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Anonymous A

on Dec 12, 2019

Global

HELP: Online Course for Accounting?

Dear Preplounge Team

I am an engineer and want to start my first company. Unfortunately I don't know anything about accounting. I want to acquire the most important skills to manage companies financially and to analyze and understand the most important concepts of the accounting language.
Can you recommend an online course?

I have found the following courses. Are these two courses sufficient to realise my plans?

Course1: https://sps.northwestern.edu/post-baccalaureate/fundamentals-accounting/index.php

Course2: https://sps.northwestern.edu/post-baccalaureate/advanced-accounting/index.php

Thanks very much!

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Top answer

Luca

Coach

on Dec 13, 2019

BCG |NASA | SDA Bocconi & Cattolica partner | GMAT expert 780/800 score | 200+ students coached

Hi,

The NW school is a good source but it depends on how much you want to deep dive into the subject. If your aim is just to "speak the same language" and understand what is happening, it is fine. If your aim is to handle the accounting part on your own, you should definetly do a face-to-face course or an intership to put your hands on the financial statements ina safe enviroment.

Where are you going to start your company? Every country has his own detailed rules about accounting, you should consider it before buying a course.

Hope it helps,
Luca

Antonello

Coach

on Dec 17, 2019

McKinsey | NASA | top 10 FT MBA professor for consulting interviews | 6+ years of coaching

Hi,
the source is great but I think you are going to overdo it. It's not needed such a competence for startup founder, when size will grow and you will need it you are going to be happy to hire an expert on it.

Best,
Antonello

Clara

Coach

on Dec 18, 2019

McKinsey | Awarded professor at Master in Management @ IE | MBA at MIT |+180 students coached | Integrated FIT Guide aut

Hello!

I don´t particularly know the courses, but I would look at the online feedbacks to make sure. In any case, I wouldn`t invest time and effort in these kind of courses if your goal is to open a startup.

It is a learning-by-doing process, but for sure you can benefit from a lot of help at the beggining. For that, I would rather join entrepreneurship clubs, incubators, contests, workshops, hackatons... you will learn the content and, more important, get to know the people and network.

Hope it helps!

Best regards,

Clara