Finance has been called the “language of business,” and for good reason: Its principles are foundational for how any organization—regardless of industry—makes money. Similarly, accounting is crucial for recording and reporting financial information and provides insights that drive important business decisions.
While finance and accounting knowledge is foundational to business literacy, finance is ever-evolving and requires a lifelong-learning mindset.
Whether you’re a beginner trying to break into the field, a non-finance professional who wants to learn the basics, or a seasoned finance professional striving to stay on the cutting edge of the investment space, taking an online course can be an effective way to gain the skills and knowledge you need.
Harvard Business School Online offers five finance and accounting courses: Leading with Finance, Financial Accounting, Alternative Investments, Sustainable Investing, and Strategic Financial Analysis. Here’s a breakdown of each to help determine which best fits your needs and goals.
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While each course has its own focus and set of learning outcomes, they all share the characteristics that make the HBS Online learning experience unique:
- World-class faculty
- Self-paced online coursework with deadlines
- Engaging, interactive content
- Social interaction with fellow learners
- Real examples of business challenges faced by experts
- The HBS Online Community, a global network of business professionals
- Career growth and a positive return on investment
Which Finance and Accounting Course Is Right for You?
Choosing an appropriate finance and accounting course to boost your skills doesn’t have to be difficult. HBS Online offers programs that suit everyone's finance level, from novice to expert. If you want to master the basics and work your way up to advanced financial concepts, HBS Online's Learning Tracks can help you get there.
If you take three finance and accounting courses within 18 months, you can earn a Certificate of Specialization. These advanced certificates can help boost your resume and signal to employers your commitment to professional growth.
To determine which course you should start with, here's a breakdown of each.
Learn or Refresh Yourself on the Basics
Leading with Finance
Leading with Finance is a six-week course designed to help you understand the key financial levers that drive your organization's performance in a competitive market.
Taught by HBS Professor Mihir Desai, this course is perfect if you want to prepare for the financial aspects of leadership and management, including budgeting, assessing value and performance, and communicating decisions’ financial implications.
Jason Bender, president of Lomont Molding LLC, explains why he chose to take the course: “I decided to sign up for Leading with Finance because I not only wanted a refresher on the principles of finance but wanted to take a more proactive and deeper approach to my company’s financial positioning."
Course summary:
- Course length: 6 weeks
- Cost: $1,850
- Review the syllabus
Financial Accounting
Financial Accounting, taught by HBS Professor V. G. Narayanan, is right for those who want to understand their business’s financial health as told by its financial statements.
This eight-week course will equip you with the skills to prepare and analyze financial statements—such as the balance sheet, cash flow statement, and income statement—and use those insights to make financial decisions.
Course summary:
- Course length: 8 weeks
- Cost: $1,850
- Review the syllabus
In the video below, Professor Narayanan explains why you should further your financial knowledge, even if you're in a non-finance role:
Get Involved in the Investment Space’s Cutting-Edge Future
Alternative Investments
Alternative Investments is a five-week course that will give you the tools to assess investment opportunities beyond traditional stocks and bonds.
HBS professors Victoria Ivashina, Randolph Cohen, and Arthur Segel provide an in-depth foundation in alternative investment types—such as real estate, private equity, and hedge funds—and teach you how to evaluate and leverage them to create diversified portfolios.
Course summary:
- Course length: 5 weeks
- Cost: $1,850
- Review the syllabus
Sustainable Investing
Sustainable Investing, a six-week course taught by HBS professors Shawn Cole and Vikram Gandhi, is a good fit if you aim to positively impact the environment, social equity, and community development while driving long-term financial success.
You’ll gain the skills to assess opportunities, measure impacts, and implement sustainable investment strategies.
Course summary:
- Course length: 6 weeks
- Cost: $1,850
- Review the syllabus
Master Advanced Financial Concepts
Strategic Financial Analysis
Strategic Financial Analysis is an eight-week course taught by HBS Professor Suraj Srinivasan that teaches you how to leverage financial insights to drive strategic decision-making.
This is an intermediate-level course for learners with a preliminary understanding of finance and accounting and access to and experience with Microsoft Excel. You’ll explore strategic drivers of financial performance, forecasting, business valuation, and mergers and acquisitions.
Course summary:
- Course length: 8 Weeks
- Cost: $1,850
- Review the syllabus
Achieve Your Goals by Leveling Up Your Skills
To determine which course is right for you, start by defining your goals. Ask yourself questions like:
- What skills do I want to learn or improve?
- Where would these skills fit into my existing skill set?
- What will these new skills enable me to do professionally?
Because each course offers different learning outcomes, leading with your goals empowers you to take control of your education, select the best option for you, and level up for success.
If you still aren’t sure which HBS Online finance and accounting course is the right fit, download our free course flowchart to determine which best aligns with your goals. If multiple programs interest you, consider pursuing a Learning Track, which enables you to take three courses within the finance and accounting subject area.
This post was updated on January 29, 2025. It was originally published on July 21, 2022.
