University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Fundamentals of Accounting Specialization
34,957 enrolled
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Fundamentals of Accounting Specialization

Accounting Basics for Managers and Entrepreneurs. Apply principles that underlie financial statements and facilitate business decisions and goals.

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(1,121 reviews)

Beginner level
No prior experience required
Flexible schedule
2 months at 9 hours a week
Earn a career credential
Share your expertise with employers
Get in-depth knowledge of a subject

(1,121 reviews)

Beginner level
No prior experience required
Flexible schedule
2 months at 9 hours a week
Earn a career credential
Share your expertise with employers

Overview

  • Interpret and analyze financial statements to assess the financial position of the organization.

  • Identify the nature, purpose, and importance of different types of decision-useful accounting information.

  • Use analytical tools and techniques to analyze accounting information that informs decisions made by managers, employees, and external parties.

What’s included

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Taught in English
Recently updated!

February 2025

57 practice exercises

Advance your subject-matter expertise

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  • Master a subject or tool with hands-on projects
  • Develop a deep understanding of key concepts
  • Earn a career certificate from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Specialization - 4 course series

What you'll learn

  • Describe the purpose of a balance sheet and its three components.

  • Recognize and understand the meaning of several items typically presented on a balance sheet.

  • Explain the broader purpose of financial statements and the role of accounting in producing the financial statements.

  • Read and, to some extent, interpret real-world balance sheets.

Skills you'll gain

Category: Balance Sheet
Category: Financial Statements
Category: Equities
Category: Financial Reporting
Category: Asset Management
Category: Financial Statement Analysis
Category: Financial Accounting
Category: Accounting

What you'll learn

  • Describe the purpose of an income statement and define its basic components.

  • Recognize and understand the meaning of several items typically presented on an income statement.

  • Explain the broader purpose of financial statements and the role of accounting in producing financial statements.

  • Read and, to some extent, interpret real-world income statements.

Skills you'll gain

Category: Income Statement
Category: Financial Statements
Category: Cash Flows
Category: Revenue Recognition
Category: Financial Statement Analysis
Category: Balance Sheet
Category: Operating Cost
Category: Profit and Loss (P&L) Management
Category: Gross Profit
Category: Financial Reporting

What you'll learn

  • Identify the nature, purpose, and importance of different types of decision-useful accounting information.

  • Create, organize, and communicate cost information to best suit common operational decisions.

  • Use accounting information to manage products, control costs, and leverage other drivers of operational success.

Skills you'll gain

Category: Decision Making
Category: Cost Accounting
Category: Strategic Decision-Making
Category: Management Accounting
Category: Financial Analysis
Category: Business Management
Category: Cost Benefit Analysis
Category: Cost Management
Category: Accounting
Category: Operational Analysis
Category: Operations Management
Category: Profit and Loss (P&L) Management
Category: Sales
Category: Analysis
Category: Business
Category: Budgeting
Category: Performance Measurement
Category: Financial Accounting

What you'll learn

  • Create and communicate accounting information that facilitates strategic decisions.

  • Use accounting information to develop, implement, and improve organizational strategy.

  • Implement controls that align managers’ and employees’ decisions with organizational goals.

  • Measure and evaluate manager and employee performance to control and motivate operational and strategic decision-making.

Skills you'll gain

Category: Cost Accounting
Category: Accounting
Category: Budgeting
Category: Management Accounting
Category: Performance Measurement
Category: Capacity Planning
Category: Strategic Decision-Making
Category: Business Strategy
Category: Technical Accounting
Category: Organizational Strategy
Category: Organizational Effectiveness
Category: Price Negotiation

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Instructors

Gary Hecht, Ph.D.
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
9 Courses120,602 learners
Kevin E. Jackson
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
2 Courses95,683 learners

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