What is financial reporting?

Financial reporting is the process in which companies disclose financial results and related financial information to external audiences like investors, customers, and regulators, as well as to their internal managers and employees. Financial reports provide these audiences a snapshot of the financial status of the company and how it has performed during a specific set of time. Financial reporting in publicly-traded companies is an ongoing process, with the official public announcement of the financial results usually done in quarterly intervals during the year. However, industry analysts and other insiders are usually briefed more often during the year.

Why is it important that I learn about financial reporting?

It's important to learn about financial reporting to better comprehend how revenues in a business are balanced out against the costs of running the company. When you learn about financial reporting, you will get a strong understanding of a company’s assets and liabilities, what an income statement is, how to understand a profit and loss report, and how important a cash flow statement is on a company’s financial activities. Learning about financial reporting is an integral asset for anyone with an aptitude for numbers, mathematics, and financial accountability.

What are careers that use financial reporting?

Some of the careers associated with financial reporting include accountant, financial manager, financial analyst, senior tax accountant, and controller. Many of these positions exist in large organizations, especially publicly-traded companies, as there are financial positions in order to handle the work of strict financial reporting measures. To move into a career in financial reporting, it helps to have a background of knowledge in such areas as accounting, financial analysis, and financial management and reporting, along with more general knowledge of sales, project management, and data analytics.

How can taking online courses help me learn financial reporting?

When you take online courses to learn financial reporting, you will gain specific knowledge on topics like accounting analysis, financial statements, cash flow reporting, and profit and loss statements. You can become proficient in using the top financial statements common in organizations: balance sheet, income statement, and the statement of cash flows. As you learn more about financial reporting in online courses, your interests may widen to include other areas of financial accounting and financial reporting. Understanding these subjects is integral to your accounting experience in working on an accounting team at a professional organization.

What are the benefits of taking an online Financial Reporting course?

Online Financial Reporting courses offer a convenient and flexible way to enhance your knowledge or learn new Financial Reporting skills. Choose from a wide range of Financial Reporting courses offered by top universities and industry leaders tailored to various skill levels.

What Financial Reporting courses are best for training and upskilling employees or the workforce?

When looking to enhance your workforce's skills in Financial Reporting, it's crucial to select a course that aligns with their current abilities and learning objectives. Our Skills Dashboard is an invaluable tool for identifying skill gaps and choosing the most appropriate course for effective upskilling. For a comprehensive understanding of how our courses can benefit your employees, explore the enterprise solutions we offer. Discover more about our tailored programs at Coursera for Business here .

Top Financial Reporting Courses - Learn Financial Reporting Online

Explore the Financial Reporting Course Catalog

Erasmus University Rotterdam
Advanced Valuation and Strategy - M&A, Private Equity, and Venture Capital
Skills you'll gain: Strategic Decision-Making, Business Valuation, Private Equity, Mergers & Acquisitions, Game Theory, Strategic Thinking, Financial Analysis, Business Strategy, Return On Investment, Investment Banking, Cash Flows, Corporate Finance, Competitive Analysis
Build toward a degree
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
1.3K reviews
Advanced · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Understanding Financial Statements: Company Position
Skills you'll gain: Balance Sheet, Financial Statements, Financial Statement Analysis, Financial Accounting, Accounting, Financial Reporting, Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), Asset Management
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
1.4K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
Google
Foundations: Data, Data, Everywhere
Skills you'll gain: Data Ethics, Data Analysis, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Google Sheets, Spreadsheet Software, Analytical Skills, Data Sharing, Data Cleansing, Data Processing, Data Visualization Software, SQL, Data Management
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
115K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
Copenhagen Business School
Digital Transformation in Financial Services
Skills you'll gain: FinTech, Technology Strategies, Payment Systems, Financial Services, Digital Transformation, International Finance, Mobile Banking, Banking, Innovation, Financial Regulations, Business Technologies, Business Transformation, Financial Market, Competitive Analysis, Analysis, Financial Regulation, Business Strategy, Business Analysis, Market Dynamics, Business Strategies
4.4
Rating, 4.4 out of 5 stars
2K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
Macquarie University
Analysing: Numeric and digital literacies
Skills you'll gain: Governance, Management Accounting, Marketing Analytics, Budgeting, Capital Budgeting, Financial Modeling, SAS (Software), Business Analytics, Accounting, Financial Management, Customer Insights, Financial Analysis, Dashboard, Analytics, Marketing Effectiveness, Corporate Finance, Digital Marketing, Customer Data Management, Business Valuation, Data-Driven Decision-Making
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
1.2K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
University of California, Irvine
Finance for Non-Financial Professionals
Skills you'll gain: Cash Management, Financial Analysis, Financial Statements, Budgeting, Accounting, Cash Flow Forecasting, Business Valuation, Financial Accounting, Finance, Financial Management, Balance Sheet
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
4.5K reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: New
Rutgers the State University of New Jersey
Generative AI & Governmental Financial Reporting
Skills you'll gain: Prompt Engineering, Scalability, Large Language Modeling, Governmental Accounting, Unstructured Data, Financial Data, Generative AI, Accounting, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML), Artificial Intelligence, Robotic Process Automation, Data Processing, Automation, Application Programming Interface (API), Decision Making, User Interface (UI)
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Yale University
The Science of Well-Being
Skills you'll gain: Personal Development, Positive Behavior Support, Goal Setting, Resilience, Self-Awareness, Behavioral Economics, Adaptability, Mental Health, Productivity, Psychology, Social Skills, Mindfulness
4.9
Rating, 4.9 out of 5 stars
39K reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
Vanderbilt University
Generative AI Leadership & Strategy
Skills you'll gain: Prompt Engineering, ChatGPT, Ideation, Verification And Validation, Data Validation, Succession Planning, Productivity, Business Writing, Generative AI, Leadership, Meeting Facilitation, Organizational Leadership, Artificial Intelligence, Large Language Modeling, Business Leadership, Proposal Writing, Communication, Risk Management Framework, Creative Thinking, Human Resource Strategy
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
6.6K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 1 - 3 Months
Università Bocconi
Private Equity and Venture Capital
Skills you'll gain: Private Equity, Business Valuation, Entrepreneurial Finance, Capital Markets, Mergers & Acquisitions, Investments, Financial Management, Legal Risk, Tax Laws, Entrepreneurship, Due Diligence, Negotiation, Cash Flows
Build toward a degree
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
8.8K reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
Duke University
Excel to MySQL: Analytic Techniques for Business
Skills you'll gain: Data Storytelling, Database Design, Dashboard, MySQL, Relational Databases, SQL, Tableau Software, Business Analytics, Business Metrics, Data Visualization Software, Analytics, Data Visualization, Business Process Improvement, Business Intelligence, Financial Modeling, Microsoft Excel, Business Process, Probability Distribution, Business Risk Management, Predictive Modeling
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
15K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Financial Analysis of Organizations
Skills you'll gain: Financial Statements, Financial Statement Analysis, Financial Forecasting, Financial Accounting, Income Statement, Balance Sheet, Financial Analysis, Revenue Forecasting, Cash Flow Forecasting, Financial Data, Financial Modeling, Cash Flows, Equities, Business Valuation, Financial Planning, Capital Expenditure
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
117 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks