Online accounting courses enable you to acquire the skills required to begin your career in accounting. Today, skilled, knowledgeable accounting professionals are in demand worldwide due to evolving financial dynamics, regulatory changes, and reliance on technology.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for auditors and accountants is projected to grow by 4% from 2022 to 2032, with an average of 126,500 job openings each year. As of May 2023, the median annual wage for accountants was $79,880.
Online accounting courses offer flexible study options, helpful materials, and networking opportunities to enhance understanding of accounting concepts from beginner to advanced levels, aiding in the launch of an accounting career.
Geekflare has researched and listed the best online accounting courses based on course content, duration, provider, pricing, certification, and instructor expertise.
- Financial Accounting By HBS Online
- Introduction to Finance, Accounting & Modeling By Udemy
- Accounting in 60 Minutes By Udemy
- Wharton Accounting By Coursera
- Fundamental of Accounting Specialization By Coursera
- Managerial Accounting: Cost Behaviors, Systems, and Analysis By Coursera
- Forensic Accounting and Fraud Examination By Coursera
- Accounting for Decision-Making By Coursera
- MITx Financial Accounting By edX
- Financial Accounting Made Fun By edX
- Accounting 101 Financial Accounting By Study.com
- Accounting Ethics By LinkedIn Learning
- Getting Started in Finance and Accounting By LinkedIn Learning
- Internal Auditing: Fundamental Principles and Concepts By Alison
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Financial Accounting By HBS Online
Financial Accounting by HBS Online lets you explore the fundamentals of accounting so that you understand the importance of numbers in financial statements, including income statements and balance sheets. It helps you to learn financial accounting with seven modules.
College students, mid-career professionals, recent graduates, and those who want to take a career in financial accounting can benefit from this course. After completing the course, you’ll receive a certificate of specialization and a certificate of completion.
Financial Accounting has seven modules that provide vital accounting concepts: financial statements, financial records, journal entries, statements of cash flows, evaluation procedures of numbers, and future revenue prediction.
Each module of Financial Accounting takes 8.5 hours so that you can understand the concepts deeper and implement the knowledge in real-life cases. It allows you to choose your pace flexibly and complete the course by taking your time. If you give 6-8 hours a week, you can complete the course within 8 weeks.
| Course provider | Harvard Business School (HBS) Online |
| Course duration | 60 hours |
| Price | $1,850 |
| Course instructor | V.G. Narayan, Thomas D. Casserly, Jr. Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School |
Introduction to Finance, Accounting & Modeling By Udemy
Introduction to Finance, Accounting, & Modeling by Udemy teaches you finance and accounting from the beginning in over 13 languages.
By analyzing financial statements, using different formulas, and more, you’ll learn to use balance sheets and modeling best practices to create financial models for cash flow and income statements, discounted cash flow, P/R, and profitability ratios.
This course offers 17 sections and 62 lecturers to complete the course, which covers the basics of accounting, concepts of financial modeling, concepts of valuation, financial formulas, and more. You’ll get bonus materials and a course conclusion at the end of the final session.
You can access this finance course on your mobile device or TV. It includes 15 downloadable resources and 7 articles. You will have full-time access to the materials. Closed captions are available for improved accessibility. At the end of the course, a practice test will assess your knowledge of finance and accounting.
| Course provider | Udemy |
| Course duration | 4.5 hours |
| Price | $22.99 |
| Course instructor | Chris Haroun (Professor Columbia University), Ivy Grad (Goldman & VC) |
Accounting in 60 Minutes By Udemy
Accounting in 60 Minutes is an immediate accounting course by Udemy that allows you to learn the basics of accounting in just 60 minutes in 6+ languages. This course teaches the accounting equation, preparing income statements and balance sheets, the difference between a credit and a debit, and more.
The NASBA CPE 2.0 credits course offers a one-hour on-demand video, one practice test, 10 downloadable resources, full-time access on mobile and TV, and more. For easy accessibility, the course includes closed captions, and you’ll receive a certificate of completion at the end.
The accounting course includes 8 sections and 16 short lectures. After every section, there will be a CPE review quiz with two questions to test your understanding. You’ll also get a 30-page booklet and CPE-qualified assessment of 10m questions.
| Course provider | Udemy |
| Course duration | 1h 40m |
| Price | $19.99 |
| Course instructor | Vincent Turner (MSBA, Certified Information Systems Auditor) |
Wharton Accounting By Coursera
Introduction to Financial Accounting by Coursera includes four modules to help you master the financial skills needed to evaluate financial statements and understand accounting standards. It’s accessible in 22 languages and allows you to learn new things about accounting, gain an exceptional understanding of the subject, and develop relevant skills for job or career growth.
