Entries now open for the Financial Services Awards 2025, in association with KPMG

Nominations for this year’s FS Awards, in association with KPMG, open today, May 8th, with the introduction of three new categories. The awards will take place on October 23rd in the Round Room of the Mansion House. By Héloïse Chaudot.

The FS Awards were established in 2020 to recognise the companies, teams and individuals who lead, innovate and shape their organisations through a commitment to excellence that has cemented Dublin’s reputation as a global financial services hub.

The judging panel will be assessing entries across a number of different criteria, specific to each category, with strategy, innovation, impact and a customer-centric approach across all categories.

This year, the awards welcome three new categories.

AI & Data Analytics Excellence Award

This award recognises outstanding use of artificial intelligence and data analytics within the financial services sector. Our judges are looking for evidence of initiatives that deliver measurable business value through advanced analytics, AI-driven product development, enhanced compliance or fraud prevention, or the pioneering use of data to promote financial inclusion or sustainability. Submissions should demonstrate innovation, scalability, ethical considerations, and significant impact on business performance and industry advancement.

Aircraft Leasing Company Award

This award celebrates achievements across various aspects of aircraft leasing, including pioneering lease transactions, outstanding portfolio management, and contributions to sustainable aviation initiatives. Firms should demonstrate evidence of innovative leasing strategies that set new industry benchmarks, such as sustainability-linked leasing agreements or creative fleet solutions, as well as exceptional team performance that demonstrates strategic leadership, operational excellence, and significant impact on clients and the wider industry.

Private Equity Firm Excellence Award

This award recognises a private equity firm that has demonstrated outstanding performance, leadership, and value creation within the investment sector. It highlights how the firm has successfully sourced, structured, and managed investments to deliver superior returns while actively supporting portfolio companies to accelerate growth, innovate, and optimise operations.

2025 Categories 

Tracey Carney, Managing Director of Business & Finance, and Sarah Freeman, Managing Editor of Business & Finance

2024 Awards

The 2024 FS Awards took place on October 24th in the Round Room. The Pádraig Ó hUiginn Outstanding Contribution to Financial Services Award, sponsored by KPMG, was presented, posthumously, to John Bruton, former Taoiseach.

The award is named for Senior Civil servant, Padraig Ó hUiginn, who had a fifty-year career in the Civil Service before retiring in 1993.

He entered the civil service in 1941 and served for over fifty years, where he was innovative in his endeavours to progress social and economic change and to capture and utilise opportunities for the benefit of all. His name is synonymous with the creation and driving high high-profile initiatives such as the IFSC, Temple Bar, and the Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA), but he is perhaps best remembered for his role as Secretary General of the Department of the Taoiseach, a position he held from 1982-1993.

Attendees gathered to acknowledge high standards within the financial services sector, emphasising the contributions of leading figures in the field and the significant advancements made within the last year.

Tracey Carney, Managing Director of Business & Finance, and Sarah Freeman, Managing Editor of Business & Finance, hosted proceedings.

Ian Nelson, Head of Financial Services, KPMG, spoke to attendees in an opening address.

“[The FS Awards] get bigger and better every year”, he said. “We are deeply involved in KPMG in financial services. It represents about half our business in Ireland.”

Sarah Freeman commented: “The Financial Services industry is evolving rapidly. From Generative AI enhancing efficiency, to the rise of cashless payments, and the increasing focus on cybersecurity, financial services are undergoing a profound transformation.

“As regulations like the Individual Accountability Framework and PSD3 take shape, we’re adapting to ensure compliance, while also leading the charge in green finance and sustainability.”

A full list of last year’s winners is available to view here.

If you wish to enter the nominations, please visit here https://fsawards.secure-platform.com/fsawards/solicitations/12/home

For partnership opportunities please contact Brian Kearns at brian.kearns@businessandfinance.com. Visit here for further information on nominations.