Financial Accounting Course
Online
DURATION
8 Weeks
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Request application deadline
EARLIEST START DATE
Request earliest startdate
TUITION FEES
USD 1,850
STUDY FORMAT
Distance Learning
Introduction
Build, interpret, and analyze financial statements to drive business decision-making
This course will teach you the fundamentals of financial accounting. Starting with the basics of recording transactions as journal entries and posting them to T accounts, you will learn how to prepare a balance sheet, income statement, and cash flow statement.
Equipped with an understanding of the building blocks of financial statements, you will learn how to analyze them and calculate and interpret critical ratios. The course concludes with an introduction to forecasting and valuation where you will learn to prepare forecasted financial statements and make capital budgeting decisions using tools such as Net Present Value and Internal Rate of Return calculations.
Participating in Financial Accounting will allow you to:
- Understand where the information in financial statements originates by recording transactions
- Construct balance sheets and income statements
- Use the statement of cash flows to evaluate the financial health of a business
- Analyze ratios and use the DuPont Framework to evaluate a business
- Prepare and evaluate financial forecasts used to make strategic decisions
- Learn how to value a venture, project, or investment opportunity and perform a sensitivity analysis
The HBS Online Advantage
- World-class faculty
- Edge-of-your-seat online learning
- Global peer collaboration and networking
- Real-world, case-based learning
Harvard Business School Online offers a unique and highly engaging way to learn vital business concepts. Immerse yourself in real challenges faced by a diverse group of finance experts, including Rick Childs, Managing Member of 625 Ground Lessor LLC; Mike Even, former Global CIO for Citigroup Asset Management; Chris Hohn, founder of the Children’s Investment Fund; Henrik Poulsen, Chief Executive Director and Chief Investment Officer of PFA Asset Management; Dwight Scott, President of GSO Capital; Nikos Stathopoulos, Partner at BC Partners and Member of the BC Partners Executive Committee; and Matt Wilson, Co-Portfolio Manager and Managing Director of Oaktree Capital Management. Step into their shoes and wrestle with the same issues they faced, while engaging with fellow learners from around the world.
Ideal Students
Who Would Benefit?
Financial Accounting is designed for anyone who needs to be able to build or interpret financial statements and communicate financial results regardless of job function. There are no prerequisites for the program. Financial Accounting is intended for individuals at all stages of their careers—college students and recent graduates without a background in accounting, those considering an MBA or other graduate programs who would like to strengthen their understanding of accounting, or professionals seeking to understand financial statements and communicate financial results.
Admissions
Scholarships and Funding
We have financial aid and scholarship opportunities for U.S. citizens who are currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate degree program, as well as income-based scholarships for select courses. For more information, please visit our Payment & Financial Aid page for more information.
Curriculum
Program Structure
Financial Accounting consists of approximately 60 hours of material delivered over an eight-week period with a flexible program structure. There is no set time to log in. You complete the coursework on your own time while meeting regular deadlines. All course material is delivered through our innovative online platform.
Our learning model centers around the Harvard Business School case method, featuring interviews with business leaders and executives from companies around the world who candidly discuss challenges they've faced or obstacles they've overcome. We ask you to step into their shoes and engage with your peers to work through these real-world business scenarios.
Topics covered include:
- Recording Transactions
- Financial Statements
- Analyzing Financial Statements
- Forecasting & Valuation
Participants in Financial Accounting are eligible for a Certificate of Completion from Harvard Business School Online. To earn the certificate, you must successfully complete all coursework, including satisfactory performance on quizzes, by the stated deadlines, and actively contribute to our vibrant learning community.
For those interested in learning business fundamentals more broadly, the 3-course CORe program—Business Analytics, Economics for Managers, and Financial Accounting has taken in tandem—is available for $2,250.
Syllabus
Financial Accounting teaches key accounting concepts and principles to illuminate financial statements and unlock critical insights into business performance and potential. Explore how managers, Wall Street analysts, and entrepreneurs leverage accounting to drive strategic decision-making.
Student Testimonials
English Language Requirements
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