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Managerial and Cost Accounting

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Managerial and Cost Accounting

This course is part of CPA Licensure Prep: Special Topics in Accounting Specialization

Instructor: William Karalius

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4 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

Intermediate level

Recommended experience

5 hours to complete

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

4 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

Intermediate level

Recommended experience

5 hours to complete

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

What you'll learn

Explain how managerial accounting information supports business decision-making, including budgeting, cost allocation, and performance evaluation.
Apply cost accounting tools to analyze costs, evaluate business scenarios, and support management decisions.

Skills you'll gain

Details to know

Shareable certificate

Add to your LinkedIn profile

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Build your subject-matter expertise

This course is part of the CPA Licensure Prep: Special Topics in Accounting Specialization

When you enroll in this course, you'll also be enrolled in this Specialization.

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

There are 4 modules in this course

Build practical skills in managerial and cost accounting to support stronger business decisions. In this course, you’ll learn how organizations use internal accounting information to plan operations, control costs, evaluate performance, and guide strategy. You’ll explore core managerial accounting concepts, compare managerial and financial accounting, examine the value chain, and work with budgeting, cost allocation, cost objects, and manufacturing costs. You’ll also study cost accounting tools such as cost behavior analysis, cost-volume-profit analysis, and job costing versus process costing.

By the end of the course, you’ll be able to interpret key managerial and cost accounting concepts and apply them to realistic business scenarios. You’ll practice analyzing how accounting information supports pricing, planning, production, and operational decisions made by managers and business leaders. This course is designed for learners who want a practical foundation in internal decision-making tools used across accounting, finance, and management roles. Its emphasis on real-world application makes it especially useful for aspiring accountants, business professionals, and learners preparing for more advanced accounting study.

In this module, you’ll explore the major ways businesses utilize internal accountants for making business decisions and why those choices matter. You’ll examine the basics of managerial accounting and how it differs from financial accounting's GAAP focus. By the end of the module, you’ll be prepared to recognize the key features of managerial accounting, along with necessary competencies and understand why these distinctions are foundational for accountants and internal business managers.

What's included

5 videos3 readings2 assignments

5 videosTotal 26 minutes

Instructor Introduction and Course Overview3 minutes
Managerial Accounting Overview6 minutes
Comparing Managerial to Financial Accounting6 minutes
Managerial Accounting Competencies6 minutes
Value Chain6 minutes

3 readingsTotal 45 minutes

Course Outline5 minutes
Managerial Accounting Vs. Financial Accounting20 minutes
The Value Chain20 minutes

2 assignmentsTotal 30 minutes

Practice Assessment: Managerial Accounting Overview10 minutes
Graded Assessment: Module 120 minutes

In this module, you’ll explore the common areas in managerial accounting that drive decisions and why those choices matter. You’ll examine how costs are allocated, how costs are assigned to cost objects, budgeting concepts, and the basics of manufacturing costs. By the end of the module, you’ll be prepared to recognize the key decision-making methods as they relate to costs and understand why these distinctions are foundational for accountants and management.

What's included

4 videos2 readings1 assignment

In this module, you’ll explore the primary concepts behind cost accounting. You’ll examine how cost accounting differs from some of the broader features of managerial accounting, common cost behaviors, different types of cost structures and how cost-volume-profit analysis is utilized. By the end of the module, you’ll be prepared to and understand why these distinctions are foundational for accountants and business advisors.

What's included

4 videos2 readings1 assignment

This final module brings everything together. You’ll review key concepts from the course and apply what you’ve learned to real-world business situations. By stepping back and looking managerial and cost accounting concepts, you’ll strengthen your ability to analyze how managerial and cost accounting influence the quality of decisions made by business leaders—skills that are essential for accountants and business professionals alike.

What's included

1 video2 readings1 assignment

Earn a career certificate

Add this credential to your LinkedIn profile, resume, or CV. Share it on social media and in your performance review.

Instructor

William Karalius

University of California, Santa Barbara

12 Courses3,154 learners

Offered by

University of California, Santa Barbara

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Frequently asked questions

This course is part of a CPA Licensure Preparation series and is designed to support learning and exam readiness. Completing this course does not by itself qualify you for CPA licensure or guarantee eligibility to sit for the CPA Exam. CPA licensure requirements vary by state and are determined by individual state boards of accountancy. Learners should consult their state board to confirm education and exam requirements.

To access the course materials, assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience when you enroll in a course. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid. The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.

When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile.