Best Online Accountancy Courses

Accountancy plays a crucial role in the financial landscape of organizations across the world and involves recording, analyzing, and reporting financial transactions of an individual or business. From basic accounting principles to specialized auditing, taxation, and management accountancy, it’s a broad field that is used day-to-day for decision-making and financial transparency in a variety of industries.

Whether you are an aspiring accountant or looking to improve your own financial literacy, an online course can show you the ropes and streamline your existing systems. Some have a certificate of completion and bonus materials, while others are suited to different budget levels so I’ve spent the last 2 weeks searching for the crème de la crème of accountancy courses so you can start crunching some numbers.

Without further ado, here are my top picks.

What is the best accountancy course?

1. Introduction to Accounting Data Analytics and Visualization (Coursera)
2. Accounting From Beginner to Advanced (Udemy)
3. Auditing II: The Practice of Auditing (Coursera)
4. Accounting & Financial Statement Analysis: Complete Training (Udemy)
5. IFRS – A Complete Course on IFRS (Udemy)
6. Tax Accounting Made Easy to Understand (Udemy)
7. QuickBooks Online (Skillshare)
8. Forensic Accounting and Fraud Examination (Coursera)
9. Financial Accounting Fundamentals (Coursera)
10. Financial Accounting – Debits & Credits (Skillshare) 

My top pick is Coursera’s Introduction to Accounting Data Analytics and Visualization specialization due to its mixed learning format, packed with high quality video lectures, 30 challenging quizzes and plenty of wider readings each week. Whether you’ve encountered data analysis before or not, you’ll come away able to prepare, sort, analyze and present data in a variety of ways to different audiences. 

If you are looking for a walkthrough from beginner to advanced, Udemy’s Accounting from Beginner to Advanced is the course for you. It covers foundational concepts such as the accounting cycle, regulations, and depreciation before building up to analyzing financial transactions. What sets this course apart is the animated video lectures, ideally suited to visual learners.

Auditing II: The Practice of Auditing is my favorite focussed course due to its range of resources. With 3-4 intensive knowledge checks and an overview each week, the content covered is sure to stick. Furthermore, the case studies and wider reading recommendations push you towards a deep understanding of Auditing and offer a way to continue learning after the program is completed. 

Best free online courses

• Auditing II: The Practice of Auditing (Coursera)
• Forensic Accounting and Fraud Examination (Coursera)

Both courses are free without a certificate of completion but can be upgraded to include a certificate at any point for $38. 

Best accountancy courses reviews

1 Introduction to Accounting Data Analytics and Visualization (Coursera)

Platform: Coursera | Teacher: Ronald Guymon and Linden Lu | Course length: 108 video lessons totaling 18 hours 

With accountants often reporting to internal and external sources, effective data analysis is an essential skill to be mastered. As part of the Accounting Data Analysis Specialization, this segment covers preparing data, analysis techniques and software, and presentation of data to different audiences that are used day-to-day in many careers. 

You’ll learn:

• How to prepare data for analysis 
• Data visualization 
• How to analyze data using Excel 
• Descriptive statistics, data visualization and regression in Python
• How to analyze and interpret data in Python
• Direct and indirect ways to use and manipulate relational databases

Pros

• Mixed learning format – each week has readings and video lectures
• 30 challenging module quizzes 
• Detailed explanations
• As part of the Master of Science in Accountancy (iMSA) from University of Illinois, progress in coursework can be transferred as credit towards degree learning 
• Recognised certificate of completion from the University of Illinois 
• Covers helpful features in Excel as a bonus

Cons

• Projects are peer-reviewed 

Who’s it for: The explanations are detailed enough for beginners, but the course also covers intermediate techniques and Excel skills that would suit those who have more advanced data analysis skills. 

Overall: An excellent introduction to data analysis which will set any aspiring accountant up for success. However, data analysis is a desirable professional skill and, as this course touches on Excel skills, would suit many students and professionals looking to add something to their CV. The mixed learning format makes the program enjoyable to complete and offers an opportunity to push yourself beyond the course content. 

2 Accounting: From Beginner to Advanced (Udemy)

Platform: Udemy | Teacher: Stefan Ignatovski | Course length: 103 video lessons totaling 8 hours 18 minutes

Through high-quality animated video lectures, Stefan will guide you on a journey from foundational accounting principles to advanced concepts. With no prior experience necessary, it is a great introduction to the subject but also serves as a refresher for more seasoned accountants. 

You’ll learn:

• All there is to know about bonds
• How to analyze business transactions
• The accounting cycle 
• How to prepare a Bank Reconciliation and financial statement 
• The process of depreciation, amortization, and disposal of assets 
• Accounting regulations

Pros

• Concise explanations with examples throughout 
• Clearly defined key terms 
• Provides an overview of core topics in accounting 
• Practice exercises for each module with solutions provided
• Lectures structured logically
• Subtitles available in 10 languages including English, Spanish and Italian 

Cons

• Would be more convenient if exercise files were in Excel format
• Occasional error in exercises

Who’s it for: All levels. With plenty of video lectures, some sections can be skipped by intermediate and advanced level accountants, while beginners would benefit from the comprehensive curriculum. 

Overall: A thorough and well-structured course that builds up logically from beginner to advanced. With clearly defined key terms and practice exercises to self-test, you’re sure to stay on track and will be able to identify areas of uncertainty before it becomes a problem. With a 30-day money back guarantee, what do you have to lose?

3 Auditing II: The Practice of Auditing (Coursera)

Platform: Coursera | Teacher: Mark E. Peecher Ph.D| Course length: 73 video lessons totaling 7 hours 26 minutes

Designed for those interested in auditing, this course provides an overview of core auditing practices including risk assessment, audit planning, and reporting. You’re in good hands with Mark Peecher, who has a Phd in accounting, and has worked as a professor in the subject for over 15 years. 

You’ll learn:

• Strategic Systems Auditing (SSA)
• What attribute sampling is and its role in auditing 
• Strategic analysis and strategic business risks 
• Audit evidence and triangulation
• Internal control deficiencies 
• How to communicate audit results

Pros

• 3-4 intensive knowledge checks at the end of each module + quizzes
• Case studies including the Hammersley and Bowlin studies 
• Overview and resources available for each module 
• Experienced and knowledgeable instructor 
• Longer lectures are broken down into more digestible parts 
• Free without certificate of completion

Cons

• Would benefit from more reading resources

Who’s it for: Intermediate level. Mark also offers a foundational introduction to auditing on Coursera that is well suited to beginners 

Overall: Packed full of real-life case studies and examples, Mark’s expertise as a professor really shines through. The knowledge checks at the end of each module are challenging enough to push you to study but also make clear what you need to work on. By breaking up longer lectures the content is more manageable and ideal for self-paced learning as you can revisit different chunks of topics instead of needing to skip through a whole video. 

4 Accounting & Financial Statement Analysis: Complete Training (Udemy)

Platform: Udemy | Teacher: 365 Careers | Course length: 58 video lessons totaling 3 hours 34 minutes

This program, provided by 365 Careers, will introduce you to the core principles of accountancy and financial reporting in bite-sized video lectures under 7 minutes. Applicable to the real world, there are case studies of Tesla and P&G, as well as quizzes to apply key concepts. 

You’ll learn:

• The main types of statements in financial accounting 
• How to prepare a cash flow statement 
• The accounting equation 
• Types of assets and liabilities 
• Direct and indirect methods for cash flow computations
• Financial statement analysis 

Pros

• 17 mini quizzes 
• NASBA CPE credit if you score 70% or higher on the final exam
• Concise lectures under 7 minutes
• Includes example case studies 
• High-quality animated video lectures
• Subtitles available in 23 languages including English, Italian and French

Cons

• Would benefit from more examples
• Fast pace so less suited to non-native English speakers (though subtitles are available)

Who’s it for: Covering core accounting principles and breaking down key statements in detail makes this course ideal for beginners. 

Overall: A hands-on and challenging program that will test your newly learnt skills throughout. With comprehensive coverage of core accounting principles, it is a great way to develop strong foundational knowledge through high-quality graphic video lectures. Whether you have little to no prior experience or are hoping to refresh your skills, this course caters to learners at all levels. 

5 IFRS – A Complete Course on IFRS (Udemy)

Platform: Udemy | Teacher: Syed Muhammad Ali Shah | Course length: 146 video lessons totaling 71 hours 14 minutes

The International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) underpins accountancy around the world by setting a globally recognised and enforceable standard of financial reporting. This comprehensive course will introduce you to professional ethics, sustainability reporting, and keep you on the right side of compliance. 

You’ll learn:

• Professional ethics and ethical considerations 
• What a share-based payment is and the different types 
• Sustainability reporting 
• Hedging and hedge accounting 
• Provisions and contingent liabilities 
• The revenue recognition criteria 

Pros

• 18 mini quizzes to test your knowledge 
• Knowledgeable and experienced instructor 
• Concise explanations 
• Step-by-step example walkthroughs 
• Included in Udemy Personal Plan 

Cons

• Repetitive at times but can help reinforce learning
• Would benefit from a PDF course guide 

Who’s it for: Newbies to financial reporting standards. The step-by-step walkthroughs build up to more advanced topics but are ideal for beginners. 

Overall: With an extensive curriculum, experienced instructor and plenty of step-by-step examples, this program ticks all the boxes of a top online course. The 18 mini quizzes allow you to self-test along the way and identify areas you are struggling with. While it would benefit from a PDF guide, the lectures are logically structured and build on prior videos.

6 Tax Accounting Made Easy to Understand (Udemy)

Platform: Udemy | Teacher: Stefan Ignatovski | Course length: 28 video lessons totaling 1 hour 57 minutes

With a Phd in accounting, Stefan Ignatovski is well known in the online course space for his engaging animated lectures and has taught over 60,000 students. This course will introduce you to the world of tax accounting with a range of quizzes and exercises to challenge you along the way. 

You’ll learn:

• How to apply the economic benefit doctrine
• The difference between tax evasion and avoidance
• How to interpret the tax formula and its components
• The rules for hobby losses, home office expenses and vacation home expenses 
• To identify disallowed deductions 
• The differences between deductions and exclusions

Pros

• Well-presented lecture slides with written text – ideal for making notes 
• Animated lectures would suit visual learners well
• Detailed explanations of core concepts with examples
• Lectures dedicated to applying concepts in real life
• Comprehensive coverage of all things tax accounting 
• Included in Udemy personal plan

Cons

• Instructor has a strong accent making this less suitable to non-native English speakers

Who’s it for: Aspiring accountants, business owners and entrepreneurs keen to ensure compliance with tax regulations and maximize tax benefits 

Overall: Taxes can be intimidating but this course is the perfect starting point for getting your affairs in order. Stefan demystifies the intricacies of tax accounting through detailed explanations without relying on excessive academic jargon. Coupled with animated videos, which will suit visual learners well, it’s an easy watch and ideal to take notes from. 

7 QuickBooks Online (Skillshare) 

Platform: Skillshare | Teacher: Robert Steele | Course length: 96 video lessons totaling 22 hours 31 minutes

QuickBooks is a popular accounting software that can be used to track income and expenses, manage invoices, generate financial reports and more. In this comprehensive course you’ll learn to harness the power of QuickBooks for efficient financial management and strategies to streamline your existing approaches. 

You’ll learn:

• How to make a comparative and summary balance sheet
• Vertical analysis of profit and loss
• How to create an invoice with inventory
• Sales and payroll tax payments 
• How to make a sales by item summary report 
• How to make a custom income statement 

Pros

• Examples and on-screen demonstrations 
• Lectures structured logically so can be followed easily 
• Instructor relates back to accounting theory often 
• Final assignment to account and enter a month’s worth of financial data
• Subtitles available in 5 languages including English, French and Spanish

Cons

• Instructor isn’t responsive on the discussion forum
• Would benefit from a deeper dive into debits and credits 

Who’s it for: Aspiring accountants, freelancers and small business owners looking for an easy way to streamline financial management

Overall: A step by step walkthrough that will provide a solid foundation for managing finances and financial literacy. As a popular accountancy software, it’s worth considering if you’re an aspiring accountant or freelancer while the final assignment is challenging and the perfect opportunity to practice everything covered in the lectures. 

