Free Basic Accounting Course with Certificate

Basic Accounting

Updated with GenAI for 2026
star 4.44  Beginner level 3.75 learning hrs 114.4K+ Learners

Learn accounting fundamentals, maintain financial records, track transactions, and prepare financial statements. Enroll in this free basic accounting course to understand the accounting cycle and business finances.

Instructor:

Madhur Singh

Key Highlights

Get free course content

Master in-demand skills & tools

Test your skills with quizzes

About this course

This basic accounting course introduces you to the fundamentals of accounting and its role in managing an organization's financial information. You’ll learn about different types of accounting, the stakeholders involved, and the importance of systematic bookkeeping and record-keeping. The course also explains how to track business transactions, understand their impact on cash flow, and report financial information through balance sheets and income statements. You’ll explore essential accounting concepts, including separate entities, going concern, double-entry, and matching principles, with examples to understand how they are applied in accounting.

The course also walks you through the complete accounting cycle, from collecting transactions and recording journal entries to maintaining ledger accounts, preparing trial balances, making adjustments, and completing financial statements. You’ll also learn how ChatGPT can support accounting tasks through accounting software integration and step-by-step financial assistance. By the end, you’ll be able to understand accounting fundamentals, maintain systematic financial records, track transactions, interpret basic financial statements, and explain the stages of the accounting cycle. This course is suitable for beginners who want to learn basic accounting and build a foundation in financial record-keeping and reporting.


  

Stand out with an industry-recognized certificate

10,000+ certificates claimed, get yours today!

Get noticed by top recruiters

Share on professional channels

Globally recognised

Land your dream job

Certificate Image

Course outline

What is Accounting?

This section discusses the basics and different types of accounting. It also covers different stakeholders involved in accounting. 

 

BookKeeping

This section discusses what bookkeeping is and points out to the importance of doing it systematically. It also covers different types of bookkeeping practices. 
 

Record keeping system

This section explains the logical approach to maintaining records within the organization. It discusses various elements in the record-keeping system with examples. 
 

Tracking Transactions

This section covers the practices to track transactions and the involvement of sales tasks in cash flow. It also discusses various elements that complete transactions. 

Reporting Transactions

This section explains the concepts of the balance sheet, income statement, and balance statement. It also demonstrates the approach to maintaining accounts through these practices. 

Accounting Concepts

This section explains separate entities, going concern, double entry, and matching concepts in accounting with examples.  
 

Accounting Cycle

This section defines the accounting cycle and explains the collection of transactions, recording journals, positioning ledger accounts, trial balance, adjusting entities, preparing financial statements, and closing entities phases. 

ChatGPT for Accounting

New

This module introduces how ChatGPT can support accountants by integrating with accounting software, providing step-by-step financial solutions, and simplifying the basics of financial accounting for greater accuracy and efficiency.

Get access to the complete curriculum once you enroll in the course

This course is ideal for

  • Beginners wanting to learn accounting fundamentals.
  • Students and job seekers exploring finance careers.
  • Working professionals who handle bookkeeping in Excel.
  • Job seekers adding a Basic Accounting certificate to their CV.

Basic Accounting

rating icon 4.44

3.75 Hours

Beginner

114.4K+ learners enrolled so far

Get free course content

Master in-demand skills & tools

Test your skills with quizzes

Level up with advanced skills & become job ready with Pro+

Subscribe to Pro+ today to build skills with 50+ Pro courses and prep for jobs with advanced AI tools.

