Learn Accounting on YouTube- Best Channels
Why Learn Accounting on YouTube?
Textbooks are dry. College courses are expensive. YouTube is free, available 24/7, and lets you learn at your own pace.
Accounting is one of those skills where YouTube actually delivers. You can go from knowing nothing to passing the CPA exam using nothing but free videos. But only if you pick the right channels.
Most accounting YouTube content is garbage—made by people who've never worked in finance, teaching outdated methods, or just reading slides out loud. This guide cuts through the noise.
What Makes an Accounting YouTube Channel Worth Your Time
Before diving into specific channels, here's what separates useful content from waste of time:
- Qualifications matter — Look for CPAs, auditors, or working accountants. Not people who took one accounting class and decided to teach.
- Practice problems — Theory without numbers is useless. Good channels walk through actual problems step by step.
- Updates
- Accounting standards change. Your channel should too.
- No fluff — If a video is 45 minutes and could be 10, find another channel.
- Organized structure — Can you actually follow a learning path, or is it just random videos?
Best Accounting YouTube Channels
1. Farhat Accounting Lectures
Dr. Ahmed Farhat is a professor who posts his actual classroom lectures. This is as close to attending a real accounting course as you can get without paying tuition.
He covers financial accounting, managerial accounting, intermediate accounting, and audit prep. His videos are unfiltered—no fancy graphics, just teaching.
Best for: Students who want the full college experience without the debt.
2. Accounting Stuff
Clean, concise explanations of accounting concepts. This channel focuses on breaking down complex topics into digestible pieces without overcomplicating things.
The production quality is better than most. Animations and diagrams help visualize concepts like adjusting entries, depreciation, and financial statement relationships.
Best for: Visual learners who struggle with dry lectures.
3. CPA Strength
Built specifically for people preparing for the CPA exam. This isn't about learning accounting from scratch—it's about passing the test.
Mike Decker breaks down each exam section with test-taking strategies and condensed review content. If you're serious about the CPA, this channel is essential.
Best for: CPA candidates who need structured exam prep.
4. Accounting Coach
Harold Averkamp has been teaching accounting for decades. His channel mirrors his website, which is one of the most comprehensive free accounting resources online.
Topics range from basic bookkeeping to advanced financial reporting. Each concept has a written explanation and video walkthrough.
Best for: Self-learners who want both written and video content.
5. Corporate Finance Institute
Not strictly accounting, but financial modeling and analysis go hand in hand. This channel bridges the gap between accounting and finance careers.
Excel tutorials, valuation methods, and financial statement analysis are the mainstays here. Great for accounting students who want to pivot into finance roles.
Best for: Accounting students eyeing investment banking, FP&A, or corporate finance careers.
6. Intacct
Focuses on accounting software and technology. Less about debits and credits, more about how modern accounting departments actually operate.
Cloud accounting, automation, and best practices for accounting software are covered in detail.
Best for: Professionals who want to understand modern accounting technology.
Channel Comparison
| Channel | Best For | Level | Production |
|---|---|---|---|
| Farhat Lectures | Full course learning | Beginner to Intermediate | Basic classroom style |
| Accounting Stuff | Visual concept explanations | Beginner to Intermediate | High quality animations |
| CPA Strength | CPA exam prep | Advanced | Professional |
| Accounting Coach | Comprehensive reference | All levels | Moderate |
| Corporate Finance Institute | Finance career prep | Intermediate to Advanced | High quality |
| Intacct | Accounting software | Intermediate to Professional | Professional |
How to Actually Learn Accounting on YouTube
Watching videos isn't enough. Here's how to use YouTube effectively:
The Active Viewing Method
Don't just play videos in the background while scrolling your phone. Here's what works:
- Watch once at normal speed to understand the concept
- Take notes by hand—yes, actually write it down
- Watch again while working through practice problems
- Test yourself before moving to the next topic
Build a Study System
Pick one primary channel for each topic and stick with it. Jumping between channels creates confusion. Use secondary channels only when the primary explanation isn't clicking.
Create a playlist for each course you're taking. Financial accounting, managerial accounting, tax—separate them out.
Supplement with Practice
YouTube teaches concepts. You need problems to make it stick. Use:
- Your channel's practice problems
- Free textbooks from OpenStax or similar
- CPA exam review questions (many are free)
- Your local library's accounting resources
Getting Started
Here's your first week plan:
- Day 1-2: Watch Accounting Stuff's playlist on accounting basics. Get the conceptual foundation.
- Day 3-4: Switch to Farhat Lectures for the first few modules of financial accounting. Follow along with his pace.
- Day 5-6: Find practice problems. Work through 10-15 problems covering what you learned.
- Day 7: Identify gaps. Which concepts are fuzzy? Find specific videos addressing those gaps.
Repeat this cycle. Accounting isn't a spectator sport. You have to work problems to learn it.
Skip the Noise
YouTube is a tool, not a replacement for discipline. The channels above are solid starting points, but they'll only work if you actually put in the hours.
Start with one channel, one playlist, and commit to finishing it. Then move on. Don't spend 3 hours researching the best channel instead of actually learning accounting.
Pick one. Start watching. Do the problems.