When the course is complete, you’ll be able to understand essential financial statements – income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements. It requires you to attend 6 quizzes for assessment and get a shareable certificate. You can share the certificate on your LinkedIn profile or social media.
| Course provider | University of Pennsylvania |
| Course duration | 13 hours (Flexible schedule) |
| Price | $9/month |
| Course instructor | Brian J Bushee (Professor of Accounting at Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania) |
Fundamental of Accounting Specialization By Coursera
Fundamental of Accounting Specialization by Coursera enables entrepreneurs and managers to learn accounting basics in over 22 languages. It teaches the principles behind financial statements and their importance in finance to help you make effective business decisions and set professional goals.
You can learn accounting flexibly at your own pace by choosing a preferred time that works with your daily job or routine. The course comes with modules, such as understanding financial statements, basic accounting, how to account for strategy assessment, and the fundamentals of accounting capstone.
If you give 9 hours a week, you can finish the course series in 2 months, earn a career certificate shareable on LinkedIn, or add the credentials to your CV or Resume.
| Course provider | University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign |
| Course duration | 2 Months |
| Price | $9/month |
| Course instructor | Gary Hecht, (Associate Dean, University of Illinois) Kevin E. Jackson (Professor of Accountancy, University of Illinois) Sharon P.Cox ( Lecturer of Accountancy, University of Illinois) |
Managerial Accounting: Cost Behaviors, Systems, and Analysis By Coursera
Managerial Accounting: Cost Behaviors, Systems, and Analysis is an intermediate-level course for managers. It is part of the “value chain management specialization” and is accessible in over 20 languages. You can choose your own pace to learn everything in managerial accounting.
You’ll learn new accounting concepts, understand tools, develop skills relevant to your career with hands-on projects, and earn a shareable certificate. The managerial accounting course has four modules, including basics of managerial accounting, elements and designs, activity-based costing, and cost-volume-profit analysis.
| Course provider | University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign |
| Course duration | 20 Hours |
| Price | $9/month |
| Course instructor | Gary Hecht (Associate Dean, University of Illinois) |
Forensic Accounting and Fraud Examination By Coursera
Forensic Accounting and Fraud Examination by Coursera is an advanced course in accounting accessible in 22 languages. It offers a shareable certificate and six quiz assessments to ensure your understanding.
The forensic accounting course has five modules: accidental fraudster, predator fraudster, Benford’s law, financial analytics, cybercrime and money laundering, and whistleblowing. You’ll have a flexible schedule to complete this course.
| Course provider | West Virginia University |
| Course duration | 6 Hours |
| Price | $9/month |
| Course instructor | Dr. Richard Riley (Professor of Public Accounting, West Virginia University) Dr. Richard Dull (Professor in Accounting Information Systems, West Virginia University) John Gill, J.D (Vice President – Education, West Virginia University) |
Accounting for Decision-Making By Coursera
Accounting for Decision Making by Coursera is an intermediate-level course where you’ll learn the fundamentals of accounting and how to make informed decisions in business. It teaches the key financial statements like income statements and balance sheets, how accounting is related to economic reality, and the purpose of every step in the accounting cycle.
The accounting course includes 32 quiz assessments and a shareable career certificate for your skills. You’ll find seven modules in this course – the importance of accounting, the bookkeeping and accounting cycle concepts, revenue and account receivable calculations, long-lived assets, stockholders and liabilities equity, and cash flow statements.
| Course provider | University of Michigan |
| Course duration | 29 Hours |
| Price | $9/month |
| Course instructor | Greg Miller (Professor, University of Michigan) |
MITx Financial Accounting By edX
MITx Financial Accounting by edX is an advanced-level course that enables you to analyze financial statements, such as those of creditors and investors. You’ll learn financial accounting, how to read income and financial statements, and how to evaluate models.
The course contains four parts: accounting basics, financial statement analysis, liabilities and stockholder’s equity, and evaluating accounting. It’s a long-term course that benefits general managers, quantitative researchers, risk and asset managers, financial advisors, financial analysts, and other professionals.
| Course provider | Massachusetts Institute of Technology Online (MITx) |
| Course duration | 12 Weeks |
| Price | $549 |
| Course instructor | John Core (Professor of Accounting at the MIT Sloan School of Management) Egor Matveyev (Senior Lecturer in Finance at the MIT Sloan School of Management) |
Financial Accounting Made Fun By edX
Financial Accounting Made Fun by edX is an introductory-level course that teaches you the finance language and how to manage and grow your business using financial statements. In this course, you’ll learn how to use financial statements, the types of information to check in every statement, and the difference between cash and profits.
This four-week course strengthens your understanding of business transaction analysis, cash flows and income statements, ratio analysis, and forecasting. It also enables you to progress quickly by dedicating 4-6 hours weekly. You’ll get an optional upgrade for free once enrolled.
| Course provider | BabsonX |
| Course duration | 4 Weeks |
| Price | $249 |
| Course instructor | Peter Wilson (Professor, Accounting and Law Division at Babson College) |
Accounting 101 Financial Accounting By Study.com
Accounting 101 Financial Accounting by Study.com offers expert instruction on the basics of financial accounting. After every lesson, you can take a quiz to track your progress and check your best score. You’ll find 14 chapters and 138 lessons on accounting principles, ethics, cycle mechanics, long-term liabilities, etc.
