FS AWARDS
October 23rd 2025 | Mansion House, Dublin
If you have any queries, please email alma.bustos@businessandfinance.com
The Awards
The FS Awards connects leaders and industry change-makers in the financial services community in Ireland and globally through peer-to-peer events and digital content.
With the role of finance ever-changing, today’s finance leaders can inspire and influence their peers and organisations to reach higher levels at the FS Awards.
The FS Awards will take place on October 23rd 2025 in the Round Room of The Mansion House, Dublin.
Here, we will celebrate excellence in financial services and recognise the brightest minds, showcasing the reinvention of the sector with a selection of 17 diverse categories including the Fintech Innovator Award, the Compliance and Regtech Award, the Innovative Banking Product Award and the ESG Finance Award, amongst others.
Categories
The FS Awards categories will recognise excellence in financial services across 17 individual categories, there is no cost to participate in the awards.
Please read the categories criteria carefully.
AI & Data Analytics Excellence Award
The AI & Data Analytics Excellence Award recognises outstanding use of artificial intelligence and data analytics within the financial services sector. This award celebrates achievements in leveraging AI and data to drive innovation, operational efficiency, risk management, and positive customer or societal outcomes.
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
The Aircraft Leasing Company Award recognises excellence and innovation within the aircraft leasing sector. This award celebrates achievements across various aspects of aircraft leasing, including pioneering lease transactions, outstanding portfolio management, and contributions to sustainable aviation initiatives.
Our judges are looking for 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.
Compliance & Reg Tech Award
This award recognises providers who are continuously innovating to help financial institutions meet regulatory requirements effectively and efficiently.
Our judges will be looking for innovative regulatory technology solutions, evidence of improved compliance processes, ease of integration with existing systems, positive client feedback, and demonstrable impact on regulatory efficiency and risk management.
Customer Experience Award
The Customer Experience Award recognises a financial service provider that has consistently delivered outstanding customer service.
Our judges will be looking for consistent delivery of exceptional customer service, implementation of personalised customer experiences, high customer satisfaction and loyalty metrics, innovative use of technology to enhance customer interactions, and a commitment to continuous improvement and feedback integration.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Award
This award will recognise a company’s contribution to creating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace, demonstrating a strong commitment to DE&I principles.
Our judges will be looking for evidence of diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, positive impact on workplace culture, successful engagement with diverse communities, measurable outcomes and improvements, and a commitment to ongoing DE&I efforts.
Employee Experience Award
The winner of the Employee Experience Award must demonstrate excellence in creating a positive, supportive, and engaging work environment for employees.
Our judges will be looking for innovative employee engagement and wellbeing initiatives, evidence of positive workplace culture, high levels of employee satisfaction and retention, successful professional development programmes, and a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace.
Fintech Innovation Award
The Fintech Innovation Award will recognise the fintech company that has introduced a groundbreaking product or service significantly advancing the financial technology sector.
Our judges will be looking for the introduction of a groundbreaking fintech product or service demonstrating advancement in the financial technology sector, positive impact on customers and the market, use of innovative technology and approaches, and evidence of scalability and market adoption.
Fintech Team of the Year
The Fintech Team of the Year award recognises the outstanding collective efforts of a fintech team that has demonstrated exceptional collaboration, innovation, and impact.
Our judges will be looking for demonstrated exceptional teamwork and collaboration, successful completion of innovative projects or initiatives, a significant positive impact on the company and customers, evidence of strong leadership and team development, and a commitment to fostering a positive and inclusive work environment.
FS Challenger Award
The FS Challenger Award will recognise a new entrant or disruptive company that has significantly impacted the financial services industry through innovation and challenging the status quo.
Our judges will be looking for innovative business models and solutions, evidence of market disruption and impact, strong growth and performance metrics, positive customer feedback and adoption, and a commitment to challenging traditional financial services practices.
FS Trust Award
The FS Trust Award honours organisations that have built and maintained trust with their customers through transparency, reliability, and ethical practices.
Our judges will be looking for evidence of transparency and ethical practices, high levels of customer trust and satisfaction, commitment to data security and privacy, proven reliability and consistency in service delivery, strong community engagement and corporate responsibility initiatives.
Fund Management Company of the Year
This award celebrates the apex of fund management, recognising companies that have demonstrated outstanding performance, innovation, and client service.
Our judges will be looking for exceptional fund performance and growth, innovative fund management strategies, high levels of client satisfaction and retention, robust risk management practices, and commitment to sustainable and ethical investment principles.
Innovative Banking Product Award
The Innovative Banking Product Award aims to identify and honour a banking product that stands out for its creativity, functionality, and customer impact.
