What is accounting, and why is it important to learn about?

Accounting is the “language of business,” a system for collecting, classifying, measuring, and communicating financial information. While this language includes familiar terms like revenues and costs, assets and liabilities, and profits and losses, accountants use them in specific ways to express key details about the financial health of a company. This discipline is important for anyone trying to understand the performance of an organization, whether managers or employees within a business or external parties such as investors or the government. Rigorous financial accounting is particularly important for high-level executives, who rely on this information to guide effective decision making. Thus, accounting requires much more than being good with numbers or spreadsheets. It requires a blend of analytical skills as well as interpersonal “soft skills,” as accountants must be able to interpret financial information, prepare financial statements and reports that capture this information accurately, and then convey the most important findings clearly.

What kinds of careers can I pursue with a background in accounting?

While accounting terminology is generally the same regardless of your job in this field, accounting careers can vary widely depending on the audience you are communicating to and for what purpose. Public accountants such as Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) are a familiar type of accounting professional, and they work with clients to produce legally-required financial documents such as balance sheet statements for investors or annual reports for taxation authorities. Private accountants, often known as management accountants, instead prepare findings for internal use within an organization. Managerial accounting focuses on collecting and analyzing financial information used to create business plans, forecasts, and budgets, as well as data used for performance evaluation. A background in accounting can also lead to a career as an auditor, employed within a company or by an outside organization to examine financial records and identify signs of mismanagement, waste, or fraud. Similarly, forensic accounting is a specialized job in this field that works with law enforcement agencies like the FBI to “follow the money” in criminal investigations, identifying suspicious activities and uncovering financial clues. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics , most accountants have at least a bachelor’s degree, and many pursue additional certifications in more specialized areas of the field.

Can I learn accounting skills through online courses on Coursera?

Yes, Coursera offers a wide range of online courses on topics related to accounting, from introductory-level courses in financial accounting to more advanced courses and Specializations in areas like financial management, reporting, and taxation. Coursera also offers a Masters of Science in Accountancy from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign to take your accounting career to the next level. Best of all, taking classes remotely lets you learn on a flexible schedule that can fit into your existing work or family life. And, although online courses and Specializations through Coursera offer the same materials and credits as on-campus alternatives, they are available at a significantly lower tuition cost.

