Accounting has always been about analytical thinking. From the earliest days of the profession, Luca Pacioli emphasized the importance of math and order for analyzing business transactions. The skillset that accountants have needed to perform math and to keep order has evolved from pencil and paper, to typewriters and calculators, then to spreadsheets and accounting software. A new skillset that is becoming more important for nearly every aspect of business is that of big data analytics: analyzing large amounts of data to find actionable insights. This course is designed to help accounting students develop an analytical mindset and prepare them to use data analytic programming languages like Python and R. We’ve divided the course into three main sections. In the first section, we bridge accountancy to analytics. We identify how tasks in the five major subdomains of accounting (i.e., financial, managerial, audit, tax, and systems) have historically required an analytical mindset, and we then explore how those tasks can be completed more effectively and efficiently by using big data analytics. We then present a FACT framework for guiding big data analytics: Frame a question, Assemble data, Calculate the data, and Tell others about the results. In the second section of the course, we emphasize the importance of assembling data. Using financial statement data, we explain desirable characteristics of both data and datasets that will lead to effective calculations and visualizations. In the third, and largest section of the course, we demonstrate and explore how Excel and Tableau can be used to analyze big data. We describe visual perception principles and then apply those principles to create effective visualizations. We then examine fundamental data analytic tools, such as regression, linear programming (using Excel Solver), and clustering in the context of point of sale data and loan data. We conclude by demonstrating the power of data analytic programming languages to assemble, visualize, and analyze data. We introduce Visual Basic for Applications as an example of a programming language, and the Visual Basic Editor as an example of an integrated development environment (IDE).
YH
It teaches us the basics of data analytics and it is very progressive. There are assignments to help us understand and practice the methods being taught. This allows us to have first-hand experiences.
MP
Excellent course, well structured, taught by a subject matter expert, suitable for individuals with executive background as well as middle-level and junior learners. Highly recommended.
JL
This is a really helpful course! I have learned not only about using Excel for accounting, but also the many functions of Excel.
MJ
Instruction was clear and I found all of the information presented to be useful in my current work with Excel spreadsheets. Now I'm keen to learn Python!
KK
The level of detail was remarkable! If the right amount of focus and time is put into understanding the why and how... you can use the skills instantly to increase your value in the workplace.
AZ
Love the enthusiasm of the professor Ronald Guymon and the module helps me with learning more about the use of Excel and its VBA functions
SD
I really enjoyed the course and the lecture was very interactive, clear & precise in such a way i felt i was in a classroom.
TQ
For a beginner at excel, this course really teaches you a lot about data visualisation and organising data in excel and other similar applications.
LG
Useful for those interesting in learning more about data analytics using Excel! Might be a little content heavy towards week 6 but it was interesting nonetheless with plenty of hands-on assignments.
LY
The lecturer is very concise and goes through concepts in depth by showing examples that build on top of previous knowledge and used dataset that was previously introduced.
RR
Excellent course. I loved it from the beginning to the end. Enjoyed throughly the two assignments. Professor teaching skill is increadible
CA
Excellent content! Instructor was amazing...interesting and comprehensive. Assignments were excellent as well, though peer-review was impossible because no one kept up with me in the course.
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Accounting is not just crunching numbers using traditional journals. Automation is the new norm now. I must say this course offered what it promised to deliver. If you are an aspiring accountant of the future, this course is a must for you. Great job Illinois!
The practice exercises were just great! I am left with only a few questions unanswered after watching the videos. The material is very well explained and shown. I could easily understand complicated subjects after watching the examples and doing it together with the teacher on my computer.
As for the theory I found that the teacher was trying to pack more information in one course than it could possible be ingestible, and for my opinion he succeeded, but it just a lot of information! In one video the teacher was explaining about Visual Basic functionality and in the next video about Machine Learning and Clustering. At some point I started to stop the videos and make some notes and when I finished the course there were 33 pages of notes!
Also, as a not native English speaker I found it hard to interpret all these small nuances in questions in quizzes.
The last point I want to mention is that this course definitely requires some previous experience with Excel and math background as well.
And finally, I want to say BIG thanks to Ronald Guymon for his outstanding work!
Excellent content! Instructor was amazing...interesting and comprehensive. Assignments were excellent as well, though peer-review was impossible because no one kept up with me in the course.
Very insightful session on how to get the best picture out of huge data. I certainly like the homework as it gave me time to practice on certain items. I highly recommend to those who take
Excellent course, well structured, taught by a subject matter expert, suitable for individuals with executive background as well as middle-level and junior learners. Highly recommended.
