Prepare financial statements, apply internal controls, analyze audit risks, and present executive-ready performance reports. In this course, you’ll build the reporting and communication skills required of modern financial analysts.

Financial Reporting, Controls, and Performance Storytelling
Limited time! Save 40% on 3 months of Coursera Plus and full access to thousands of courses.

Financial Reporting, Controls, and Performance Storytelling

Instructor: Professionals from the Industry
Included with
Recommended experience
What you'll learn
Apply double-entry accounting and analyze financial statements
Evaluate internal controls and identify audit risk indicators
Create executive-ready financial reports with dashboards and narrative insights
Details to know

Add to your LinkedIn profile
March 2026
See how employees at top companies are mastering in-demand skills

Build your Finance 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 15 modules in this course
You will recall the GAAP double-entry rules for recording revenue and expenses. You’ll understand how debit and credit principles ensure balanced, accurate financial records
What's included
3 videos1 reading2 assignments
You will apply double-entry bookkeeping principles to record financial transactions and prepare a trial balance. You’ll transform raw transactions into structured financial records.
What's included
2 videos1 reading2 assignments
You will explain the principle of segregation of duties and its application in financial controls. You’ll understand how dividing responsibilities strengthens compliance and accountability.
What's included
3 videos2 readings1 assignment
You will apply a self-assessment checklist to identify knowledge or process gaps. You’ll evaluate workflows and propose improvements to strengthen financial controls.
What's included
2 videos1 reading2 assignments
You will recognize the four primary types of audit evidence used to support audit conclusions. You’ll assess reliability and connect evidence to financial assertions.
What's included
3 videos1 reading1 assignment
You will apply vertical analysis to an income statement to identify line items for further review. You’ll detect unusual trends that may signal audit risks
What's included
1 video1 reading2 assignments
You will remember the five phases of the DMAIC problem-solving methodology. You’ll understand how structured process improvement enhances financial efficiency
What's included
2 videos1 reading2 assignments
You will apply the SIPOC framework to map a business process and identify inefficiencies. You’ll visualize workflows to uncover delays and control gaps.
What's included
2 videos1 reading2 assignments
You will recognize the fundamental components of a standard business report. You’ll understand how structure guides decision-making and strengthens clarity.
What's included
3 videos1 reading1 assignment
You will apply presentation tools to assemble data visualizations and a supporting narrative. You’ll transform financial data into clear, actionable insights.
What's included
3 videos1 reading2 assignments
You will create an interactive dashboard for tracking actual versus budgeted performance with drill-through functionality. You’ll design visuals that support deeper financial analysis.
What's included
3 videos1 reading1 assignment
You will create a written explanation of performance deviations and proposed future actions. You’ll connect dashboard insights to clear business recommendations.
What's included
2 videos1 reading2 assignments
You will create a consolidated executive report by combining narrative text with data visualizations. You’ll integrate key metrics into a concise, decision-ready summary
What's included
3 videos1 reading2 assignments
You will apply presentation techniques to summarize historical performance and future outlooks. You’ll communicate trends clearly and confidently to leadership audiences.
What's included
3 videos1 reading2 assignments
In this project, you will analyze quarterly financial performance and prepare an executive-level financial report for board review. Using provided income statement data, you will perform vertical analysis to evaluate profitability trends and identify key performance changes. You will assess potential audit risk triggers, evaluate internal control weaknesses—including segregation of duties concerns—and recommend a structured process improvement to reduce financial risk. This project simulates a real financial reporting assignment where analysts support executive decision-making through structured analysis, risk awareness, and professional communication.
What's included
2 readings1 assignment
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 Finance
Why people choose Coursera for their career

Felipe M.

Jennifer J.

Larry W.

Chaitanya A.

Open new doors with Coursera Plus
Unlimited access to 10,000+ world-class courses, hands-on projects, and job-ready certificate programs - all included in your subscription
Advance your career with an online degree
Earn a degree from world-class universities - 100% online
Join over 3,400 global companies that choose Coursera for Business
Upskill your employees to excel in the digital economy
Frequently asked questions
Yes. The course introduces accounting and reporting concepts step-by-step, making it accessible to learners without prior experience.
Yes. You’ll combine financial analysis, dashboards, and written explanations to produce clear, decision-focused reports.
Financial analysts must communicate performance insights clearly and assess risk. This course builds applied reporting, control evaluation, and storytelling skills aligned with real workplace expectations.
More questions
Financial aid available,
¹ Some assignments in this course are AI-graded. For these assignments, your data will be used in accordance with Coursera's Privacy Notice.





