Financial accounting is the process of recording, categorizing, and reporting the transactions of a business. In contrast to other fields in accounting such as personal accounting or managerial accounting, financial accounting is specifically concerned with the preparation of financial statements for public use as required by banks, government regulators, shareholders, and other stakeholders. These statements typically include a company’s income statement (also known as a profit and loss or P&L statement), balance sheet, and statement of cash flows.

Accurate financial accounting plays a critically important role in financial management, as these statements collectively provide an agreed-upon framework for both internal and external parties to evaluate the financial health of a company. As such, professionals in this field must have a rigorous understanding of accounting terminology and concepts as established in the Generally Accepting Accounting Principles (GAAP) that are standard in the U.S. - and potentially the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), which are increasingly used by multinational corporations.

Businesses of all kinds must produce financial statements in line with GAAP and IFRS methodologies, as required by taxation authorities as well as potential investors and lenders. Thus, accountants with the ability to organize and maintain financial records, rigorously apply financial accounting principles, and produce clear reports according to these standards are always in demand.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, accountants and auditors earned a median annual salary of $71,550 as of May 2019. These jobs are expected to grow as fast as other jobs in the economy, since they are dependent on the growth of businesses requiring their services. And, while entry-level positions may require only a bachelor’s degree in accounting, job prospects will be best for those with Certified Public Accountant (CPA) recognition, a masters of science in accountancy, or a master’s in business administration (MBA) with an accounting concentration.

Absolutely. Coursera offers a wide range of courses and Specializations in business and finance topics, including financial accounting, from top-ranked schools such as the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Virginia. You can even pursue a masters of science in accounting from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign’s prestigious Gies College of Business - a top-three university in the field.

Regardless of whether you’re a beginner looking for introductory-level education or a mid-career professional looking to dive deeper into a specific topic or pursue your master’s degree, Coursera lets you learn remotely on a flexible schedule that fits with your existing work or family life. And, with a lower tuition than on-campus alternatives, you don’t need to be an accounting expert (yet) to know that learning online is a smart decision for your own finances.