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Courses / Finance and accounting

Accounting

Journal entries, ledgers, reconciliations and statements, done the way bookkeepers do them.

Start lesson 1 Practice interview Take the assessmentPractice the first unit of every course. No account needed.

59lessons

382checked exercises

13projects, cases and exams

Prepares you for Bookkeeping roles

Projects, case studies and mock exams

Project · BeginnerThe first month of books

Build and report a complete first month in one company file.

8 steps · 24 min Project · IntermediateMonth-end close for a small business

Close a small business month with supporting bank and ledger evidence.

9 steps · 27 min Case study · IntermediateCash vs accrual

Explain why the same books produce different cash and accrual profit.

6 steps · 18 min Project · AdvancedClean up a messy set of books

Repair source-level errors and reconcile the supported records.

8 steps · 24 min Project · AdvancedYear-end with depreciation and inventory

Prepare a supported closing package with asset and inventory adjustments.

8 steps · 24 min Case study · AdvancedChoosing an inventory method

Compare inventory cost methods with one cumulative evidence sheet.

6 steps · 18 min Case study · ExpertAn audit-style error hunt

Correct supported errors and connect the bank, liabilities and profit.

8 steps · 24 min Case study · ExpertDoes the business meet its loan covenants?

Test the covenant after required adjustments and debt classification.

6 steps · 18 min Case study · ExpertA subscription business

Build and check a subscription liability roll-forward.

6 steps · 18 min Mock exam · ExpertMock bookkeeping skills test

Complete a timed mix of entries, calculations, and bookkeeping decisions.

15 questions · 30 min Mock exam · ExpertMock software test (certified user style)

Complete ten practical form, feed, reconciliation, and reporting tasks in Desk Books.

10 questions · 30 min

Build a complete set of books, from your first debit and credit to a supported year-end close. Work in an original bookkeeping app and on accounting worksheets. Record sales and purchases, manage bank feeds, reconcile statements and prepare financial reports. Later lessons cover depreciation, inventory, payroll, cash flows and lender ratios. Projects carry your own books from one step to the next. Original interview questions and timed job tests help you check your reasoning under pressure. The course uses US GAAP terminology, with clearly marked IFRS and UK differences. All companies, people and figures are fictional training data.

Interview practice

Explain what you've learned in a full-screen interview. Speak or type, then review your answers against the rubric for your level.

Interview loops by job

Beginner

How accounting works

Use the accounting equation, account types and normal balances.

4 lessons

1The accounting equationTrace both effects before calculating the missing amount.5 exercises · 15 minFree

2Account types and normal balancesClassify the account by its economic meaning.5 exercises · 15 minFree

3Debits and creditsUse the normal balance to choose the direction.5 exercises · 15 minFree

Practice setFoundations practiceApply the foundations to unfamiliar transactions.Free

Journal entries

Write balanced entries and post them by hand and in Desk Books.

5 lessons

5Write journal entriesRecord the transaction once, with equal debits and credits.5 exercises · 15 minWith a plan

6Compound entriesBalance one transaction across several accounts.5 exercises · 15 minWith a plan

7Post to the ledgerCarry opening balances through each posting.5 exercises · 15 minWith a plan

8Journal entries in bookkeeping softwareUse the journal form with a balanced, dated entry.5 exercises · 15 minWith a plan

Practice setJournal entries practiceChoose accounts from the event rather than the payment label.With a plan

Ledger and trial balance

Organize accounts and investigate errors in ledger balances.

4 lessons

10Set up a chart of accountsChoose an account type that matches the underlying balance.5 exercises · 15 minWith a plan

11Prepare a trial balanceList net ledger balances without hiding abnormal signs.5 exercises · 15 minWith a plan

12Errors a trial balance finds and missesUse the difference to investigate rather than to plug the books.5 exercises · 15 minWith a plan

Practice setLedger and trial balance practiceReview abnormal balances and errors that still balance.With a plan

Financial statements

Connect income, assets, liabilities and equity in a complete first month.

4 lessons

14The income statementMeasure earned revenue and costs for a defined period.5 exercises · 15 minWith a plan

15The balance sheet and equityShow net assets and the owner's residual claim at one date.5 exercises · 15 minWith a plan

Practice setStatements practiceConnect income statement classifications to ending equity.With a plan

ProjectThe first month of booksBuild and report a complete first month in one company file.With a plan

Intermediate

Sales and receivables

Invoice customers, collect payments and manage credits and receivables.

4 lessons

18Invoices and sales taxCreate customer invoices with correct terms and tax treatment.5 exercises · 15 minWith a plan

19Receive payments and make depositsSettle invoices without recording revenue a second time.5 exercises · 15 minWith a plan

20Credit memos, refunds and sales receiptsChoose the form that matches whether cash changes hands.5 exercises · 15 minWith a plan

21Receivables aging and bad debtsAge open invoices and distinguish estimates from write-offs.5 exercises · 15 minWith a plan

Purchases and payables

Record bills and payments without duplicating expenses.

