I knew a bit about accounting when I started investing and didn't even realize how much it helped me until I heard other investors talk about companies in ways

I knew a bit about accounting when I started investing and didn't even realize how much it helped me until I heard other investors talk about companies in ways I knew were based on completely flawed assumptions. I don't think accounting basics will help you much in terms of beating the markt. But they may help you not to be the one who funds other people's outperformance by making stupid mistakes. Learn to read a balance sheet, an income statement and a cash flow statement. You'll easily find good enough sources for that by googling these terms.