Financial Statements, Ratios, and Month-End Close Essentials
Ends soon! Keep adding new skills with 10,000+ programs for $239 (usually $399). Save now.
Financial Statements, Ratios, and Month-End Close Essentials
This course is part of Accounting Assistant Professional Certificate
Included with
Learn more
Recommended experience
Recommended experience
What you'll learn
Compile income statements from trial balance data using spreadsheet formulas and classify accounts within financial statements.
Apply double-entry bookkeeping principles to record transactions and verify that financial balances remain accurate.
Execute month-end closing procedures including prepaid expense schedules and reconciliation of account balances.
Calculate and analyze key financial ratios to identify performance variances and communicate insights to stakeholders.
Skills you'll gain
- Month End Closing
- Accounting
- Income Statement
- Financial Analysis
- Bookkeeping
- Financial Management
- Variance Analysis
- Financial Forecasting
- Accounting Records
- Financial Accounting
- General Accounting
- General Ledger
- Financial Statements
- Business Metrics
- Excel Formulas
- Financial Reporting
- Ledgers (Accounting)
- Financial Statement Analysis
Tools you'll learn
Details to know
March 2026
See how employees at top companies are mastering in-demand skills
Build your Business Essentials expertise
- Learn new concepts from industry experts
- Gain a foundational understanding of a subject or tool
- Develop job-relevant skills with hands-on projects
- Earn a shareable career certificate from Coursera
There are 10 modules in this course
Transform raw financial data into meaningful insights by building essential accounting and analytical skills. You'll develop the ability to compile financial statements, apply double-entry bookkeeping principles, and calculate key performance metrics that drive business decisions. Working with QuickBooks and Excel, you'll gain hands-on experience preparing income statements, managing month-end closing procedures, and analyzing financial ratios.
This integrated approach combines fundamental accounting principles with practical spreadsheet skills and financial analysis techniques. You'll learn to categorize general ledger accounts, create reconciliation schedules, and compute metrics like current ratio and days-sales-outstanding. By project completion, you'll demonstrate the core competencies expected of accounting assistants in today's data-driven business environment. Perfect for those seeking entry-level accounting roles or business professionals who need to understand financial statements and performance measurement.
You will learn the practical application of spreadsheet formulas to transform raw trial balance data into professional income statements, automating the compilation process that accounting professionals use daily when exporting QuickBooks data and creating financial reports.
What's included
3 videos1 reading2 assignments
3 videosβ’Total 15 minutes
- Financial Statement Automation Transforms Accounting Careersβ’2 minutes
- Income Statement Structure and Trial Balance Foundationβ’4 minutes
- Screencast Demonstration - Building Income Statement Formulas Step-by-Stepβ’9 minutes
1 readingβ’Total 7 minutes
- Spreadsheet Formulas for Financial Statement Automationβ’7 minutes
2 assignmentsβ’Total 16 minutes
- Build Your Income Statement from Sample Trial Balance Dataβ’13 minutes
- Income Statement Formula Application Knowledge Checkβ’3 minutes
You will learn the fundamental principles of general ledger account classification, understanding how to properly categorize accounts within financial statements based on the accounting equation and distinguishing between current/non-current designations for professional financial reporting.
What's included
2 videos1 reading3 assignments
2 videosβ’Total 7 minutes
- Proper Account Classification Drives Professional Credibilityβ’2 minutes
- Understanding the Balance Sheet and Income Statement Account Flowβ’5 minutes
1 readingβ’Total 10 minutes
- General Ledger Account Categories and Classification Frameworkβ’10 minutes
3 assignmentsβ’Total 33 minutes
- General Ledger Account Classification Analysisβ’18 minutes
- Account Classification Principles Knowledge Checkβ’3 minutes
- Comprehensive Account Classification and Financial Statement Masteryβ’12 minutes
You will explore the sequential nature of month-end activities, identify their specific responsibilities in the closing timeline, and create timeline presentations for team communication.
What's included
2 videos1 reading2 assignments
2 videosβ’Total 9 minutes
- Month-End Close Process Frameworkβ’7 minutes
- Creating Month-End Timeline Presentationsβ’2 minutes
1 readingβ’Total 10 minutes
- Roles and Responsibilities in Financial Closingβ’10 minutes
2 assignmentsβ’Total 18 minutes
- Build Your Month-End Close Timeline Presentationβ’15 minutes
- Month-End Process Knowledge Checkβ’3 minutes
You will explore the systematic procedures for tracking prepaid expenses, documenting beginning balances, recording additions and amortization, and creating professional schedules that support accurate financial reporting.
What's included
2 videos2 readings2 assignments
2 videosβ’Total 11 minutes
- Prepaid Expense Accuracy Mattersβ’3 minutes
- Prepaid Expense Roll-Forward Componentsβ’8 minutes
2 readingsβ’Total 18 minutes
- Standard Procedures for Prepaid Expense Documentationβ’10 minutes
- Building Roll-Forward Schedules in Excelβ’8 minutes
2 assignmentsβ’Total 15 minutes
- Prepaid Expense Procedures Knowledge Checkβ’3 minutes
- Comprehensive Prepaid Expense Mastery Assessmentβ’12 minutes
You will learn precise definitions and recognition of essential financial ratios that form the foundation for business analysis and decision-making.
