Open knowledge. Connected accounting education.
Project updates Get in touch
Accounting Analytics Hub.
Menu

Open learning pathways

Understand the system.
Develop the tools.

Explore planned courses in accounting information systems and accounting analytics, with Excel, SQL, and Power BI pathways for deeper practice. Charles River connects the learning.

All five courses are planned. Course materials and lesson sites are not yet published. The intended model is free, open access without enrollment.

Available for self-study now

Begin with the book
and public exercises.

The free Accounting Analytics textbook and Charles River teaching files are already available. Read the accounting foundations, practice with Excel or SQL, and study Power BI while these course pathways take shape.

Explore the free textbook → Find accounting data and exercises →

Each planned course below links to a current chapter or public practice guide related to its intended competencies.

A suggested sequence

From business events to better decisions.

Follow the integrated curriculum, or choose a technology pathway alongside the textbook.

  1. 01 · Understand

    Accounting Information Systems

    How business events become reliable accounting information.

    See the planned course →
  2. 02 · Analyze

    Accounting Analytics

    How accounting information becomes analysis and decisions.

    See the planned course →
  3. 03 · Deepen your skills

    Excel · SQL · Power BI

    Three focused pathways, independently or alongside the curriculum.

    Explore the technology pathways →

Every pathway uses the same Charles River business environment. This is a proposed learning sequence; no course completion or certification is currently offered.

Course catalog

Choose your direction.

Start with the available textbook →

Showing 5 planned courses

PlannedIntegrated curriculum

Accounting Information Systems

Understand how transactions move through enterprise systems and become reliable accounting records. The planned course connects business cycles, relational databases, internal controls, cybersecurity, and automation.

For
Undergraduate and graduate students studying accounting systems and business processes.
Preparation
Introductory financial accounting is recommended. Prior programming is not expected.
Charles River connection
Begin with the company and its processes, then trace related documents, relational records, and recorded ledger effects into control questions.

Planned learning focus

  • Explain order-to-cash, procure-to-pay, and conversion processes.
  • Connect documents and database records to the general ledger.
  • Evaluate the controls that support reliable information.
Explore Charles River process guides (opens in a new tab)
PlannedIntegrated curriculum

Accounting Analytics

An integrated path from an accounting question to a supported decision, aligned with the flagship textbook. Excel, SQL, and Power BI serve complementary roles across financial, managerial, and audit applications.

For
Accounting students and professionals building an integrated analytics foundation.
Preparation
Introductory accounting and basic spreadsheet familiarity are recommended. No programming experience is assumed.
Associated book
Accounting Analytics
Charles River connection
Return to the same company and transactions as analysis moves between spreadsheets, database queries, and reports.

Planned learning focus

  • Frame accounting questions and assess data quality.
  • Select tools to prepare, query, and analyze data.
  • Communicate evidence through reports and applied cases.
Start guided Excel and SQL practice (opens in a new tab)
PlannedTechnology pathway

Excel for Accounting Analytics

Build an accounting-focused spreadsheet workflow, from preparing data and using formulas to PivotTables, Power Query, forecasting, budgeting, and audit procedures.

For
Students, instructors, and accounting professionals who want deeper spreadsheet skills.
Preparation
Basic spreadsheet navigation and introductory accounting are recommended.
Associated book
Accounting Analytics
Charles River connection
Use Charles River workbook tables to connect spreadsheet results to the underlying business records.

Planned learning focus

  • Prepare and validate accounting data.
  • Build summaries, budgets, forecasts, and what-if models.
  • Document analytical and audit procedures in a workbook.
Open the Charles River Excel guide (opens in a new tab)
PlannedTechnology pathway

SQL for Accounting Analytics

A planned SQL for accountants pathway, progressing from fundamental queries to joins, aggregations, analytical queries, and accounting and audit applications using the Charles River relational database.

For
Accounting learners and professionals who want to work directly with relational data.
Preparation
Introductory accounting is recommended. No prior SQL or programming is expected.
Associated book
Accounting Analytics
Charles River connection
Query the SQLite database and follow related operational and general ledger records.

Planned learning focus

  • Retrieve and summarize relevant accounting records.
  • Join documents while preserving the meaning of each row.
  • Trace transactions and investigate audit exceptions.
Open the Charles River SQL guide (opens in a new tab)
PlannedTechnology pathway

Power BI for Accounting Analytics

Develop a business intelligence workflow through data import, models and relationships, DAX, and interactive reporting for financial, managerial, and auditing questions.

For
Accounting students and professionals building analytical reporting skills.
Preparation
Introductory accounting and basic familiarity with tabular data are recommended.
Associated book
Accounting Analytics
Charles River connection
Build models and reports from the same company data used in the book and the other technology pathways.

Planned learning focus

  • Model related accounting and operational tables.
  • Define measures that answer clear accounting questions.
  • Design and evaluate reports for decision making and assurance.
Read Power BI Essentials (opens in a new tab)

Follow course development

Keep track of
the planned pathways.

Follow Hub updates for announcements about these courses and the publications that support them. Launch dates have not been announced.

Get development updates → Read current updates →