Our judges will be looking for originality and creativity of the banking product, demonstrated customer impact and satisfaction, functional design and ease of use, integration of cutting-edge technology, and evidence of market success and adoption.
Insurance Team of the Year
The Insurance Team of the Year award recognises the outstanding collective efforts of an insurance team that has demonstrated exceptional collaboration, innovation, and impact.
Our judges will be looking for demonstrated exceptional teamwork and collaboration, successful completion of innovative projects or initiatives, a significant positive impact on the company and customers, evidence of strong leadership and team development, and a commitment to fostering a positive and inclusive work environment.
International Finance Award
Awarded for developing cross-border solutions that have significantly improved international financial operations and transactions.
Our judges will be looking for innovative cross-border financial solutions, evidence of improved international transaction efficiency, positive impact on global financial operations, successful implementation and scalability, and strong client satisfaction and adoption rates.
Payments Innovation Award
The Payments Innovation Award recognises the implementation of innovative payment solutions that enhance the efficiency, security, and convenience of financial transactions.
Our judges will be looking for innovative payment technologies, improvements in transaction efficiency and security, positive impact on user experience, scalability and market adoption of the solution, and demonstrated results and outcomes.
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. The winning firm will have shown excellence across multiple areas including strategic vision, operational expertise, financial performance, and ethical business practices.
Our judges will evaluate 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.
Specialist Lender Award
The Specialist Lender Award recognises the creativity, dedication, and impact of specialist lenders who have demonstrated exceptional service and innovation in their offerings.
Our judges will be looking for demonstrated innovation in lending practices, proven impact in niche markets and customer satisfaction, evidence of tailored solutions addressing unique customer needs, strong performance metrics and growth in the past year, and a commitment to responsible lending and regulatory compliance.
Sustainable Finance Award
The FS Sustainable Investment Award will celebrate organisations that have demonstrated leadership in sustainable investing, integrating ESG factors into their investment processes and decisions.
Our judges will be looking for evidence of ESG integration in investment strategies, positive impact on sustainable development goals, strong investment performance, engagement with investee companies on ESG issues, and a commitment to transparency and reporting.
Transformation in Finance Award
This award recognises organisations that have successfully transformed their operations through innovative strategies, significantly improving efficiency, customer experience, and or business performance.
Our judges will be looking for evidence of successful transformation initiatives that have led to improvements in operational efficiency and customer experience, the implementation of innovative strategies and solutions, positive business performance metrics, and a commitment to continuous improvement and innovation.
2025 Entries Open
Deadline for entries: 30th June 2025
2025 Partners
2025 Awards Judges
Ian Nelson
Head of Financial Services
KPMG
Judging Panel Co-chair
Louise Phelan
CEO
Phelan Energy Group
Judging Panel Co-chair
Brian Hayes
CEO
Banking & Payments Federation Ireland
Karl Curran
Head of M&A
AON
Maeve McConnon
SVP International FS
IDA
David Monaghan
Deputy Editor
Business & Finance
Kian Caulwell
Head of FS Consulting
Mazars
Keith Fenner
SVP and General Manager of Europe, Middle East and Africa
Diligent
Jacky Fox
Managing Director
Accenture Security
Affiliates
FAQs
If your question is not answered below, we welcome your questions via email:
Alma Bustos, alma.bustos@businessandfinance.com
When can I nominate online?
Nominations for the 2025 FS Awards will be opening on 8th May 2025.
When is the last day I can submit an entry?
Entries will close 30th June 2025.
How do I nominate online?
To nominate a company, you’ll need to follow the on-screen instructions once nominations are open. If you have any problems with your nomination, contact a member of the FS Awards team who will be happy to answer any questions you may have.
How much is it to nominate online?
The is no cost to nominate or submit an entry
How do I book a table online?
Tickets can be booked by contacting Brian Kearns on FS Awards Team at brian.kearns@businessandfinance.com.
How can I change my entry?
The submission entries can be changed by logging into the entry portal that you will recieve the link to after nominations
How can I be sure you have received my entry?
You will receive a confirmation email acknowledging receipt of your entry. If you do not receive an email confirmation, please email Alma Bustos, alma.bustos@businessandfinance.com.
Can I enter in more than one category?
Yes! Many entrants submit work in multiple categories when applicable.
When will the finalists be announced?
Finalists will be announced in September 2025.
Where is the FS Awards ceremony taking place?
The Gala Luncheon will be held in the Mansion House, Dublin.
How can I sponsor the FS Awards?
We have limited sponsorship opportunities. If you’d like to sponsor the FS Awards please contact our Senior Partnership Manager, Brian Kearns at brian.kearns@businessandfinance.com or on 0879138240.
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