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Financial Reporting, Controls, and Performance Storytelling

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Financial Reporting, Controls, and Performance Storytelling

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Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.
Intermediate level

Recommended experience

1 week to complete
at 10 hours a week
Flexible schedule
Learn at your own pace
Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.
Intermediate level

Recommended experience

1 week to complete
at 10 hours a week
Flexible schedule
Learn at your own pace

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

Shareable certificate

Add to your LinkedIn profile

Recently updated!

March 2026

Assessments

25 assignmentsÂą

AI Graded see disclaimer
Taught in English

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Build your Finance expertise

This course is part of the Financial Analyst: AI, Excel, and Power BI Skills Professional Certificate
When you enroll in this course, you'll also be enrolled in this Professional Certificate.
  • 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

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Professionals from the Industry
247 Courses 36,457 learners

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