After completing the course, you’ll get a 50-question practice test to check your learning. This test includes all topics and a detailed explanation of wrong answers through video. You can complete the course at your own pace. The financial accounting course also qualifies as transferable credit.
| Course provider | Study.com |
| Course duration | 18h 40m (Approx.) |
| Price | NA |
| Course instructor | NA |
Accounting Ethics By LinkedIn Learning
The Accounting Ethics course on LinkedIn Learning includes two project files and four chapter quizzes. It is beneficial for both private and public businesses.
The course enables you to understand financial reports, ethical frameworks, the difference between ethics, beliefs, and values in accounting, legal structures, and more. It will also help you develop accounting and business ethics skills
| Course provider | LinkedIn Learning |
| Course duration | 50m 41s |
| Price | NA |
| Course instructor | Ajay Pangarkar |
Getting Started in Finance and Accounting By LinkedIn Learning
Getting Started in Finance and Accounting by LinkedIn is a stack of six courses covering multiple courses on accounting, bookkeeping, finance foundations, and more. These courses will enhance your skills in financial analysis, accounting and budgeting basics, and how to use transactional data to identify issues and develop effective financial plans.
With all the courses, you can explore different financial processes used to evaluate the cash flow and financial statements. You’ll also learn to set, organize, and maintain realistic budgets. Get a certificate of completion after you complete the courses.
| Course provider | LinkedIn Learning |
| Course duration | 9h 59m |
| Price | NA |
| Course instructor | Jim Stice (Professor of Accounting at BYU) Earl Stice (Professor of Accounting at BYU) Denise Probert (CPA Exam Coach and Accounting Professor) Michael McDonald (Professor of Finance at Fairfield University) |
Internal Auditing: Fundamental Principles and Concepts By Alison
Internal Auditing—Fundamental Principles and Concepts is a bookkeeping course Alison offers to refresh and enhance internal auditing skills. It is best for internal auditors and auditing professionals.
The course offers straightforward topics that cover the essential key points of internal auditing, such as the types and processes of conducting an internal audit. You’ll also learn the difference between external and internal auditing.
The Internal Auditing course has two modules. The first module contains five topics on the fundamentals of internal auditing, including how to conduct internal auditing and prepare reports. The second module includes a course assessment to test your understanding of the principles and concepts of internal auditing.
| Course provider | Exoexcellence Consultants |
| Course duration | 1.5 to 3 Hours |
| Price | Free |
| Course instructor | NA |
What Are Some Popular Degrees One Should Pursue to Become an Accountant
To become an accountant, here are some of the following accounting degrees you can pursue:
- Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting/Finance: Most accounting rules require this degree, which allows you to learn basic accounting principles, financial statements, laws and regulations, auditing, etc.
- Master’s Degree in Accounting/Finance: Obtaining this degree will help you learn advanced concepts in accounting and finance, making you an excellent candidate for many accounting roles.
- Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in Business Administration (BBA/MBA): It will help you create a foundational understanding of accounting and finance in business. You can develop business management, leadership, strategic planning, critical analysis, communication, and more skills.
- Doctorate in Accounting: You’ll gain a deeper understanding of accounting and finance to teach students accounting and conduct your research in a specific accounting or finance subject.
Tips for Succeeding in Online Accounting Courses
If you are undertaking an online accounting course, follow the below tips to maximize your chances of succeeding at it:
- Master Time Management: Lack of time management can leave you unproductive and overwhelmed with tasks. To manage your time effectively, plan from the start. Set goals and a learning schedule that works best for you. Complete each section within a dedicated time.
- Develop Strong Study Habits: It’s easier to get distracted. Develop effective study habits by focusing on your learning goals and removing distractions like mobile phones, gaming, etc. Make your hours count by engaging yourself in deep, serious study.
- Familiarity with accounting basics: Before you start the course, learn the basics of accounting to get a strong foundation. Strengthen your math, data organization, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills to ease your understanding of advanced topics.
Career Benefits of Accounting Courses
Some career benefits of accounting courses include:
- Skill Enhancement: Taking up a course in accounting will help you develop various in-demand skills like financial analysis and operations management, strategic financial planning, regulatory compliance, and more. These skills will open plenty of career opportunities for you.
- Career Advancement: All industries and businesses leverage accounting for accurate financial reporting and tax filing. Also, there is a shortage of talented individuals across the globe. So, getting relevant skills in accounting helps advance your accounting career and makes you a competent and deserving candidate for many companies globally.
- Networking Opportunities: Accounting skills are widely recognized and valued. You can bag high-paying jobs in top corporations. It also exposes you to excellent networking opportunities with companies and clients worldwide.