I absolutely love the way Professor Guymon carries out his online module. Most of the videos have given me interesting insights into accounting analytics which I am confident of utilizing it in the future. I would also like to comment on how the video has captured my attention through the sceneries, interesting features of the school as well as interviewing people in the accounting data analytics field. Thank you for this fantastic online experience.
This course had exceeded my expectations! It really knows what the focus of the course should be. There are many things to learn in data analytics and the professor of the course did a touch and go on those advanced concepts and kept focusing on how to present the data which was done so with superb clarity was so apt. I will definitely rewatch the videos and apply what i have learnts!
One of the best accounting analytics and visualization courses I ever took. I highly recommend anyone who wants to gain deep knowledge and understanding related to accounting data analytics and visualization. Thank you Professor Ronald Guymon for your amazing explanation.
I think that the course is interesting and the pace is comfortable to learners. I just wish that that can be more practice and pdf/word docs of lecture notes to make the content more organised. Kepp up the good work!
The level of detail was remarkable! If the right amount of focus and time is put into understanding the why and how... you can use the skills instantly to increase your value in the workplace.
one of most insightful data analytics courses from the finance perspective, very good intro coursera for both business professional and IT professionals
Useful for those interesting in learning more about data analytics using Excel! Might be a little content heavy towards week 6 but it was interesting nonetheless with plenty of hands-on assignments.
Advanced topics are covered in a quick pace in a basic way
I recently completed the "Introduction to Accounting Data Analytics and Visualization" course offered by the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and I must say it was an enriching and highly educational experience. The course content was meticulously structured, making complex concepts in data analytics and visualization accessible even for beginners. The blend of theoretical knowledge and practical application was particularly effective, allowing me to understand not just the 'how' but also the 'why' behind various accounting data analytics techniques. The instructors from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign were exceptionally knowledgeable and conveyed the material in a clear and engaging manner. Their use of real-world examples helped bridge the gap between theory and practice, making the learning process more relatable and easier to grasp. Additionally, the hands-on projects were instrumental in reinforcing the concepts learned during the lectures. One of the highlights of the course was the comprehensive introduction to various data visualization tools and techniques. Learning how to effectively visualize accounting data has significantly improved my ability to communicate financial information in a more insightful and impactful way. The focus on using visualization to tell a story with data was particularly valuable. Moreover, the course community was supportive and collaborative. The discussions and peer reviews provided diverse perspectives and enhanced my learning experience. The additional resources and suggested readings were also a great help in deepening my understanding of the subject. Overall, I highly recommend the "Introduction to Accounting Data Analytics and Visualization" course from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign to anyone looking to enhance their skills in accounting data analytics. It has provided me with a strong foundation and practical skills that I am excited to apply in my professional journey.
Modules 1-7 were for me as a semi-retired executive learning how AI will affect our data driven decisions and insights. I understand module 8 was lead in for the students who want to explore further. The professor was fantastic. The videos I watched several times over. I enjoyed the homework assignments over the quizzes but again, I am not in school. I would very much enjoy remaining in touch with the professor as his skill sets are cutting edge as to what is going on inside business organizations. The University of Illinois has really done itself proud.
The lectures are very well structured and the flow of each lectures flows great
reference support and reading material is very satisfying
Presentation support such as drawings, slides, cartoons is very interesting
the way the lecturer teaches is very passionate and very interesting
the speed of the lecturer is suitable to my ability to listen and comprehend
the voice and pronunciation are clear and easy to understand
the material taught is very useful, interesting and up to date
This is a great intro course for accounting data analytics and visualization, like the title states. It involves a combination of technical, analysis, and practical skills. Great for those with an accounting background looking to learn more about the application of analytics and visualization in the field. Professor Guymon's passion for the subject material is palpable and he presents the material in a clear and digestible manner. Looking forward to completing the specialization!
Really love the courses! I've been in accounting field since college to work, but never been informed (well) with data. This course provides sufficient materials to understand about data analytic and visualization with accounting/finance data. Some of the materials are pretty difficult to understand, especially that I have bad skill in statistic, but the instructor is very great at explaining details. Thank you!
Thank you, Professor Ronald Guymon! Introduction to Accounting Data Analytics and Visualization is an immersive experience. The combination of discrete data and excel can result in visually appealing presentations such as Scatter Plots, Box and Whisker Diagram, and Pivot Tables. The implementation of the Regression Line (best-fit line) helps to derive values of R Square, Significance F and P. Kudos to you!
I’ve been working in audit since I finished my degree (about 4+ years now) and this course expanded my view on what potential path I can take that will allow me to learn and hone new interests without having to leave behind acquired technical skills from my job. This is a great program and I highly recommend this!