Financial Accounting
Financial Accounting teaches key accounting concepts and principles to illuminate financial statements and unlock critical insights into business performance and potential. Explore how managers, Wall Street analysts, and entrepreneurs leverage accounting to drive strategic decision-making.
Apply NowWhat You'll Learn
- Discover how balance sheets, income statements, and cash flow statements are developed and how each interact
- Evaluate the financial health of a business using financial statements
- Understand GAAP and IFRS standards
- Prepare and evaluate financial forecasts to make strategic decisions
- Value a venture, project, or investment opportunity and perform a sensitivity analysis
About the Professor
V.G. Narayanan is the Thomas D. Casserly, Jr. Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School and chair of the MBA program’s second-year elective curriculum. He has served as the course head for the first-year required accounting course for MBA students, Financial Reporting and Control, and chairs several executive education programs. His research in management accounting focuses on understanding how firms can use incentives and feedback to improve performance.
Who Will Benefit
College Students and
Recent Graduates
Learn the language of business through accounting as you gain the skills and knowledge to analyze financial statements.
Those Considering an MBA
Prepare for the MBA classroom with the program Harvard Business School offers to incoming students.
Mid-Career Professionals
Gain confidence in your ability to understand financial statements and communicate financial results.
Program Structure
Financial Accounting consists of approximately 60 hours of material delivered over an eight-week period. You can complete the coursework on your own time while meeting regular deadlines.
- Length: 8 Weeks
- Program Dates: 3/17/21 – 5/12/21
- Cost: $1,600
- Application Deadline: March 8
- Detailed Calendar
- Length: 8 Weeks
- Program Dates: 5/26/21 – 7/21/21
- Cost: $1,600
- Application Deadline: May 17
- Detailed Calendar
- Length: 8 Weeks
- Program Dates: 7/28/21 – 9/22/21
- Cost: $1,600
- Application Deadline: July 19
- Detailed Calendar
This course is also part of our three-course Credential of Readiness (CORe) program—consisting of Business Analytics, Economics for Managers, and Financial Accounting—available for $2,250.
Interested in mastering business essentials in CORe?
Note: Participants that enroll in the Financial Accounting course are not eligible to enroll in the CORe program. And if enrolling in the CORe program, participants are not eligible to enroll separately in the Financial Accounting course.
Syllabus
Financial Accounting will teach you the fundamentals of financial accounting from the ground up. You will learn how to prepare a balance sheet, income statement, and cash flow statement, analyze financial statements, and calculate and interpret critical ratios. You will also learn the role of managerial judgment in choosing accounting estimates and methods. The course concludes with an introduction to forecasting and valuation.
Learning requirements: In order to earn a Certificate of Completion, participants must thoughtfully complete all 7 modules, including satisfactory completion of associated quizzes, by stated deadlines.
| Modules | Case Studies | Takeaways | Key Exercises |
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| Module 1: The Accounting Equation |
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| Module 2: Recording Transactions |
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| Module 3: Financial Statements |
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| Module 4: Adjusting Journal Entries |
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| Module 5: The Statement of Cash Flows |
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| Module 6: Analyzing Financial Statements |
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| Module 7: Forecasting and Valuation |
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The HBS Online Advantage
- World-class faculty
- Edge-of-your-seat online learning
- Global peer collaboration and networking
- Real-world, case-based learning
Harvard Business School Online offers a unique and highly engaging way to learn vital business concepts. Immerse yourself in real challenges faced by business leaders across a variety of industries. Financial Accounting puts you in the shoes of an equity research analyst, yoga studio owner, and leader of one of the largest nonprofits in the United States. You’ll wrestle with the same issues they faced, while problem-solving and interacting with fellow learners from around the world.
Stories from Our Learners
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A few weeks into the course, accounting terminology came alive as I realized why accounting is the language of business. I can now talk confidently with clients and understand the business aspect of their problems.
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Daily, I use the accounting principles succinctly enumerated by Professor Narayanan. I especially use what I learned in the volunteer work that I do as a board member for two nonprofit organizations.
Request More Information
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Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to log in at a set time? How does the grading process work? At this point, you probably have a few questions, and we’ve got answers.
Enrollment Eligibility
Our easy online application is free, and no special documentation is required. All applicants must be at least 18 years of age, proficient in English, and committed to learning and engaging with fellow participants throughout the course. We confirm enrollment eligibility within one week of your application.
Enroll today in Harvard Business School Online's Financial Accounting course.
Apply Now