8 Forensic Accounting and Fraud Examination (Coursera)

Platform: Coursera | Teacher: Dr. Richard Riley, Dr. Richard Dull, John Gill | Course length: 22 video lessons totaling 2 hours 47 minutes

This program, provided for free by Coursera, is a dive into the fascinating field of forensic accounting. If you’ve ever wondered why people commit fraud, what money laundering is or are keen to secure your finances this course will answer all your questions and more. With ever increasing financial crimes, you’ll also come away able to identify any ‘red flags’ at work.

You’ll learn:

• How and why people commit fraud 
• Data analysis tools 
• What money laundering is and the common schemes 
• How to use data and technology for fraud investigation
• What whistleblowing is and the difficulties associated with it 
• How to detect financial statement fraud

Pros

• Benefit from the expertise of multiple expert instructors 
• 5 comprehensive quizzes and a final exam
• Free without certificate of completion
• Includes practical examples and case studies 
• Subtitles available in 10 languages including English, French, and Italian

Cons

• Focus on acquiring knowledge instead of skills 
• Correct answer isn’t displayed if quiz answer is wrong, though an explanation for why it’s wrong is provided 

Who’s it for: Business owners and managers wanting to enhance their knowledge of fraud detection and prevention. It would also be well suited to lawyers interesting in pursuing a career in fraud examination

Overall: A valuable course covering a highly relevant field in accountancy. The range of perspectives from the 5 expert instructors sets this course apart from the rest as their different experiences shine through in their concise lectures. You’ll also be tested along the way with challenging quizzes and application to real world case studies.

9 Financial Accounting Fundamentals (Coursera)

Platform: Coursera | Teacher: Luann J. Lynch | Course length: 73 video lessons totaling 7 hours 4 minutes

Luann Lynch is a professor of business administration at the Darden School of Business and has taught over 170,000 students with an instructor rating of 4.8. Under her expert guidance, you’ll learn the foundations of financial accounting and will come away able to interpret financial statements. 

You’ll learn: 

• How to prepare the operating, investing, and financing activities section of the Statement of Cash Flows
• Accounting standards in the US and abroad
• How to use journal entries to record transactions
• The accounting cycle
• How to prepare an Income Statement and Balance Sheet

Pros

• 1 practice quiz and 1 graded quiz for each week 
• Flexible deadlines
• Beginner-friendly
• Certificate of completion can be conveniently added to LinkedIn 
• Subtitles available in 9 languages including English, French and Spanish

Cons

• Unresponsive in the discussion forum
• Explanations could be more concise 

Who’s it for: Business professionals, students pursuing business or finance degrees, entrepreneurs, and anyone interested in financial literacy.

Overall: The clear lectures, practical exercises and experienced instructor makes this specialization an ideal starting point for beginners in the field of accountancy. The flexible deadlines can accommodate any schedule and mean you’re free to take a break between assessments. Once you’ve completed the course, you’ll also earn a certificate of completion which can be added to your LinkedIn profile, showcasing financial proficiency. 

10 Financial Accounting – Debits & Credits (Skillshare)

Platform: Skillshare | Teacher: Robert Steele | Course length: 32 video lessons totaling 7 hours 32 minutes

Robert Steele has a Bachelor’s in Business Economics, specializing in accountancy and has worked as a practicing Certified Public Accountant since 2005. In this introductory course you’ll learn accountancy essentials like balance sheets and income statements, as well as the importance of ethics and how to fulfill them. 

You’ll learn:

• The revenue recognition principle
• Ethics in accountancy 
• The rules governing recording of debits and credits for different types of accounts including assets, liabilities, equity, revenue and expenses 
• To compare and contrast liabilities and equity
• The difference between the cash method and accrual method

Pros

• Beginner friendly 
• Lectures begin and end with clearly defined learning objectives 
• Experienced instructor with concise explanations
• Well-structured curriculum with lectures following a logical structure 
• Active discussion forum
• Lectures can be downloaded and accessed on desktop, tablet and mobile devices

Cons

• No final project available 
• Limited depth on advanced topics

Who’s it for: Beginners. It is ideal for business owners, students and anyone looking to develop financial literacy skills 

Overall: With explanations free of excessive academic jargon, this program delivers strong foundational knowledge on the role of debits and credits in a digestible format. While it doesn’t cover advanced topics extensively, it is ideal for those starting on their accounting journey.