PRO
Pro+ course thumbnail image
Strategic Business Finance and Management
1 project 11 hrs video content

Practice exercises

Guided Projects

AI Resume Builder

AI mock interviews

Start 7-Day Free Trial

Trusted by 10 Million+ Learners globally

Learner reviews of the Free Courses

4.44
★★★★
★ ☆
★
★
★
★
★
70%
★
★
★
★
☆
18%
★
★
★
☆
☆
6%
★
★
☆
☆
☆
1%
★
☆
☆
☆
☆
5%
Reviewer Profile

5.0

★★★★ ★
India
“Money measurement concept, Going concern concept, Accounting period concept, Accounting cost concept, Duality aspect concept, Accrual concept, Matching concept”
This concept states that a business firm will continue to carry on its activities for an indefinite period of time. Simply stated, it means that every business entity has continuity of life. Thus, it will not be dissolved in the near future. This is an important assumption of accounting, as it provides a basis for showing the value of assets in the balance sheet. For example, a company purchases a plant and machinery of Rs.100000 and its lifespan is 10 years.
Reviewer Profile

5.0

★★★★ ★
India
“I really enjoyed the online course. It was well planned and laid out, easy to follow.”
I really enjoyed the online course. It was well planned and laid out, easy to follow. The workload (homework & tests) was just enough, so I could finish everything with enough time, learn about the topics, and not feel overloaded and rushed. Overall, I really like this class because all lectures, assignments, and tests are straightforward. A couple of things I dislike about the class are that there should be more opportunities for extra credit, and it would be awesome if the final was an objective essay about what we have learned in this class or what we like about the class.
Reviewer Profile

5.0

★★★★ ★
Philippines
“I learned a lot, and in the name itself, great learnings”
It's easy to follow and easy to understand, and I love it. Thank you.
Reviewer Profile
Saqib Ali

5.0

★★★★ ★
“Excellent and comprehensive learning”
Very short but informative learning course on accounting.
Reviewer Profile

4.0

★★★ ★ ☆
India
“My experience is excellent in this course”
My experience is excellent in this course. This is a very important course for beginners.
Reviewer Profile

5.0

★★★★ ★
India
“Great learning, great teacher with knowledge”
Everything was understood. Small videos help to stay focused.
Reviewer Profile

5.0

★★★★ ★
India
“It was good; everything was quite interesting, and the trainer explained really well with good examples”
I liked everything, I liked it a lot. Great Learning is a great platform where you can clear your basics.
Reviewer Profile

5.0

★★★★ ★
India
“It was very informative and very understandable.”
It showed the exact details in depth with easy understanding of the topic.
Reviewer Profile

4.0

★★★ ★ ☆
India
“Instructor and his knowledge about the topic”
Knowledge and concept delivery was very informative and interactive.
Reviewer Profile

5.0

★★★★ ★
South Africa
“It was challenging, but I managed to grasp as much as I could”
It boosted my mind and knowledge regarding this topic, and I would like to apply my knowledge at work.

Our course instructor

instructor img

Madhur Singh

Career Growth Expert

Management Expert

learner icon
1.4M+ Learners
video icon
53 Courses
Madhur Singh is a Research Analyst at Great Learning. As a subject matter expert for Finance, Marketing, and career guidance, his passion is to facilitate students for finance, management- preparation, and in areas like resume building, handling interview questions, career transition, digital marketing, etc.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will I receive a certificate upon completing this free course?

Yes, upon successful completion of the course and payment of the certificate fee, you will receive a completion certificate that you can add to your resume.

Is this course free?

Yes, you may enroll in the course and access the course content for free. However, if you wish to obtain a certificate upon completion, a non-refundable fee is applicable.

What will I learn in this basic accounting course?

You’ll learn accounting fundamentals, systematic bookkeeping, financial record-keeping, transaction tracking, financial reporting, and the accounting cycle. The course also introduces essential accounting concepts and how ChatGPT can support accounting tasks.

Is this free online accounting course suitable for beginners?

Yes. This accounting course for beginners starts with the basics of accounting and bookkeeping before moving on to transaction tracking, financial statements, and the accounting cycle. No prior accounting knowledge is required.

Which topics are covered in these basic accounting classes?

The course covers the fundamentals and types of accounting, bookkeeping practices, record-keeping systems, transaction tracking and reporting, accounting concepts, the accounting cycle, and ChatGPT for accounting.

What accounting skills will I gain after completing this course?

You’ll develop skills in maintaining bookkeeping records, organizing financial transactions, tracking cash flow, understanding balance sheets and income statements, managing ledger accounts, and following the accounting cycle.

