Summary
Barbara Larson recently took over as the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Workiva, a company that helps businesses manage their financial data and reports. Before she joined the leadership team, she was actually a customer who used the software at other major companies. Now, she is leading Workiva as it nears a major milestone: reaching $1 billion in yearly revenue. Her focus is on using artificial intelligence (AI) to help companies handle complex rules and keep their data organized.
Main Impact
The move to bring Larson on board comes at a time when Workiva is growing very fast. The company is moving from being a mid-sized player to a major force in the software world. By aiming for $1 billion in revenue, Workiva is proving that there is a huge demand for tools that make financial reporting easier. Larson’s experience as a former user gives her a unique view on how to improve the product for other finance leaders. Her leadership marks a shift in how modern companies use technology to stay compliant with government rules.
Key Details
What Happened
Barbara Larson became the Executive Vice President and CFO of Workiva in January. She did not need much time to learn about the company because she had already used its platform while working at Workday and VMware. She liked the software so much that she advocated for it in her previous roles. Now, she is in charge of the company's finances during a high-stakes period of growth. She is working closely with other executives to make sure the company scales up correctly while keeping its customers happy.
Important Numbers and Facts
Workiva has shown strong financial health over the last year. In 2025, the company reported total revenue of $885 million. This was a 20% increase compared to the year before. Most of this money comes from subscriptions, which grew by 22%. For the year 2026, the company expects its total revenue to land between $1.036 billion and $1.040 billion. Workiva currently serves more than 6,600 customers, including well-known names like Hershey, Slack, and KeyBank. Larson also helped the company improve its operating leverage by more than 600 basis points, which means the company is becoming more efficient as it grows.
Background and Context
In the past, finance teams had to deal with "messy" data. Information was often spread across many different systems that did not talk to each other. This made it very hard to create accurate reports for the government or for investors. Workiva was built to solve this problem by putting all that data into one safe place. Today, the challenge has changed. Companies are now trying to use AI to work faster. However, Larson warns that AI is only as good as the data it uses. If a company uses AI on broken or unorganized data, it will only get the wrong answers faster. Workiva’s goal is to make sure AI works within a safe and controlled environment so that the results are reliable and can be defended during an audit.
Public or Industry Reaction
The industry is watching closely as the role of the CFO changes. In the past, a CFO mostly focused on accounting and budgets. Today, leaders like Larson are expected to understand technology and business strategy just as much as they understand numbers. Industry experts note that more companies are looking for "tech-forward" CFOs who can lead digital changes. The fact that Workiva is growing so quickly suggests that the market agrees with this approach. Large corporations are looking for ways to handle new rules regarding sustainability and risk management, and they are turning to platforms like Workiva to do it.
What This Means Going Forward
Looking ahead, Workiva plans to keep pushing the limits of what AI can do for finance teams. Larson wants to help companies draft complicated reports, such as SEC risk disclosures, using AI tools. This would allow teams to compare their reports against what other companies are doing in real-time. For Larson, the future is about being adaptable. She believes that to be a great finance leader today, you have to stay curious and understand every part of the business, not just the money. As the company crosses the $1 billion mark, the focus will remain on staying profitable while continuing to innovate with new technology.
Final Take
Barbara Larson’s transition from a customer to the CFO of Workiva shows how much she believes in the product. Her focus on data quality and AI safety comes at a perfect time as businesses struggle to keep up with new regulations. By reaching for the $1 billion revenue goal, Workiva is setting a new standard for how financial technology companies should operate. Larson’s career path serves as a reminder that the best leaders are often those who have seen the business from the customer's perspective first.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the current CFO of Workiva?
Barbara Larson is the Executive Vice President and CFO of Workiva. She joined the company in January 2026 after serving as CFO at SentinelOne and Workday.
What is Workiva’s revenue goal for 2026?
Workiva expects to reach between $1.036 billion and $1.040 billion in total revenue for the full year of 2026.
What does Workiva’s software actually do?
Workiva provides a cloud-based platform that helps companies manage data for financial reporting, risk management, compliance, and sustainability disclosures.
