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

Status: Free Trial
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Financial Reporting
Skills you'll gain: Balance Sheet, Revenue Recognition, Financial Accounting, Inventory Accounting, Financial Reporting, Cash Management, Accounts Receivable, Financial Statement Analysis, Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), Depreciation, Accounting, Income Statement, Financial Statements, Accrual Accounting, Tax Management, Cash Flows, International Financial Reporting Standards, Technical Accounting, Fixed Asset, Ledgers (Accounting)
Build toward a degree
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
926 reviews
Intermediate · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
Coursera Instructor Network
Financial Reporting: Ledgers, Taxes, Auditing Best Practices
Skills you'll gain: Ledgers (Accounting), Tax Planning, Auditing, Tax Compliance, Income Tax, Financial Auditing, Financial Reporting, Compliance Management, Accounting Records, Regulatory Compliance, Financial Controls, Reconciliation
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
70 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Preview
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), Financial Statements, Business
Build toward a degree
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
241 reviews
Advanced · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
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, Bookkeeping, Revenue Recognition, Depreciation
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
8.4K 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, Ledgers (Accounting), Financial Data, Bookkeeping, Financial Reporting, Financial Accounting, Profit and Loss (P&L) Management
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
773 reviews
Intermediate · Guided Project · Less Than 2 Hours
Status: Free Trial
Coursera Instructor Network
GenAI for Automated Financial Reporting
Skills you'll gain: Prompt Engineering, Large Language Modeling, LLM Application, Google Gemini, Generative AI, Financial Reporting, Anomaly Detection, AI Product Strategy, OpenAI, ChatGPT, Accounting and Finance Software, Business Process Automation, Financial Analysis, Data Analysis
4.9
Rating, 4.9 out of 5 stars
17 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

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University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Financial Reporting Capstone
Skills you'll gain: Accrual Accounting, Financial Reporting, Financial Accounting, Financial Statements, Financial Statement Analysis, Peer Review, General Accounting, Accounting, Ledgers (Accounting), Accounting Records, Balance Sheet, Income Statement, Bookkeeping, Equities, Asset Management, Investments
3.5
Rating, 3.5 out of 5 stars
40 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
University of Pennsylvania
Introduction to Finance and Accounting
Skills you'll gain: Financial Statements, Return On Investment, Financial Statement Analysis, Financial Reporting, Capital Budgeting, Financial Accounting, Financial Modeling, Working Capital, Balance Sheet, Accrual Accounting, Accounting, Cash Flows, Income Statement, Finance, Financial Analysis, Equities, Corporate Finance, Business Valuation, Bookkeeping, Financial Management
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
14K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
Duke University
Financial Statements
Skills you'll gain: Financial Statement Analysis, Financial Statements, Financial Analysis, Balance Sheet, Financial Acumen, Income Statement, Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), Financial Reporting, Business Metrics, Performance Analysis, Performance Measurement, Cash Flows, Annual Reports, Business Acumen, Financial Management
4.9
Rating, 4.9 out of 5 stars
47 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Financial Analysis - Skills for Success
Skills you'll gain: Financial Statements, Financial Statement Analysis, Financial Forecasting, Financial Accounting, Variance Analysis, Financial Analysis, Income Statement, Balance Sheet, Performance Measurement, Management Accounting, Return On Investment, Revenue Forecasting, Financial Management, Profit and Loss (P&L) Management, Cost Management, Financial Data, Budgeting, Finance, Accounting, Business Valuation
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
450 reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Preview
London Business School
Fundamentals of Financial Analysis
Skills you'll gain: Financial Statement Analysis, Financial Analysis, Financial Statements, Balance Sheet, Financial Reporting, Financial Modeling, Income Statement, Return On Investment, Accounting, Investments, Cash Flows, Asset Management
4.4
Rating, 4.4 out of 5 stars
76 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
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, Cost Benefit Analysis, Risk Management, Income Statement, Cost Estimation, Balance Sheet, Financial Reporting, Financial Forecasting, Financial Management, Cash Flows, Financial Market
Build toward a degree
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
72 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months