4 lessons

22Bills and paying billsRecord the cost once and settle the resulting payable.5 exercises · 15 minWith a plan

23Expenses, checks and credit cardsSeparate the spending category from the payment source.5 exercises · 15 minWith a plan

24Payables agingAge the open obligation after payments and credits.4 exercises · 12 minWith a plan

Practice setSales and purchases practicePreserve the correct contact and bank in mixed workflows.With a plan

Banking

Review feeds, write precise rules and reconcile supported statements.

5 lessons

26Categorize and match the bank feedChoose Add, Match or Exclude from the source history.5 exercises · 15 minWith a plan

27Bank rulesWrite rules that match intended payees without catching unrelated lines.4 exercises · 12 minWith a plan

28Reconcile a bank accountReconcile only the transactions that the statement supports.5 exercises · 15 minWith a plan

29Bank reconciliation on paperSeparate timing differences from book corrections.5 exercises · 15 minWith a plan

Practice setBanking practiceUse source history to classify and reconcile mixed bank activity.With a plan

Adjusting entries

Recognize accruals and deferrals and extend a ten-column worksheet.

4 lessons

31Accrued expenses and accrued revenueRecognize work earned or costs incurred before cash moves.5 exercises · 15 minWith a plan

32Prepaid expenses and unearned revenueMove used assets and earned advances into current income.5 exercises · 15 minWith a plan

33The adjusted trial balance worksheetCarry adjustments into both trial balance and statement columns.4 exercises · 12 minWith a plan

Practice setAdjusting entries practiceChoose the adjustment from source evidence on fresh data.With a plan

Intermediate projects

Close a complete month and explain cash versus accrual results.

2 lessons

ProjectMonth-end close for a small businessClose a small business month with supporting bank and ledger evidence.With a plan

Case studyCash vs accrualExplain why the same books produce different cash and accrual profit.With a plan

Advanced

Fixed assets and loans

Build depreciation and loan schedules and record disposals.

5 lessons

37Straight-line depreciationBuild a straight-line schedule from cost, salvage, life and service date.5 exercises · 15 minWith a plan

38Declining balance and units of productionApply accelerated and output-based schedules without crossing salvage.5 exercises · 15 minWith a plan

39Selling and scrapping assetsRemove cost and accumulated depreciation and recognize the difference.4 exercises · 12 minWith a plan

40Loans and amortizationSeparate financing principal from interest and finite-life amortization.5 exercises · 15 minWith a plan

Practice setFixed assets practiceReview fixed assets and debt using fresh figures.With a plan

Inventory

Cost inventory layers and adjust counts and recoverable values.

2 lessons

42FIFO, LIFO and weighted averageAllocate available cost across sold units and ending inventory.5 exercises · 15 minWith a plan

43Inventory counts and write-downsAdjust inventory for counted shortages and recoverable value.4 exercises · 12 minWith a plan

Payroll and closing

Record payroll, close temporary accounts and connect cash flows and ratios.

6 lessons

44Payroll entriesSeparate gross wages, employee deductions and employer costs.5 exercises · 15 minWith a plan

45Closing entriesReset temporary accounts and protect the reviewed period.5 exercises · 15 minWith a plan

46The statement of cash flowsReconcile accrual income with operating, investing and financing cash.5 exercises · 15 minWith a plan

47Financial ratiosUse consistent dates, averages and denominators in ratios.5 exercises · 15 minWith a plan

48Revenue recognition basicsRecognize the amount earned for each promised good or service.5 exercises · 15 minWith a plan

Practice setAdvanced practiceCombine advanced methods without losing their accounting meaning.With a plan

Advanced projects

Clean up source records and prepare a supported year-end package.

3 lessons

ProjectClean up a messy set of booksRepair source-level errors and reconcile the supported records.With a plan

ProjectYear-end with depreciation and inventoryPrepare a supported closing package with asset and inventory adjustments.With a plan

Case studyChoosing an inventory methodCompare inventory cost methods with one cumulative evidence sheet.With a plan

Expert

Expert case studies

Investigate errors, test covenants and reconcile subscription liabilities.

3 lessons

Case studyAn audit-style error huntCorrect supported errors and connect the bank, liabilities and profit.With a plan

Case studyDoes the business meet its loan covenants?Test the covenant after required adjustments and debt classification.With a plan

Case studyA subscription businessBuild and check a subscription liability roll-forward.With a plan

Interviews and tests

Explain accounting decisions and complete timed bookkeeping assessments.

4 lessons

Interview setAccounting interview questionsExplain the economic event, the entry, and its effect on the statements.With a plan

Interview setBookkeeping interview questionsChoose the record and control that keep the ledger traceable.With a plan

Mock examMock bookkeeping skills testComplete a timed mix of entries, calculations, and bookkeeping decisions.With a plan

Mock examMock software test (certified user style)Complete ten practical form, feed, reconciliation, and reporting tasks in Desk Books.With a plan