FREE Trial with Benzinga Pro happening right now!
Whether you want to level up your career or excel in the classroom, an online accounting course can lend a helping hand. There are options for all skill levels, and you can get started right away. Best of all, you won’t spend a fortune to acquire the knowledge you need to meet your goals.
Ready to get started? Benzinga has already done the legwork for you by compiling a list of the top options.
Featured Courses:
Best Accounting Courses
- Accounting: From Beginner to Advanced! by Udemy
- Accounting Foundations by LinkedIn Learning
- Accounting - The 6 Most Important Rules You Must Learn by Udemy
- Intermediate Accounting 1: Easy. Fast. Simple! by Udemy
- Accounting Foundations: Bookkeeping by LinkedIn Learning *
- Formal Financial Accounting by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
- Accounting for Decision-Making by the University of Michigan
- Accounting and Financial Statement Analysis: Complete Training by Udemy
- The Complete Advanced Accounting and Finance Course by Udemy
What Makes an Accounting Course Great?
Not all accounting courses are the same. Here’s how to know which are worth your time and money.
Facilitated by Seasoned Professionals
The best accounting courses are instructed by subject-matter experts who also have industry experience. Before you enroll, review the facilitator’s bio to learn more about their professional background.
Includes Supplementary Resources
It’s also helpful if the instructor offers additional resources beyond the lectures to help you comprehend vital concepts. Look for courses with articles, downloadable resources, activities or quizzes to test your knowledge.
Self-Paced
You want a course that allows you to set your own deadlines. This way, you can work at a pace that’s convenient and works for your demanding schedule.
Accounting Courses for Beginners
If you have minimal accounting knowledge, start with these introductory courses that are designed for beginners.
1. Accounting: From Beginner to Advanced! by Udemy
Who it's for: Beginners
Price: On sale
This Udemy bestseller will take you from accounting novice to subject-matter expert in record time. It features 4 hours of on-demand video, 2 articles and 24 downloadable resources to help you learn the fundamentals of accounting.
Accounting: From Beginner to Advanced! entails the following segments:
- Introduction to the Course
- Accounting Principles and Fundamentals
- Accounting During the Year
- Accounting at Year-End
- Keeping Cash and Bank Reconciliation – A Must Know!
- Accounts Receivable – Collections – Not Everyone Pays
- Accounting for Merchandising Businesses
- Tracking Inventory – More Competitive, Save on Taxes
- Fixed Assets and Depreciation – Get It Right!
- Accounts Payable and Bonds
- Equity – Stocks and Dividend
- Investments and Time Value of Money
- Statement of Cash Flows
- Financial Statements and Analysis
- Conclusion
Register today to access the course materials right away.
Instruction is provided by award-winning accounting professor Stefan Ignatovski, Ph.D. He’s also an accomplished entrepreneur and investor.
- Quick Courses
2. Accounting Foundations by LinkedIn Learning
Who it's for: Beginners
Price: Included with the monthly membership
Accounting Foundations is another exceptional introductory course for newbies. It offers a primer to the 4 basic accounting types: bookkeeping, financial accounting, tax accounting and managerial accounting. Students also discover how accounting, decision-making, business performance and financial health are all interconnected.
The class is co-facilitated by accounting professors Kay Stice and Jim Stice and includes 7 components:
- Introduction
- What Is Accounting?
- Financial Accounting: Balance Sheet
- Financial Accounting: Income Statement and Cash Flow
- Managerial Accounting
- Income Taxes
- Conclusion
There’s no cost to enroll if you have a monthly LinkedIn membership or sign up for a 1-month trial. You can also buy the course for a 1-time fee of $39.99.
3. Accounting – The 6 Most Important Rules You Must Learn by Udemy
Who it's for: Beginners to advanced students
Price: On sale
If you don’t have an accounting background but want to learn the basic principles used at all levels, this course is for you. You will also acquire the knowledge needed to describe significant universal Accounting elements and classify accounts.
Accounting – The 6 Most Important Rules You Must Learn is facilitated by corporate professional Anthony Ford and consists of 8 lectures:
- Background on Accounting
- The Most Important Rules
- What Is an Asset?
- What Is a Liability?
- What Is Income?
- What Are Expenses?
- What Are Capital and Drawings?
- Do You Know Your Definitions?
Sign up today to get full lifetime access to 1 hour of on-demand video and 9 downloadable resources. You will also receive a certificate of completion when you reach the finish line.
Intermediate Accounting Courses
Have some accounting knowledge under your belt? You will benefit from these intermediate courses.
4. Intermediate Accounting 1: Easy. Fast. Simple! by Udemy
Who it's for: Intermediate students
Price: On sale
Also presented by Stefan Ignatovski, Ph.D., Intermediate Accounting 1: Easy. Fast. Simple! helps you prepare for the CPA exam. It only takes a few hours to complete and is structured to make it easy to retain the information presented in the lessons.
Below is a breakdown of the course:
- Introduction to the Course
- Accounting Information System – Refresher
- Conceptual Framework for Reporting
- Income Statement; Other Income Items; Other Reporting Issues
- Balance Sheet
- Time Value of Money
- Cash and Receivables
- Inventories
- Other Valuation Issues of Inventories
- Statement of Cash Flows
The registration fee includes exclusive access to 43 lectures jam-packed into 3.5 hours of on-demand video, 1 article and a certificate of completion when you finish the course.
