Learn finance

The best way to learn finance, ranked by what employers ask for

1,086 of 7,767 live roles ask for finance. 11 courses and certificates compared: paid, free with a certificate, free, and trusted videos. The best free start is Basics of Finance (HP LIFE).

Live roles ask

1,086

14% of the board

Options compared

11

courses & certificates

Four ways to learn it

Finance, from certified programme to free video

The best option of each kind, ranked on how well-regarded it is, what it costs to finish with a certificate, and how squarely it teaches this. The ringed one is where most people should start. Sponsorship plays no part.

Certified programme6 comparedFree certificate2 comparedFree coursenone yetTrusted video3 compared

Finance

1,086 live roles ask for it

Our pickCertified programmeFinancial Markets

Coursera

Free to auditCertificate

One of the strongest ways to learn finance

Take itStart
Free certificateBasics of Finance

HP LIFE

Free · free certificateFree certificate

Useful, with trade-offs

Worth consideringStart
Free course

None yet

Trusted videoFull Financial Accounting Course in One Video (10 Hours)

Tony Bell

Free10 h2.6M views

Useful, with trade-offs

Worth consideringWatch

Who asks for it

Where finance is asked for

  • Data143 roles
  • Finance141 roles
  • Software engineering141 roles
  • Sales109 roles

Roles

Jobs that list it

Software EngineerAccounting ManagerInternational Accounting LeadCorporate CounselProduct ManagerGroup Product ManagerSolutions ArchitectAccount ExecutiveCustomer Success ManagerData Engineer

Certifications

The ones postings name

  • CFA72 postings

Everything else

More ways to learn finance

Best first, with the verdict and what each costs.

Often asked for together

Skills that come with finance

Questions

Learning finance

Is finance worth learning?

1,086 of the 7,767 live roles on insiderOne ask for it (14%), most often in data roles (143).

Can I learn finance for free?

Yes. Basics of Finance from HP LIFE is free, and so is its certificate. Of the options compared here, it is the best one that costs nothing.

What is the best way to learn finance?

For most people, Financial Markets (Coursera, free to audit). It is ranked on how well-regarded it is, what it costs to finish with a certificate, and how squarely it teaches finance. Sponsorship plays no part.

Which finance certification do employers ask for?

CFA is named in 72 live postings.

Your own plan

Finance is one skill. Which ones is your next role missing?

Tell insiderOne where you're headed and it reads the live board for the gaps between you and it, then ranks a way to learn each one for your budget. Free to start.

Get my learning plan

Counts from 7,767 live roles, updated 13 September 2026.