Online Finance & Accounting Courses (2024)

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Develop an intuitive knowledge of financial principles and statements to unlock critical insights into performance and potential.

92%

Strengthened analytical skills

10X

Return on investment with an average $17,000 salary increase

90%

Are more self-assured at work

Source: 2022 surveys and course data

Certificate Courses (4)

Leading with Finance

Professor Mihir Desai

Build an intuitive understanding of finance to better communicate with key stakeholders and grow your career.

6 weeks, 6–7 hrs/week
Apply by March 11$1,750Certificate

Financial Accounting

Professor V.G. Narayanan

Discover what's behind the numbers in financial statements.

8 weeks, 6–8 hrs/week
Apply by April 8$1,750Certificate

Sustainable Investing

Professors Shawn Cole & Vikram Gandhi

Evaluate environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors, and measure and manage impact investments.

Alternative Investments

Professors Victoria Ivashina, Randolph Cohen, & Arthur Segel

Grow the value of investment portfolios with alternative investments.

5 weeks, 6–7 hrs/week
Apply by March 25$1,750Certificate

Complete any three courses within this subject area to earn a Certificate of Specialization in finance and accounting

Why Should You Learn Finance and Accounting?

Today’s managers depend on performance evaluation. Learning finance and accounting is crucial to understanding your business, how it's measured, and how you can effectively manage your performance. Harvard Business School Professor V.G. Narayanan shares why you should learn finance and accounting even if you're in a non-finance role.

What You Earn

Certificate

Boost your resume by completing an HBS Online course.

Certificate of Specialization

Complete any three courses within this subject area to earn a Certificate of Specialization and signify your deep expertise in finance and accounting.

Learn More about what you earn

What Learners are Saying

Operating in general management, I need to make decisions utilizing the principles we learned on a daily basis. The course empowers me to do so with confidence.

Paul Accornero
International Commercial Director (MD)
Leading with Finance

I'd never experienced such an immersive platform online. It was more effective at building and solidifying knowledge than some in-person courses I've taken.

Ryan Dumlao
MBA Candidate
Financial Accounting

What sets HBS Online apart?

Our flexible, online programs are designed to bring the Harvard Business School classroom to you, and are built around three key characteristics:

Real-World Cases

Apply your learning through real-world examples and experience Harvard Business School’s signature case method. Business leaders will share challenges they’ve faced. As the story unfolds, you’ll leverage course concepts, vital tools and frameworks, and the diversity of your peers’ perspectives to analyze the problem and determine a path forward.

Active

Immerse yourself in a dynamic, interactive learning experience. You’ll engage in a new activity every three to five minutes and apply your knowledge through polls, quizzes, and problem-solving exercises designed to accelerate and reinforce your learning. Exchange ideas with your classmates, broaden your perspective, and challenge your worldview.

Social

Join a global community of business professionals. Learn from and network with peers before, during, and after your course. Ask questions, collaborate, give feedback, and share experiences and expertise across industries to grow or transition your career. You’ll build lasting connections that support you wherever life takes you next.

Learn More about the HBS Online Learning Model

HBS Online vs. Other Top Business Schools with Online, Asynchronous Courses

	HBS OnlineHBSO	Others
Considered more impactful than other online programs by learners*	Yes	No
The preferred brand among prospective online learners*	Yes	No
Reimagined the case study method through a proprietary platform featuring courses created by renowned faculty	Yes	No
Collaboration with fellow online learners through unique simulations and interactive activities	Yes	Some
Discount for repeat participants	Yes	Some
Certificate awarded upon completion of program	Yes	Some
Invitation to a global professional network, including the HBS Online Connext conference, HBS faculty events, and HBS Online Community	Yes	No

*Considered more impactful than other online programs (From a 2023 survey of participants across all HBS Online programs, conducted by City Square Associates). Better overall experience (From a 2023 survey of prospective learners, conducted by City Square Associates).

You May Also Be Interested In

Business Essentials
Strategy
Business in Society
Marketing

90% are more self-assured at work, 10x return on investment, 92% strengthened analytical skills (Business Analytics) - From two 2022 surveys of past participants across all HBS Online programs, conducted by City Square Associates.

All FAQs

Finance and Accounting FAQs

What will I learn in a finance and accounting course? +–

Finance is often referred to as the "language of business." It affects every business function and can be used to assess, evaluate, and strategize your organization's financial health.

A finance course will teach you the key levers that drive your company's performance and cover topics such as cash flow, value creation, and the cost of capital. An accounting course will equip you with skills to report and communicate information through financial statements, including income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements.

Because finance is an ever-evolving field, you might consider taking a more specialized course covering a topic like alternative investments or sustainable investing. An alternative investments course can help you assess investment opportunities beyond traditional stocks and bonds, while a sustainable investing program can teach you how to incorporate environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors into investment decisions.

Which finance and accounting course is right for me? +–

Finance and accounting are essential in any business. All industries require accountants and finance professionals for financial reporting, revenue management, and financial forecasting.

While a finance and accounting course is incredibly useful regardless of the industry, there are several courses to choose from. It is important to know which finance and accounting course is right for your professional goals.

While a finance and accounting course is incredibly useful regardless of your industry, there are several to choose from. It’s important to know which finance and accounting course is right for your goals. Download our free course flowchart to determine which HBS Online course is the best fit.

What's the difference between finance and accounting? +–

Finance focuses on how an organization generates and uses capital, while accounting refers to the process of reporting and communicating financial information. Accounting leverages past and present transactional data to determine a company's health, while finance is inherently forward-looking. Each can help you assess your firm's position and performance and develop your financial literacy, but it’s vital to learn the differences between finance and accounting to pick the right course for you.