Will I learn how to prepare financial statements in this accounting course?

Yes. You’ll learn about balance sheets and income statements, understand their role in financial reporting, and explore how business transactions are organized and presented in these statements.

Will I learn how to record and track business transactions?

Yes. The course explains systematic record-keeping, how to track business transactions, the elements involved in completing transactions, and how sales activities affect cash flow.

What are the stages of the accounting cycle covered in this course?

You’ll learn the stages of the accounting cycle, including collecting transactions, recording journal entries, maintaining ledger accounts, preparing a trial balance, making adjustments, preparing financial statements, and closing accounts.

Will this course teach me bookkeeping and accounting fundamentals?

Yes. You’ll understand the role of bookkeeping in accounting, explore different bookkeeping practices, and learn how to maintain organized financial records for an organization.

Will I learn how to use ChatGPT to assist with accounting tasks?

The course introduces how ChatGPT can support accountants through accounting software integration, step-by-step assistance with financial solutions, and simplified explanations of financial accounting concepts.

Can I learn how to use double-entry accounting and other accounting concepts?

Yes. You’ll study the separate entity, going concern, double-entry, and matching concepts, with examples to help you understand how these principles guide accounting practices.

What are the steps to enroll in this course?

You need to follow the steps below to enroll in this course:
1. Visit the Great Learning Academy homepage.
2. Search for the course in ‘Basic Accounting.’
3. Now click on the ‘Enroll for Free’ button.
4. Register yourself with Great Learning Academy to enroll in any course by providing the required details and start learning the course for free. 
 

Who is eligible to take this Accounting course?

Anyone with no background in accounting can take this course. 

Why choose Great Learning Academy to learn Basic Accounting?

Great Learning Academy is a comprehensive platform that provides self-paced courses in various domains. Learners take benefit from these courses in their professional careers. There are more than 5 million learners worldwide who are benefitted from these courses. This course is helpful for enthusiasts looking forward to building a career in Finance and Accounting. This course will familiarize different accounting concepts for free online and also imparts skills to practice accounting. 
 

Can I sign up for multiple courses from Great Learning Academy at the same time?

Yes, there are a number of courses you can enroll in and start learning. You can sign up for as multiple courses as you want to enroll in simultaneously with Great Learning Academy. 
 

What knowledge and skills will I gain upon completing this free Accounting course?

You will be able to record, manage, and track financial information within your organization. You will also be able to maintain a ledger and be aware of the accounting cycle after completing this free Accounting course. 
 

What jobs demand that you learn Accounting?

  • With expertise in Accounting, you can land in jobs like:
  • Chartered Accountant
  • Chartered Management Accountant
  • Chartered Public Finance Accountant
  • Company Secretary
  • External Auditor
  • Forensic Accountant
  • Stockbroker
     

Will I have lifetime access to this free course?

Yes, the Great Learning Academy free course comes with lifetime access. Any learner who wants to brush up on their skills can revisit and take the course again. 
 

How long does it take to complete learning this free online Accounting course?

The course includes 3.75 hours of self-paced learning, which you can complete at your own convenience,.

What prerequisites are required to learn this online Accounting course?

The free Accounting course requires you to have no prior knowledge of anything. The course caters to everybody looking to learn Accounting from basics to advance concepts. 
 

Subscribe to Academy Pro+ & get exclusive features

$29/month

No credit card required

Learn from 40+ Pro courses

Access 500+ certificates for free

700+ Practice exercises & guided projects

Prep with AI mock interviews & resume builder

Similar courses you might like

Related Management Courses

50% Average salary hike
Explore degree and certificate programs from world-class universities that take your career forward.
Personalized Recommendations
checkmark icon
Placement assistance
checkmark icon
Personalized mentorship
checkmark icon
Detailed curriculum
checkmark icon
Learn from world-class faculties
  • Personalized Recommendations

    Placement assistance

    Personalized mentorship

    Detailed curriculum

    Learn from world-class faculties

    50% Average salary hike
  • Know More

Enroll For Free