

  • Introduction to Accounting
  • Financial Accounting: Balance Sheet
  • Income Statement and Cash Flow
  • Managerial Accounting
  • Income Taxes

 

d) Financial Accounting Part 1

This thorough, self-contained accounting training online is designed to provide business professionals, such as managers, analysts, and entrepreneurs, the confidence they need to use financial data to drive strategic decision-making.

 

Professors Jim Stice and Earl Kay Stice utilize actual reports from real-world organizations like Microsoft and Walmart to demonstrate concepts like the difference between net income and cash flow and why the credit and debit system is so crucial in everyday accounting.

 

They assist you in understanding assets and liabilities, interpreting balance sheets, income statements, and statements of cash flows, evaluating and adjusting journal entries, and preparing your financial statements.

 

This MBA-level online accounting class is loaded with case studies and insights to help you bridge the gap between accounting academics and real-world applications.

 

Topics Covered

  • Accounting Equation
  • Assets
  • Liabilities
  • Owner’s equity
  • Financial Statements: Balance Sheet
  • Financial Statements: Income Statement
  • Cash Flow Statements
  • Making of Cash Flow Statements
  • Accrual Accounting

 

 

9. Discover What’s Behind The Numbers in Financial Statements by Harvard Business School

Discover What’s Behind The Numbers in Financial Statements by Harvard Business School

Financial accounting teaches essential accounting ideas and principles that elucidate financial statements and provide crucial insights into business performance and potential.

 

This online accounting course investigates how managers, Wall Street analysts, and entrepreneurs use accounting to drive strategic decision-making.

 

Duration 8 weeks accounting certificate online course
Level Beginner level
Certificate Provided Yes
Course Material Provided Yes
Live Classes/Recorded Lessons Recorded accounting training online
Course Type Paid online accounting class
Instructor V.G Narayanan

 

Topics Covered

  • Preparing a Balance Sheet
  • Income Statement
  • Cash Flow Statement
  • Analyzing Financial Statements
  • Calculating and interpreting ratios
  • Accounting estimates and methods
  • Basics of forecasting and
  • Valuation

 

Learning Outcomes

  • Learn how balance sheets, income statements, and cash flow statements are created and how they interact with one another.
  • Using financial statements, assess a company’s financial health.
  • Recognize GAAP and IFRS standards
  • Prepare and assess financial estimates to make strategic decisions.
  • Perform a sensitivity analysis on an enterprise, project, or investment opportunity.

 

Is it the right accounting certificate online course for you?

  • College Students
  • Those considering an MBA
  • Mid-career professionals
  • Recent Graduates

 

 

10. Free Finance and Accounting Certification Courses by CFI

Free Finance and Accounting Certification Courses by CFI

This is a must-have accounting training online for anybody trying to advance their profession in finance or accounting. This package focuses on the essentials for anybody wishing to have a strong foundation in accounting and finance.

 

Learn how to interpret and produce financial statements such as an income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statement. The various courses offered by CFI are mentioned below-

 

a) Accounting Fundamentals

This free two-part accounting fundamentals course will walk you through the accounting process. We look at the balance sheet, income statement, and cash flow statement layouts. We will show you how to create financial statements from the start. This online accounting course is a necessary building element for undertaking financial modeling and other sorts of Wall Street financial analysis.

 

b) Introduction to Banking

This introductory course covers the fundamentals of the banking business. We will cover the many sorts of financial organizations and how they differ in the products and services they offer to their respective consumer groups. We can understand how a bank earns returns by looking at its balance sheet and income statement. Finally, we will look at popular career routes in various sectors of banking.

 

c) Reading Financial Statements

In this two-part online course, we analyze financial statements and annual reports to assess a company’s financial status and make educated decisions.

 

Using Espresso Software as a case study, we learn how to understand the balance sheet and its accompanying notes in this first session. This will assist us to assess the company’s financial status and make educated judgments.

 

We continue reviewing Espresso Software’s financial statements in this second session of this free course. We examine the company’s income statement and cash flow statement before concluding with a discussion of the major features of an annual report.

 

 

11. Accounting Basics (Outline) by Accounting Coach

Accounting Basics (Outline) by Accounting Coach

Our Accounting Basics accounting certificate online course utilizes a simple tale to convey important accounting concepts and vocabulary. It depicts how transactions will be accounted for in a company’s financial statements.

 

Topics Covered

  • Accounting Basics and Equations
  • Accounting Principles
  • Working Capital and liquidity
  • Inventory and cost of goods sold
  • Payroll accounting
  • The future value of a single amount
  • Present value
  • Manufacturing Overhead
  • Non-manufacturing Overhead
  • Standard costing
  • Charts of accounts
  • Depreciation
  • Adjusting entries
  • Break-even point
  • Improving profits
  • Stockholders’ equity
  • Evaluating business investments
  • Bonds payable

 

 

12. Introduction to Financial Accounting by Udemy

Introduction to Financial Accounting by Udemy

Last on our list of best online accounting courses we have this course by Udemy. With this accounting certificate online, you will learn the principles and building blocks of the accounting process.

 

We will also look at the layout of the balance sheet and income statement, how transactions are recorded, and how to create a simple balance sheet and income statement. By the conclusion of this course, you will have a firm grasp of how to create a balance sheet and income statement.

 

Rating 4.5 based on 3223 ratings
Duration 1 hour 9 minutes
Level Beginners’ accounting certificate online course
Certificate Provided Yes
Course Material Provided Yes
Live Classes/Recorded Lessons Recorded lessons
Course Type Free accounting training online
Instructor Tim Vipond
Scope for Improvement (Cons) The pace of this course is too fast, so not everyone can grasp the concepts.

 

Topics Covered

  • Creating balance sheets
  • Constructing Income statement
  • Making Cash flow statement

 

Online Accounting Course – Learning Outcomes

  • Defining different financial statement terms
  • Transactions for financial statements are recorded.
  • Making a basic income statement and balance sheet
  • Outline the cash flow statement structure.
  • Explain the distinction between profit and cash.
  • Using the balance sheet and income statement, create a simple cash flow statement.

 

Prerequisites

  • Possession of a PC or a Mac
  • An Internet connection, as well as the ability to play audio, is required because some courses involve voice lectures.
  • Basic knowledge of Internet apps
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer, Firefox, Chrome, Safari, or any web browser in its most recent version
  • Microsoft Excel (updated).

 

Is it the right accounting training online course for you?

This accounting certificate online is the most suitable one for

  • Anybody who wishes to refresh their knowledge of the principles and building blocks of the accounting process
  • Finance professionals who want to revisit the principles needed for financial modeling and valuation in CFI’s following courses.

 

Related: QuickBooks Training Online

Conclusion

So, these were the top 12 online accounting classes to learn accounting. We have covered all the basic accounting courses online to advanced classes. So, choose and enroll in one that best fits your requirements!

Best Accounting Classes is rated 4.9 and reviewed by 15 Accounting Experts & 40+ Accounting Classes Students

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