University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Fundamentals of Accounting Specialization
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.

Gary Hecht, Ph.D.
Kevin E. Jackson

Instructors: Gary Hecht, Ph.D.

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4.6

(1,111 reviews)

Beginner level
No prior experience required
2 months
at 9 hours a week
Flexible schedule
Learn at your own pace
Get in-depth knowledge of a subject
4.6

(1,111 reviews)

Beginner level
No prior experience required
2 months
at 9 hours a week
Flexible schedule
Learn at your own pace

What you'll learn

  • 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.

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Taught in English
Recently updated!

February 2025

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Specialization - 4 course series

Understanding Financial Statements: Company Position

Course 112 hours4.8 (1,352 ratings)

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: Financial Statements
Category: Balance Sheet
Category: Equities
Category: Financial Reporting
Category: Financial Statement Analysis
Category: Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP)
Category: Asset Management
Category: Cash Flows
Category: Accounting
Category: Financial Accounting

Understanding Financial Statements: Company Performance

Course 212 hours4.7 (770 ratings)

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: Financial Statements
Category: Income Statement
Category: Cash Flows
Category: Balance Sheet
Category: Financial Statement Analysis
Category: Accounting
Category: Return On Investment
Category: Performance Analysis
Category: Financial Reporting
Category: Financial Analysis

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: Cost Accounting
Category: Decision Making
Category: Strategic Decision-Making
Category: Management Accounting
Category: Financial Analysis
Category: Operations Management
Category: Accounting
Category: Cost Estimation
Category: Business Metrics
Category: Cost Control
Category: Operational Analysis
Category: Profit and Loss (P&L) Management
Category: Financial Accounting
Category: Data-Driven Decision-Making
Category: Operational Efficiency
Category: Product Management
Category: Management Information Systems
Category: Cost Management

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: Management Accounting
Category: Variance Analysis
Category: Budgeting
Category: Capacity Management
Category: Performance Measurement
Category: Decision Making
Category: Price Negotiation
Category: Organizational Strategy
Category: Performance Metric
Category: Financial Controls
Category: Business Strategy
Category: Financial Accounting
Category: Accounting
Category: Budget Management

Instructors

Gary Hecht, Ph.D.
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
9 Courses119,035 learners

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