mediapatner.com - Financial Accounting is the most important thing in business. Businesses need individuals with accounting skills to track finances in various forms, such as credit, debit, payroll, filing taxes, etc. Therefore, it is not surprising that accounting skills are always in high demand. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics has forecast 10% growth for the accountant and auditor job market over the ten years 2016 to 2026, while the projected figure for overall job growth for all professions is 7% over the same time period. So the outlook for the accounting profession is pretty good.

Acquiring and maintaining accounting skills may seem like a daunting task, but the internet has revolutionized learning and made it much simpler. There are several online accounting courses and certificate programs that offer great and flexible alternatives to traditional classroom programs. This online accounting course allows you to learn basic skills essential to your career, download college courses, do assignments, take exams, even participate with fellow students in virtual discussions, all on your own schedule.

If you're not sure where to start your online accounting classes and training, consider the list below of the best accounting courses, certifications, classes, and training resources available online. This list includes both free and paid courses which you can take at your own pace and time. So whether you are an entrepreneur looking for personal accounting skills or a novice looking to enter the accounting job market or a professional accounting map looking for an accounting certification to advance your career, there is a relevant online accounting course for you on this list.

The Best Rank Accounting Courses Online

 1. Introduction to Financial Accounting by Wharton from University of Pennsylvania (Coursera)

Online Course by Wharton, University of Pennsylvania This Financial Accounting Course is part of the Business Foundation Specialization offered by the prestigious business school Wharton, University of Pennsylvania. This course will help you master the technical skills necessary to analyze financial reports and disclosures for use in financial analysis, and learn how accounting standards and managerial incentives influence the financial reporting process. After completing this accounting class, you will be able to read the three most common financial statements: income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statement.

This course is taught by 14-year veteran of the Wharton School and former professor at Harvard Business School, Brian J Bushee. Prof. Bushee is the most respected lecturer at Wharton and loved by students for his engaging, enthusiastic and fun teaching style. He has structured the course content in a perfect way starting simple with Balance Sheets, Debits & Credits, and Journal Entries, and then building on these as he explains topics such as Bonds, Deferred Taxes and Share Based Compensation among others. . All of this is explained through the case of a start-up company. Prof. Bushee is very helpful to students on the forum and enjoys teaching her subjects which is evident from the way she presents her courses making learning accounting fun.

This is an entry-level course and is designed for students without an accounting background. Very basic math knowledge is required. This is one of the best resources to learn accounting online.

Main Highlights

1. Study debit-credit bookkeeping and practice translating transactions into debits and credits a lot
2. Understand Accrual Accounting and how it affects the recognition of Profit and Loss Statement accounts: Income and Expenses
3. Learn how to prepare and analyze cash flow statements
4. Understand the difference between Earnings, Cash from Operations, EBITDA and Free Cash Flow using the example of a start up company
5. Two weeks worth of optional content on Ratio Analysis and Financial Statement Analysis
6. Learn through examples and real-world applications
7. Gain access to all videos, quizzes, programming assignments, and peer reviewed assignments after applying for a certificate
8. Option to explore course content without purchasing with limited access to certain assignments

Duration: 4 weeks, 5-6 hours per week
Rating: 4.7

2. MicroMasters® Program in Accounting from Indiana University (edX)

Online Course by Indiana University This MicroMasters program in Accounting is offered by Indiana University's top-rated Kelley School of Business. Kelley School of Business is currently ranked #7 for graduate accounting programs by the Public Accountants Report. The curriculum for this Micromasters program has been designed by their renowned accounting faculty with the aim of substantially enhancing students' understanding of accounting. The 3 graduate level courses included in the program cover the 3 most fundamental areas of accounting - financial accounting, managerial accounting, and income tax. Students will become familiar with the following main material in this course:

Financial Reporting – How does a company measure and report financial position and financial performance in a set of financial statements (balance sheet, income statement and cash flow statement)? Taxes and Decision Making – How does income tax affect companies, their strategy, capital structure and after-tax profit?

This program is for individuals starting/moving into an accounting career or those wishing to enhance their understanding of accounting with respect to investment, banking, and corporate management. Learners can strengthen their abilities in a variety of roles, including certified public accountants (CPAs), accounting managers, auditors, or management accountants.

Completion of this accounting training program will not only be valuable as a standalone credential, but will also count towards the Kelley School of Business full Master's Degree in Accounting. Students who earn the MicroMasters program certificate are eligible to apply to the MS in Accounting without needing to take the GMAT or GRE test. They earn nine credits for applying to a 30-credit Master's degree.

Main Highlights

1. Learn from award-winning accounting faculty at the Kelley School of Business
2. Gain a solid foundation in the concepts and methods of financial reporting, and use your skills to prepare and analyze financial reports
3. Study the key elements of financial reporting, such as revenues, expenses, profits and losses, net income, assets, liabilities and owner's equity
4. Discover how to prepare and analyze accounting information in making complex business decisions
5. Understand the legal, conceptual, and integrative aspects of US federal income taxation
6. Learn how accounting standards, US Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (U.S. GAAP) and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS)
7. Understand how companies develop and use key internal information such as product costs, cost allocations, customer profitability, budgets, and planning to execute and control company strategy

Duration: 9 months, 8-12 hours per week
Rating: 4.6

3. Introduction to Accounting, Finance, Modeling, and Valuation from Udemy

Udemy Online Courses This course by Chris Haroun is the #1 Best Selling Accounting Course on Udemy. It will help you understand accounting, finance, financial modeling and valuation from scratch. You will learn to create, analyze and forecast income statements, balance sheets and cash flow statements. You will also understand how to value a company using several different valuation methods so that you can determine a target price for the company you are analyzing. After completing this accounting class, you will be able to analyze financial reports using various ratios/financial formulas.