What are the advantages of taking an online accountancy course?

• Invest in a future career – whether you are considering becoming an accountant, entrepreneur, or freelancer then an online accountancy course can give you some guidance on the skills you need and how to improve them. Many courses teach transferable skills such as spreadsheets and data analysis which can be used in other careers as well. 
• Secure business and personal finances – taxes and data analysis are an inevitable part of life when it comes to setting a budget and managing money but don’t come easily to many. Taking the time to learn what needs to be done tax wise can reduce stress in the future and may save you from a fine in the event you made a mistake. With financial crimes on the rise, an online accountancy course can teach you common scams and how to protect yourself against them – giving you more confidence that your funds are secure.
• It is cost-effective – while accountancy is offered at many colleges, online courses are considerably cheaper and can be completed anywhere with projects to consolidate your skills. Some even offer instructor marked work with deadlines in the same way you would have at college.

Buyer’s guide: what to look out for?

• The instructor’s qualifications – accountancy underpins many industries, so instructors come from different backgrounds. While a qualified accountant makes an ideal instructor, entrepreneurs and business managers will have valuable insights as well.
• The topics covered – accountancy is a broad subject and some programs don’t cover everything in great depth. If you are interested in a niche, it may be worth searching for a specific course in advance, so the content is relevant to you.
• The additional resources – some courses on this list include workbooks, glossaries, and downloadable PDF summaries so you don’t have to make your own. Look out for these as you can refer to them and refresh your memory instead of retaking the course.

How much does it cost?

Several courses included on this list are free of charge without a certificate. Some can be accessed using a subscription ranging from $30-$39.99 or completed within a free trial time frame. Paid courses included on this list are $59.99 but range up to $129.99 more generally.

Udemy offers a personal Plan for $30/month, which would give you access to 4 of the courses on this list for less than the price of buying 1. They offer a 1-month free trial and there are over 8,000 other courses included as well. Though you can often find Udemy courses on sale.

Skillshare offers a subscription starting from $32/month. It includes 2 classes on this list, with nearly 30,000 additional courses and can be trialed free for one month.  

2 of the Coursera courses are free without a certificate of completion but can be upgraded to include a certificate at any point for $38. Specializations start at $32/month and go up to $82/month.

How long does it take to learn accountancy?

While an accountancy degree will set you back 4 years, it takes considerably less time to develop fundamental accounting skills, which may suit your needs more. The courses outlined in this article range from 2 hours to 74 hours, but some include recommended readings, projects, and quizzes. Niche courses are generally under 4 hours, while introductory and comprehensive courses are between 7 and 76 hours. 

It is important to mention that the advantage of taking an online course is you can work at your own pace. If you are interested in a niche area of accountancy then many lectures can be skipped, drastically reducing the time needed to complete the class. Furthermore, many courses offer flexible deadlines so the course can be customized to your schedule without any catch up required. 

Conclusion

Whether you are an aspiring accountant, business owner, or looking to improve your own financial literacy then the courses outlined above should give you an introduction and a range of topics to choose from.  

Coursera’s Introduction to Accounting Data Analytics and Visualization Specialization is my top pick as it’s packed with high quality video lectures, 30 challenging quizzes and plenty of wider readings each week. As an in-demand professional skill, you’ll come away able to prepare, sort, analyze and present data in a variety of ways to different audiences. 

Udemy’s Accounting from Beginner to Advanced does exactly what it says on the tin, covering foundational concepts such as the accounting cycle, regulations, and depreciation before building up to analyzing financial transactions. What sets this course apart is the animated video lectures, ideally suited to visual learners.

Auditing isn’t for everyone but Auditing II: The Practice of Auditing is my favorite focussed course due to its range of resources. You’ll be continuously pushed to develop a deep understanding through 3-4 intensive knowledge checks each week, case studies and wider reading recommendations throughout.

See also: best Tableau courses, best online freight broker training courses

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