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Accounting

Cursos de Accounting

Explora los títulos y certificados 100 % en línea de Coursera

Master of Business Administration (iMBA)University of Illinois

Master of Computer Science in Data ScienceUniversity of Illinois

Master of Science in AccountingUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Financial Accounting Fundamentals
University of Virginia
Curso
Calificado 4.8 de cinco estrellas. 1459 reseñas
90k estudiantes
Beginner
Introduction to Financial Accounting
University of Pennsylvania
Curso
Calificado 4.7 de cinco estrellas. 6418 reseñas
220k estudiantes
Mixed
Fundamentals of Accounting
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Especialización
Calificado 4.7 de cinco estrellas. 1173 reseñas
50k estudiantes
Beginner
Business Foundations
University of Pennsylvania
Especialización
Calificado 4.7 de cinco estrellas. 18357 reseñas
560k estudiantes
Beginner
Excel Skills for Business
Macquarie University
Especialización
Calificado 4.9 de cinco estrellas. 31418 reseñas
460k estudiantes
Beginner
Accounting: Principles of Financial Accounting
IESE Business School
Curso
Calificado 4.8 de cinco estrellas. 1627 reseñas
55k estudiantes
Beginner
Financial Reporting
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Especialización
Calificado 4.8 de cinco estrellas. 361 reseñas
19k estudiantes
Intermediate
Managerial Accounting Fundamentals
University of Virginia
Curso
Calificado 4.8 de cinco estrellas. 318 reseñas
19k estudiantes
Beginner
Accounting for Decision Making
University of Michigan
Curso
Calificado 4.8 de cinco estrellas. 231 reseñas
15k estudiantes
Intermediate
Forensic Accounting and Fraud Examination
West Virginia University
Curso
Calificado 4.7 de cinco estrellas. 2843 reseñas
55k estudiantes
Mixed
Business Analytics
University of Pennsylvania
Especialización
Calificado 4.6 de cinco estrellas. 14081 reseñas
310k estudiantes
Beginner
U.S. Federal Taxation
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Especialización
Calificado 4.8 de cinco estrellas. 429 reseñas
16k estudiantes
Intermediate
Advanced Financial Reporting: Accounting for Business Combinations and Preparation of Consolidated Financial Statements
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Curso
Calificado 4.8 de cinco estrellas. 50 reseñas
4.4k estudiantes
Advanced
Financial Markets
Yale University
Curso
Calificado 4.8 de cinco estrellas. 13103 reseñas
700k estudiantes
Beginner
Fundamentals of financial and management accounting
Politecnico di Milano
Curso
Calificado 4.7 de cinco estrellas. 118 reseñas
3.4k estudiantes
Beginner
More Introduction to Financial Accounting
University of Pennsylvania
Curso
Calificado 4.9 de cinco estrellas. 409 reseñas
44k estudiantes
Mixed
Introduction to CRM with HubSpot
Coursera Project Network
Nuevo
proyecto guiado
Calificado 4.7 de cinco estrellas. 79 reseñas
2.1k estudiantes
Beginner
Formal Financial Accounting
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Curso
Calificado 4.7 de cinco estrellas. 226 reseñas
6.5k estudiantes
Intermediate
Career Success
University of California, Irvine
Especialización
Calificado 4.5 de cinco estrellas. 27569 reseñas
920k estudiantes
Beginner
Auditing I: Conceptual Foundations of Auditing
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Curso
Calificado 4.7 de cinco estrellas. 198 reseñas
16k estudiantes
Mixed

Searches related to accounting

accounting and finance

accounting: principles of financial accounting

accounting analytics

accounting for decision making

accounting and finance for it professionals

accounting data analytics with python

accounting analysis i: the role of accounting as an information system

accounting for business decision making: strategy assessment and control

En síntesis, estos son los 10 cursos más populares accounting

Financial Accounting Fundamentals: University of Virginia
Introduction to Financial Accounting: University of Pennsylvania
Fundamentals of Accounting: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Business Foundations: University of Pennsylvania
Excel Skills for Business: Macquarie University
Accounting: Principles of Financial Accounting: IESE Business School
Financial Reporting: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Managerial Accounting Fundamentals: University of Virginia
Accounting for Decision Making: University of Michigan
Forensic Accounting and Fraud Examination: West Virginia University

Preguntas frecuentes sobre contabilidad

Accounting is the “language of business,” a system for collecting, classifying, measuring, and communicating financial information. While this language includes familiar terms like revenues and costs, assets and liabilities, and profits and losses, accountants use them in specific ways to express key details about the financial health of a company.
This discipline is important for anyone trying to understand the performance of an organization, whether managers or employees within a business or external parties such as investors or the government. Rigorous financial accounting is particularly important for high-level executives, who rely on this information to guide effective decision making.
Thus, accounting requires much more than being good with numbers or spreadsheets. It requires a blend of analytical skills as well as interpersonal “soft skills,” as accountants must be able to interpret financial information, prepare financial statements and reports that capture this information accurately, and then convey the most important findings clearly.
While accounting terminology is generally the same regardless of your job in this field, accounting careers can vary widely depending on the audience you are communicating to and for what purpose.
Public accountants such as Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) are a familiar type of accounting professional, and they work with clients to produce legally-required financial documents such as balance sheet statements for investors or annual reports for taxation authorities.
Private accountants, often known as management accountants, instead prepare findings for internal use within an organization. Managerial accounting focuses on collecting and analyzing financial information used to create business plans, forecasts, and budgets, as well as data used for performance evaluation.
A background in accounting can also lead to a career as an auditor, employed within a company or by an outside organization to examine financial records and identify signs of mismanagement, waste, or fraud. Similarly, forensic accounting is a specialized job in this field that works with law enforcement agencies like the FBI to “follow the money” in criminal investigations, identifying suspicious activities and uncovering financial clues.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, most accountants have at least a bachelor’s degree, and many pursue additional certifications in more specialized areas of the field.
Yes, Coursera offers a wide range of online courses on topics related to accounting, from introductory-level courses in financial accounting to more advanced courses and Specializations in areas like financial management, reporting, and taxation. Coursera also offers a Masters of Science in Accountancy from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign to take your accounting career to the next level.
Best of all, taking classes remotely lets you learn on a flexible schedule that can fit into your existing work or family life. And, although online courses and Specializations through Coursera offer the same materials and credits as on-campus alternatives, they are available at a significantly lower tuition cost.

