Workiva announced that Barbara Larson will become the company’s Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, effective January 20 2026. Larson brings more than two decades of financial leadership in high‑growth public software companies, having served as CFO at SentinelOne and held senior finance roles at Workday, VMware, TIBCO Software, and Symantec.
The transition follows the departure of long‑time CFO Jill Klindt, who will step down on December 26, 2025, and the interim period led by CEO Julie Iskow. Larson’s arrival is intended to support Workiva’s focus on profitable growth, operational rigor, and the expansion of its AI‑powered compliance platform, while overseeing financial strategy, operations, and investor relations.
Workiva’s Q3 2025 results provide context for the appointment. Total revenue reached $224 million, up 21% year‑over‑year, driven by a 23% increase in subscription and support revenue to $210 million. GAAP gross margin improved to 79.3% from 76.5%, and GAAP operating margin rose to –1.5% from –11.8%. Non‑GAAP operating margin was 12.7%. The company beat revenue expectations by $5.08 million (2.32%) and EPS by $0.24 (58.97%). The beat was largely due to strong demand for subscription and support services, a higher mix of high‑margin AI platform contracts, and disciplined cost control that preserved margins despite a modest revenue increase.
Guidance for the full year was raised to $880 million–$882 million, up from the prior $870 million–$872 million range, reflecting confidence in continued demand and margin improvement. Management emphasized disciplined cost discipline and strategic investments in high‑return verticals, signaling a commitment to sustaining profitability while expanding the AI platform.
Julie Iskow, CEO, said, “This quarter was a solid demonstration of our disciplined commitment to productivity and delivering measurable improvement to operating leverage.” Jill Klindt, outgoing CFO, noted, “Strong execution across the business led to 23% growth in subscription revenue.” Larson expressed excitement, stating, “I am thrilled to join Workiva, which is uniquely positioned to address a massive global market opportunity.”
Larson’s experience in AI‑powered cybersecurity at SentinelOne and finance leadership at Workday will help accelerate Workiva’s AI platform monetization, improve financial governance, and support profitable growth. Her track record of scaling finance functions in high‑growth software companies aligns with Workiva’s strategy to maintain a subscription‑based model while expanding AI capabilities.
The appointment signals Workiva’s commitment to sustaining the momentum from its strong Q3 results and positioning the company for continued growth and profitability.
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