In this course, you will learn the foundations of financial accounting information. You will start your journey with a general overview of what financial accounting information is and the main financial statements. You will then learn how to code financial transactions in financial accounting language. In the meantime, you will learn about the most important concept in contemporary financial accounting: accrual accounting. You will then critically analyze how firms recognize revenues. Finally, you will finish the course with an analysis of accounting for short-term assets, where you will go into detail on how firms account for accounts receivable and inventories.
Financial Accounting: Foundations
Financial Accounting: Foundations
This course is part of multiple programs.
Instructor: Oktay Urcan
153,193 already enrolled
Included with 
Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.
4.7
(4,467 reviews)
Beginner level
No prior experience required
Flexible schedule
Approx. 12 hours
Learn at your own pace
97%
Most learners liked this course
What you'll learn
Accounting information and how it is used by different capital market participants
Record financial information and produce the main financial statements
Fundamental accounting concepts and revenue recognition criteria in preparing financial statements,
Conduct the accounting for short-term assets, with a particular focus on accounts receivables and inventories.
Skills you'll gain
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Assessments
22 quizzes, 2 assignments
Taught in English
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There are 5 modules in this course
You will become familiar with the course, your classmates, and our learning environment. The orientation will also help you obtain the technical skills required for the course.
What's included
2 videos5 readings1 assignment1 discussion prompt1 plugin
Accounting is the language of business. Managers communicate the results of operations within a firm through accounting to various financial information users including investors and creditors. In this module, you will explore various users of accounting information and the main financial statements they use to acquire accounting information. You will develop an understanding of the particular type of information provided by each financial statement and how financial statements are related to each other.
What's included
10 videos4 readings5 quizzes
The starting point of financial statements is individual financial transactions. In this module, you will learn how to code financial transactions in accounting language and how to build the main financial statements from these coded financial transactions. This bottom-up approach will help you appreciate the impact of various financial transactions on the main financial statements.
What's included
5 videos5 readings5 quizzes
Fundamental accounting concepts and revenue recognition principles are at the heart of coding financial transactions in accounting language as well as the preparation of financial statements from these coded financial transactions. Real-life transactions are reflected in financial statements through the lens of these concepts and principles. A good understanding of these concepts and principles will help you understand the type and nature of information you can learn from financial statements.
What's included
6 videos4 readings4 quizzes1 assignment1 peer review
One of the major components of a balance sheet is short-term assets, which are assets that can be converted into cash within a year. Accounts receivables and inventories constitute a major part of short-term assets. Understanding accounting for these accounts will help you uncover how these accounts change over time, their valuation, and their usefulness in managerial decision-making.
What's included
11 videos6 readings8 quizzes1 plugin
Instructor
Instructor ratings
4.6 (924 ratings)Offered by
Recommended if you're interested in Finance
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
IESE Business School
University of Pennsylvania
Corporate Finance Institute
Build toward a degree
This course is part of the following degree program(s) offered by University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. If you are admitted and enroll, your completed coursework may count toward your degree learning and your progress can transfer with you.¹
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4.7
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B
5
Reviewed on Aug 4, 2020
Thank you very much for the University of Illinois and Prof. Oktay. The best explanation ever! Interesting cases and problems! This course helped me to create a strong foundation in accounting.
SH
5
Reviewed on May 14, 2020
I suggest this specialization courses for those who love to learn about Financial Accounting more professionally. Thanks for the Coursera team to provide such valuable courses for us.
YP
5
Reviewed on Jun 6, 2020
The modules were extremely informative and nothing less to say, Oktay sir's presentations were very easy to understand even for a person like me who has no prior knowledge about Financial Accounting.
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