What's included
3 videos1 reading1 assignment
3 videosβ’Total 15 minutes
- Financial Metrics Matter: Your Gateway to Business Intelligence β’3 minutes
- Financial Metrics in Context: Recognition and Applicationβ’5 minutes
- Mastering Financial Metrics Recognition Techniquesβ’6 minutes
1 readingβ’Total 7 minutes
- Essential Financial Metrics: Definitions and Core Conceptsβ’7 minutes
1 assignmentβ’Total 3 minutes
- Financial Metrics Definition Mastery Checkβ’3 minutes
You will learn practical calculation techniques and variance analysis methods that enable effective business performance evaluation and decision support.
What's included
3 videos1 reading3 assignments
3 videosβ’Total 20 minutes
- From Numbers to Strategy: The Power of Financial Analysis β’4 minutes
- Advanced Variance Analysis: Spotting Critical Business Trendsβ’7 minutes
- Spreadsheet Mastery: Automating Financial Ratio Calculationsβ’8 minutes
1 readingβ’Total 8 minutes
- Systematic Calculation Methods and Variance Analysis Techniques β’8 minutes
3 assignmentsβ’Total 28 minutes
- Monthly Close Financial Analysis: Real-World Ratio Applicationβ’15 minutes
- Financial Ratio Application and Analysis Mastery Check β’3 minutes
- Comprehensive Financial Ratio Analysis and Strategic Recommendationsβ’10 minutes
You will understand and identify the three core components of the accounting equation (Assets = Liabilities + Equity) and recognize how this fundamental principle governs all financial transactions in business.
What's included
3 videos1 reading1 assignment
3 videosβ’Total 16 minutes
- Why the Accounting Equation Powers Every Business Decisionβ’3 minutes
- Components of the Accounting Equation Explainedβ’7 minutes
- Identifying Equation Components in QuickBooks Balance Sheetβ’7 minutes
1 readingβ’Total 8 minutes
- Real-World Application of Accounting Equation Componentsβ’8 minutes
1 assignmentβ’Total 3 minutes
- Accounting Equation Component Recognition Checkβ’3 minutes
You will learn the systematic method of recording business transactions using double-entry principles, ensuring every transaction maintains accounting equation balance and creates accurate financial records.
What's included
3 videos1 reading2 assignments
3 videosβ’Total 18 minutes
- Double-Entry Bookkeeping Prevents Million-Dollar Mistakesβ’3 minutes
- Double-Entry Principles and Debit-Credit Rules Explainedβ’8 minutes
- Practicing Double-Entry Transaction Analysisβ’7 minutes
1 readingβ’Total 11 minutes
- Journal Entry Patterns for Common Business Transactionsβ’11 minutes
2 assignmentsβ’Total 23 minutes
- Trial Balance Worksheet Creation and Verificationβ’20 minutes
- Double-Entry Principles Application Assessmentβ’3 minutes
You will explore the systematic organization of general ledger accounts into appropriate financial statement sections, enabling accurate statement preparation and clear communication of business financial position
What's included
3 videos1 reading2 assignments
3 videosβ’Total 19 minutes
- How Proper Account Classification Unlocks Business Financingβ’3 minutes
- Financial Statement Structure and Account Organizationβ’8 minutes
- Organizing Trial Balance Data into Financial Statement Sectionsβ’8 minutes
1 readingβ’Total 10 minutes
- Advanced Account Classification for Complex Business Scenariosβ’10 minutes
2 assignmentsβ’Total 18 minutes
- Financial Statement Classification Mastery Checkβ’3 minutes
- Comprehensive Accounting Fundamentals Final Assessmentβ’15 minutes
You will integrate fundamental accounting skills to prepare a comprehensive financial statement analysis package. You will compile financial statements from raw transaction data, execute month-end closing procedures, and analyze financial performance using key metrics to provide actionable business insights.
What's included
3 readings1 assignment
3 readingsβ’Total 80 minutes
- Why This Project Mattersβ’10 minutes
- Project Requirementsβ’10 minutes
- Assignment: Financial Analysis Packageβ’60 minutes
1 assignmentβ’Total 15 minutes
- Graded Quiz: Financial Statements, Ratios, and Month-End Close Essentialsβ’15 minutes
Earn a career certificate
Add this credential to your LinkedIn profile, resume, or CV. Share it on social media and in your performance review.
Instructor
Offered by
Explore more from Business Essentials
Course
Status: Free TrialCategory: Credit offeredCourse
Status: Free TrialCategory: Credit offered- C
Coursera
Professional Certificate
Status: Free TrialCategory: Credit offered Specialization
Status: Free TrialCategory: Credit offered
Why people choose Coursera for their career
Frequently asked questions
To access the course materials, assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience when you enroll in a course. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid. The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.
When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Certificate, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile.
More questions
Financial aid available,
ΒΉ Some assignments in this course are AI-graded. For these assignments, your data will be used in accordance with Coursera's Privacy Notice.