- Quick Courses
5. Accounting Foundations: Bookkeeping by LinkedIn Learning
Who it's for: Intermediate students
Price: Included with the monthly membership
In just 1.5 hours, you can learn the essentials of bookkeeping in this popular course. It is also led by accounting professors Kay Stice and Jim Stice, and allows you to earn 2.8 Continuing Professional Education (CPE) credit if you score at least 70% on the final exam.
Accounting Foundations: Bookkeeping consists of 5 modules:
- Introduction
- Four Steps in the Bookkeeping Process
- How Transactions Affect the Accounting Equation
- The General Ledger
- Illustration of the First Three Steps in the Accounting Cycle
- Conclusion
It’s free to enroll with a $29.99 per month LinkedIn membership. Not yet a member? Get a free seat in the class by signing up for a 1-month trial membership.
6. Formal Financial Accounting by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Who it's for: Intermediate students
Price: Free
Formal Financial Accounting by the University of Illinois is brought to you by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Associate Professor of Accountancy Oktay Urcan rolls out interactive lessons that will acclimate you with technical financial accounting terms.
This free class includes 4 modules:
- Module 1: Introduction to Financial Accounting Terminology
- Module 2: Formal Financial Accounting for Assets
- Module 3: Formal Financial Accounting for Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity
- Module 4: Applications of Formal Financial Accounting
Each module consists of video lectures, readings and 1 quiz. Expect to spend 10 hours working through the course.
Advanced Accounting Courses
These advanced courses are most suitable for individuals who already work in accounting or other financial fields.
7. Accounting for Decision-Making by the University of Michigan
Who it's for: Advanced students
Price: Free
Accounting for Decision-Making focuses on 2 key questions: “What do I have?” and “How did I do over time?” Professor Greg Miller also dives into the income statement and balance sheet. He explains how they help you respond to these questions so you can make more sound financial decisions for your organization moving forward.
Here’s what you’ll learn over 7 weeks:
- Why Do We Have Accounting and How Can You Make it Work for You?
- The Accounting Cycle and Bookkeeping: Foundational Tools for a Deeper Understanding
- Revenue, Accounts Receivable, Inventory and Cost of Goods Sold
- Long-Lived Assets
- Liabilities and Stockholders Equity
- Cash Flow Statements
- Ratios and Course End Assessment
It takes approximately 29 hours to get through the video lessons, read the supplementary material and complete the quizzes.
There’s no cost to enroll.
8. Accounting and Financial Statement Analysis: Complete Training by Udemy
Who it's for: Advanced students
Price: On sale
Offered by 365 Careers, Accounting and Financial Statement Analysis: Complete Training dives into topics you should master to attract top employers hiring for entry-level positions. It caters to aspiring accountants, financial controllers, financial analysts and investment bankers. Accounting students and small business owners will also find this class useful.
The course is broken down into 10 sections:
- Introduction to Accounting – Why Accounting Is Important?
- The Three Main Statements in Financial Accounting
- Understanding the Big Picture: Why, What, When and How Much in Accounting
- Let’s Build a Solid Foundation: Core Accounting Principles That You Should Learn
- A COMPLETE Case Study: Bookkeeping Records + Income Statement + Balance Sheet
- Accounting and Timing: Income and Cash Flow Are Two Different Things
- Preparing a Cash Flow Statement: Understanding Cash Flow Analysis
- Introduction to Financial Reporting
- Financial Statement Analysis: Science and Practice
- Financial Statement Analysis: Tesla Exercise
Enroll now to access 54 lectures condensed into 3.5 hours of on-demand video. You will also get 3 articles and 40 downloadable resources to facilitate your comprehension of the core concepts introduced in the lessons.
9. The Complete Advanced Accounting and Finance Course by Udemy
Who it's for: Advanced students
Price: On sale
The Complete Advanced Accounting and Finance Course is designed for bookkeepers, accountants, entrepreneurs, small business owners and career professionals in leadership roles who want to level up their accounting knowledge.
This highly-rated course is taught by Chris Benjamin, MBA and CFO, and prepares you to move beyond accounting basics to work more effectively in your role. You will also learn how to tackle complex accounting issues with ease.
Take a look at the syllabus:
- Introduction
- Deferred Revenue
- Intercompany Transactions
- Foreign Currency Transactions
- Partnerships
- Options and Warrants
- Derivatives
- Consolidating Subsidiaries
- Intangibles
- Leases
- Conclusion
This course is currently being offered at a price that’s too good to pass up. Plus, you can enroll with confidence, knowing there’s a 30-day money-back guarantee if you’re not satisfied for any reason.
It’s best if you have a basic understanding of accounting and financial reporting before you register.
Get Started with an Accounting Course
It’s easy to get overwhelmed when exploring accounting courses, so do yourself a favor and start with an option from our list of top recommendations. They are from industry experts that deliver an exceptional online learning experience.
Even better, there are classes for all skill levels and price points. So you can start with a free selection if money’s tight and work your way up to paid offerings as you free up room in your budget.
Related content: BEST ONLINE ACCOUNTING DEGREE PROGRAMS
Southern New Hampshire University Online
SNHU Online Offers:
- Flexible schedules
- Affordable tuition
- Online tutoring
- Access to electronic research materials
- Specialized academic advising
- Supportive online community