Understanding Financial Statements: Company Performance (Coursera)

Understanding Financial Statements: Company Performance (Coursera)

This course is designed to provide a basic understanding of financial statements with an emphasis on the income statement. Building on the foundation formed in the first course, you will learn about the third of our three measurement questions and how the income statement helps to answer this final measurement question. Returning to the real business people introduced in the first course, this second course describes the basic content of income statement in a simple yet relevant context.

Class Deals by MOOC List - Click here and see Coursera's Active Discounts, Deals, and Promo Codes.

The course ends by summarizing many of the lessons learned in both courses to leave you with a lasting impression about what financial statements are and how accounting can work for you. We all know that accounting is “the language of business”; let’s make learning this language engaging, and perhaps even fun!
Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to:
• Describe the purpose of an income statement.
• Define the basic components of an income statement.
• 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 the financial statements.
• Read and, to some extent, interpret real-world income statements.
Course 2 of 5 in the Fundamentals of Accounting Specialization

Syllabus

WEEK 1
Course Orientation
You will become familiar with the course, your classmates, and our learning environment. The orientation will also help you obtain the technical skills required for the course.
How Did You Perform? Introducing the Income Statement
This module introduces you to the primary components of the income statement by focusing on the concepts of revenue and cost of goods sold.

WEEK 2
Finishing Out the Income Statement and Managing Cash
This module discusses examples of other income and expenses included in a typical income statement and introduces you to the statement of cash flows.

WEEK 3
Final Elements of Financial Statements
This module highlights common notes to the financial statements and provides insights from an expert.

WEEK 4
Wrapping Up Financial Statements and What Lies Ahead
This module revisits what the first two courses of the Fundamentals of Accounting Specialization have covered and examines how ratio analyses can help you evaluate a company.

Go to Class
MOOC List is learner-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Related Courses

Auditing I: Conceptual Foundations of Auditing (Coursera) Coursera
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Auditing I: Conceptual Foundations of Auditing (Coursera)

This course provides an intensive conceptual and applied introduction to auditing in society. It focuses on concepts and applications related to financial-statement auditors’ professional responsibilities as well as major facets of the audit process including risk assessment and audit reporting. In the U.S. financial-statement audits and related services generally are provided by Certified Public Accountants (CPAs).

Sep 21st 2026
5-12 Weeks
Precision Bookkeeping: Records, Reconciliation, Reporting (Coursera) Coursera
Coursera Instructor Network

Precision Bookkeeping: Records, Reconciliation, Reporting (Coursera)

In the rapidly evolving business environment, precision in bookkeeping is not just a requirement but a cornerstone for financial integrity and organizational success. This course caters to bookkeepers, accountants, financial analysts, and professionals entrusted with managing financial records and reporting. Whether you seek to elevate your current role or aspire to a career in finance, this course equips you with invaluable skills to cultivate a culture of precision and reliability in financial management practices.

Sep 28th 2026
1 Week
Governmental Accounting and Reporting I (Coursera) Coursera
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Governmental Accounting and Reporting I (Coursera)

Building on the fundamentals, these modules dive into specific aspects of governmental and nonprofit accounting. You'll learn about constructing the required financial statements, including the statements for the government-wide as well as fund financial statements. You’ll also learn in great detail the difference between the three categories of funds : Governmental Funds, Proprietary Funds, and Fiduciary Funds. These modules provide in-depth knowledge of accounting practices and financial reporting for government and nonprofit entities.

Oct 5th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Accounting for Mergers and Acquisitions: Foundations (Coursera) Coursera
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Accounting for Mergers and Acquisitions: Foundations (Coursera)

This course aims at assisting you in interpreting financial accounting information related to inter-corporate investments. The course will cover three main topics over four modules: (i) accounting for passive, significant influence, and control type of inter-corporate investments, (ii) special issues and considerations in inter-corporate investments, and (iii) special types of inter-corporate investments.

Sep 28th 2026
4 Weeks
Accounting Analysis I: Measurement and Disclosure of Assets (Coursera) Coursera
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Accounting Analysis I: Measurement and Disclosure of Assets (Coursera)

In this course, we will begin our review of key asset categories underlying the Balance Sheet concepts that were introduced in the previous course. We will begin our trek down the Balance Sheet by reviewing cash and receivables, which are normally the two assets listed first. We will continue our trek down the Balance Sheet by looking at inventory and long-Lived Assets, which are normally two of the largest asset values. We will review the measurement and reporting issues involving Inventories and the corresponding cost of goods sold expense in the Income Statement.

Sep 28th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Financial Acumen for Non-Financial Managers (Coursera) Coursera
University of Pennsylvania

Financial Acumen for Non-Financial Managers (Coursera)

In this course, you’ll explore how financial statement data and non-financial metrics can be linked to financial performance. Professors Rick Lambert and Chris Ittner of the Wharton School have designed this course to help you gain a practical understanding of how data is used to assess what drives financial performance and forecast future financial scenarios. You’ll learn more about the frameworks of financial reporting, income statements, and cash reporting, and apply different approaches to analyzing financial performance using real-life examples to see the concepts in action.

Sep 21st 2026
4 Weeks
Introduction to Financial Accounting (Coursera) Coursera
University of Pennsylvania

Introduction to Financial Accounting (Coursera)

Master the technical skills needed to analyze financial statements and disclosures for use in financial analysis, and learn how accounting standards and managerial incentives affect the financial reporting process. By the end of this course, you’ll be able to read the three most common financial statements: the income statement, balance sheet, and statement of cash flows. Then you can apply these skills to a real-world business challenge as part of the Wharton Business Foundations Specialization.

Sep 21st 2026
4 Weeks
Finance for Managers (Coursera) Coursera
IESE Business School

Finance for Managers (Coursera)

When it comes to numbers, there is always more than meets the eye. In operational finance, you will learn how to read the “story” that the balance sheet and income statement tells about the company’s operations. The insights you gain from this “financial story” will then become a tool for short-term decision-making at the top management level relating to current assets, current liabilities and the management of working capital. Finally, by the end of the course you will understand the financial consequences of managerial decisions on operations, marketing, etc.

Sep 28th 2026
4 Weeks
Intro to Finance in Healthcare (Coursera) Coursera
Northeastern University

Intro to Finance in Healthcare (Coursera)

This course is best suited for individuals currently in the healthcare sector, as a provider, payer, or administrator. Individuals pursuing a career change to the healthcare sector may also be interested in this course. In this course, you will have an opportunity to explore concepts and topics related to accounting and finance basics for healthcare organizations.

Sep 28th 2026
4 Weeks
Completing the Accounting Cycle (Coursera) Coursera
University of California, Irvine

Completing the Accounting Cycle (Coursera)

Students prepare statements relevant to year end accounting processes synthesizing what they have learned in the previous two courses. Specific topics include adjusting entries, closing entries (with a focus on the adjustment to retained earnings), the preparation of an income statement, retained earnings statement, and a balance sheet, and the procedure for recording the four closing entries. Students will also learn how to prepare the post-closing trial balance.

Sep 21st 2026
4 Weeks
Making the Case for Robotic Process Automation (Coursera) Coursera
Association of International Certified Professional Accountants - AICPA

Making the Case for Robotic Process Automation (Coursera)

Robotic Process Automation (RPA) is reshaping the accounting and finance profession. 40% of transactional accounting work is expected to be automated by 2020 and predicted to touch 230 million knowledge workers, 9% of the global workforce, according to McKinsey Research. Driven by the need to stay competitive, decrease costs and increase efficiency, RPA is quickly making a significant impact on the profession. Companies no longer think about "if" but "when" to implement RPA.

Oct 5th 2026
2 Weeks
Beyond the Financials: Insights, Analysis and Valuations (Coursera) Coursera
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Beyond the Financials: Insights, Analysis and Valuations (Coursera)

The objective of this course is to provide you with the knowledge and skills necessary to analyze, interpret, understand and use financial information to make informed decisions. We will discuss financial reporting from a user’s perspective, use a variety of tools to break apart financial reports into meaningful units for analysis, forecast financial statements, and value a firm. This course is intended to give you exposure to the issues facing users of financial statements. You will better understand your role in the financial reporting process if you know how the financial statements will ultimately be used.

Sep 28th 2026
5-12 Weeks