This course is full of exercises to complete that help students understand the concepts and apply them too. In addition to the video lectures, there are several reading articles and downloadable resources.

Chris Haroun is a best-selling business guru on Udemy. He is an award-winning business school professor, holds an MBA in finance from Columbia University, has real-world experience from Goldman Sachs to Hedge funds, to venture capital and consulting firms. He has written several popular business books. She teaches based on real-life practical experience and uses a visualization approach that turns complex topics into simple and understandable ones making learning accounting an enjoyable process. He has so far taught over 550,000 students on Udemy alone and earns a huge initial 5 rating and student reviews.

Main Highlights

1. All concepts are covered from scratch, so no accounting or finance experience is required. Only a basic understanding of using Excel is required.
2. Learn to create financial models (projecting the future) for income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements
3. Learn how to use P/R and P/E to choose a target price
4. Explore multiple valuation methodologies, including EV/Sales, EV/EBITDA, P/B, EV/FCF, etc.
5. Analysis of financial statements using profitability ratios and using the debt and inventory formula
6. Analyze and compare companies using the following formulas: Price/Earnings, PEG (P/E / Growth), Price/Revenue, EV/EBITDA, EV/Sales, Price/Free Cash Flow, and Price/Book
7. LinkedIn's in-depth professional accounting, finance, modeling, and valuation analysis incorporates the accounting and finance methodologies used in this course

Duration: 4.5 hours of on-demand video
Rating: 4.5

4. Financial Accounting by LinkedIn Learning – Lynda

Linked Learning (Lynda) Online Course This financial accounting course is offered by Brigham Young University professors Jim Stice and Kay Stice in 2 parts. They have taught accounting for a combined total of more than 70 years and have designed this accounting training course to give business professionals – including managers, analysts and entrepreneurs – the confidence they need to use financial data to drive strategic decision-making.

In Part 1, Jim and Kay prohibit financial statements, balance sheets, income statements, and cash flow statements from using real-world examples. So students can view actual financial reports from Microsoft, Walmart, and others. They make students understand the difference between net income and cash flow and why the credit and debit system is so important for everyday accounting. They help explore assets and liabilities, interpret financial reports, evaluate and adjust journal entries, and prepare their own financial reports. This accounting course is an MBA-level course, layered with case studies and insights that help students bridge the tension between accounting academics and its real-world applications.

In Part 2, Jim and Kay dive deeper into the world of financial accounting. They introduce students to financial ratio analysis methods to help identify company strengths and weaknesses, improvement areas and risks, all through a company's financial reports. They also cover cash flow analysis, forecasting reports, business valuations, and more.

Main Highlights

1. Comprehensive, self-paced training that explains the basics of accounting effectively and builds on real-world examples
2. An introductory course with no prior knowledge of accounting required
3. Learn about business valuation and the two basic valuation perceptions – valuation using multiples and valuation using discounted cash flow analysis
4. The Capstone example uses several different models to estimate the value of McDonalds

Duration: Part 1 – 3 hours 30 minutes & Part 2 – 3 hours 20 minutes
Rating: 4.5

5. MicroMasters® Program in Accounting and Financial Management by UMGC and USMx (edX)

Online Course by the University of Maryland Global Campus This Micromasters Program in Accounting and Financial Management is offered by the University of Maryland Global Campus and the University of Maryland System. It is ideal for mid-career professionals looking to deepen their skills and progress towards organizational leadership positions. This Curriculum program is designed to provide the skills needed to make high-level decisions that impact an organization's operations and financial future. Students gain hands-on experience in reporting and analyzing company financial transactions. They also studied assessing the risk and return of alternative investments by analyzing the SEC 10-K reports of Fortune 500 companies.

There are 4 courses covering the following key areas:

1. Financial Decision Making – Learn how company leaders make effective decisions to maximize profitability and achieve organizational goals strategy
2. Financial Accounting for Corporations – Learn to prepare, analyze, and compare financial reports for publicly selling US companies
3. Financial Management in Organizations - Gain the necessary skills to manage company finances effectively. Learn how to use discounted cash flow, rate of return analysis, and other financial management tools to evaluate projects, investments, and financial instruments
4. Long Term Financial Management - Learn how financial managers meet the long term financial needs of a company and the role of capital markets
5. To earn the MicroMasters Program Certificate, students must complete all 4 courses with a verified certificate in each course. This program also offers students a pathway to an advanced accounting degree - Master of Science in Accounting and Financial Management (MSAF) at UMGC. It counts as 12 credits toward a full master's degree.

Main Highlights

1. Learn from renowned accounting faculty members from the University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC), University System of Maryland (USMx)
2. Learn to manage the operations of financial organizations; including revenues, expenses, assets, liabilities, and equity
3. Understand how to do financial analysis and modeling
4. Evaluate investment alternatives using the time value of money calculation, and understand their impact on cash flows
5. Use case studies of real companies facing financial challenges to analyze the situation, assess risks, and suggest actions
6. Contribute to strategic management decision making and operational problem solving

Duration: 8 months, 8-10 hours per week
Rating: 4.6

These are the most recommended types of accounting courses and are perfect for trying so you can get more in-depth knowledge of accounting. If you have recommendations for places that are more recommended and suitable for trying, please provide input in the comments column.