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Qué tiene Coursera para ofrecer

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Aprende una habilidad relevante para el trabajo que puedes usar hoy en menos de 2 horas a través de una experiencia interactiva guiada por un experto en la materia. Accede a todo lo que necesitas directamente en tu navegador y completa tu proyecto con confianza con instrucciones detalladas.

Curso

Toma cursos de los mejores instructores y las mejores universidades del mundo. Los cursos incluyen tareas revisadas entre compañeros y con calificaciones automáticas, lecciones en video y foros de debate comunitarios. Cuando completas un curso, eres elegible para recibir un certificado de curso electrónico para compartir por una pequeña tarifa.

Especialización

Inscríbete en un programa especializado para desarrollar una habilidad profesional específica. Completarás una serie de rigurosos cursos, llevarás a cabo proyectos prácticos y obtendrás un certificado de programa especializado para compartir con tu red profesional y posibles empleadores.

Certificado profesional

Ya sea que desees comenzar una nueva carrera o cambiar la actual, los certificados profesionales de Coursera te ayudarán a prepararte. Aprende a tu propio ritmo con las mejores empresas y universidades, aplica tus nuevas habilidades en proyectos prácticos que te permitan demostrar tu pericia a los posibles empleadores y obtén una credencial profesional para comenzar tu nueva carrera.

CERTIFICADO MASTERTRACK™

Con los certificados MasterTrack™, algunas secciones de los programas de las Maestrías se dividieron en módulos en línea, por lo que podrás obtener una credencial profesional en línea otorgada por una universidad de excelente calidad a un precio sorprendente y mediante un formato interactivo y flexible. Disfruta de una experiencia de aprendizaje muy cautivante con proyectos de la vida real y capacitaciones dictadas por expertos en vivo. Si te aceptan para realizar el programa completo de la Maestría, el trabajo del curso MasterTrack se cuenta para tu título.

Título

Transforma tu currículum con un título de una de las principales universidades por un precio de lanzamiento. Nuestra experiencia de aprendizaje de título modular te otorga la capacidad de estudiar en línea en cualquier momento y obtener créditos a medida que completas las tareas de tu curso. Recibirás la misma credencial que los estudiantes que asistieron a la clase en la universidad. Los títulos de Coursera cuestan mucho menos dinero en comparación con los programas presenciales.

Cursos de Accounting

Explora los títulos y certificados 100 % en línea de Coursera

Mostrando 366 resultados totales para accounting

Searches related to accounting

accounting and finance

accounting: principles of financial accounting

accounting analytics

accounting for decision making

accounting and finance for it professionals

accounting data analytics with python

accounting analysis i: the role of accounting as an information system

accounting for business decision making: strategy assessment and control

En síntesis, estos son los 10 cursos más populares accounting

Preguntas frecuentes sobre contabilidad

Qué tiene Coursera para ofrecer

Principales cursos en línea

Principales especializaciones en línea

Certificados en linea

Programas de titulación en línea

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