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 .

Best Financial Reporting Courses & Certificates [2025]

Explore the Financial Reporting Course Catalog

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Financial Reporting
Skills you'll gain: Balance Sheet, Contract Accounting, Revenue Recognition, Financial Accounting, Financial Reporting, Depreciation, Financial Statement Analysis, Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), Accounts Receivable, Accounting, Inventory Accounting, Income Statement, Financial Statements, Cash Management, Accrual Accounting, Cash Flows, Fixed Asset, Asset Management, International Financial Reporting Standards, Technical Accounting
Build toward a degree
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
889 reviews
Intermediate · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Advanced Financial Reporting: Accounting for Business Combinations and Preparation of Consolidated Financial Statements
Skills you'll gain: Mergers & Acquisitions, Financial Reporting, Intercompany Accounting, Financial Accounting, Technical Accounting, Consolidation, International Financial Reporting Standards, Business Valuation, Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), Corporate Accounting, Financial Statements
Build toward a degree
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
216 reviews
Advanced · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free
Coursera Instructor Network
Financial Reporting: Ledgers, Taxes, Auditing Best Practices
Skills you'll gain: Tax Planning, Auditing, Tax Compliance, Financial Auditing, Financial Reporting, General Ledger, Bookkeeping, Tax, Compliance Management, Regulatory Compliance, Accounting, Financial Controls, Reconciliation, Record Keeping
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
55 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: AI skills
Microsoft
Microsoft Power BI Data Analyst
Skills you'll gain: Data Storytelling, Dashboard, Excel Formulas, Extract, Transform, Load, Power BI, Data Analysis Expressions (DAX), Microsoft Excel, Data Modeling, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Star Schema, Data Analysis, Data Presentation, Data Visualization Software, Data Integrity, Spreadsheet Software, Data Validation, Data Transformation, Data Cleansing, Data Visualization, Microsoft Power Platform
Build toward a degree
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
7K reviews
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months
University of Pennsylvania
Introduction to Financial Accounting
Skills you'll gain: Financial Statements, Financial Statement Analysis, Financial Reporting, Financial Accounting, Balance Sheet, Accrual Accounting, Financial Analysis, Accounting, Cash Flows, Income Statement, Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), Bookkeeping, Revenue Recognition, Depreciation
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
8.3K reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Coursera Project Network
Create a Financial Statement using Microsoft Excel
Skills you'll gain: Financial Statements, Microsoft Excel, Excel Formulas, Balance Sheet, Financial Data, Bookkeeping, Data Entry, Financial Reporting, Financial Accounting, Profit and Loss (P&L) Management
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
706 reviews
Intermediate · Guided Project · Less Than 2 Hours
Duke University
Financial Statements
Skills you'll gain: Financial Statement Analysis, Financial Statements, Financial Analysis, Balance Sheet, Income Statement, Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), Financial Reporting, Business Metrics, Performance Analysis, Performance Measurement, Cash Flows
4.9
Rating, 4.9 out of 5 stars
26 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
University of Pennsylvania
Introduction to Finance and Accounting
Skills you'll gain: Financial Statements, Return On Investment, Financial Statement Analysis, Finance, Financial Reporting, Capital Budgeting, Financial Accounting, Financial Modeling, Working Capital, Balance Sheet, Accrual Accounting, Accounting, Cash Flows, Income Statement, Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), Financial Analysis, Tax Planning, Equities, Financial Planning, Corporate Finance
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
14K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
University of Colorado Boulder
Financial Forecasting and Reporting
Skills you'll gain: Sustainability Reporting, Financial Analysis, Financial Statement Analysis, Environmental Social And Corporate Governance (ESG), Budgeting, Project Risk Management, Cost Benefit Analysis, Risk Management, Income Statement, Balance Sheet, Financial Reporting, Financial Forecasting, Corporate Sustainability, Financial Management, Cash Flows, Financial Market
Build toward a degree
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
63 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Intuit
Financial Statement Analysis
Skills you'll gain: Reconciliation, Financial Statements, Financial Statement Analysis, Financial Accounting, Income Statement, Balance Sheet, Financial Analysis, Bookkeeping, Analysis, General Accounting, Cash Flows, Sales Tax, Equities, Payroll
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
643 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
IESE Business School
Think like a CFO
Skills you'll gain: Financial Statement Analysis, Financial Statements, Income Statement, Corporate Finance, Accounting, Finance, Cash Flows, Operational Analysis, Financial Accounting, Capital Budgeting, Financial Forecasting, Financial Modeling, Financial Reporting, Financial Analysis, Balance Sheet, Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), Financial Market, Forecasting, Accrual Accounting, Operational Performance Management
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
6.2K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Intuit
Intuit Academy Bookkeeping
Skills you'll gain: Reconciliation, Financial Statements, Financial Statement Analysis, Inventory Accounting, Payroll, Bookkeeping, QuickBooks (Accounting Software), Inventory Control, Financial Accounting, Income Statement, Depreciation, Fixed Asset, Payroll Tax, Property Accounting, Financial Analysis, Sales Tax, Asset Management, Accounting, Balance Sheet, Accounting Records
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
7.2K reviews
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months