Larissa Feeney FCA, CEO and Founder of Kinore Finance and Business Services, has been named CEO of the Year at the 2026 IMAGE PwC Businesswoman of the Year Awards. The announcement was made at a ceremony at the RDS, Dublin on Friday, 15 May 2026, in front of an audience of 1,400 guests.
Feeney founded Kinore in 2011 from her home in rural Donegal, with a vision to challenge the traditional model of professional services. By 2015, she had established Ireland's first remote-first, online-native accountancy practice, a pioneering move long before digital-first working became industry standard. Today, Kinore ranks among the top 20 accountancy practices in Ireland, employing over 80 professionals and supporting more than 2,000 businesses with a combined turnover exceeding €500 million.
“By building an intentional remote model in professional services, we have opened opportunities for women and men across the island of Ireland and beyond to grow, to lead and to thrive without leaving their families or communities. For women in particular, this is important because in our sector, 50% of roles at junior and mid levels are held by women, but that drops to 20% at senior leadership and director positions. Women are not the issue. The industry and its expectations are. At Kinore, we have changed that, and we have done it by making intentional decisions around culture, trust and flexibility.” Larissa Feeney, CEO and Founder, Kinore Finance and Business Services
The award reflects Kinore’s distinctive approach to leadership and culture. Women comprise 73% of senior and leadership roles across the firm. The company’s most recent Gender Pay Gap Report, published in November 2025 under Ireland’s Gender Pay Gap Information Act 2021, shows women holding the majority of positions across all pay levels, from entry level through to the most senior and highest-paid roles. Women account for 73% of the upper pay quartile and 79% of the upper-middle quartile, with a median bonus gap of 0%.
The recognition comes during a period of significant growth for Kinore. The company has completed the acquisition of three Irish professional services firms, Clear Group Accountants, Martin and Co Accountants, and Only Audit Limited, as part of a strategy to support succession and retirement planning for owners of small Irish accountancy practices. Kinore is targeting €15 million in revenue by 2028, with growth focused on reinvesting in Irish talent and Irish-owned firms.
A Sligo native, Feeney holds a degree in Hotel Management from the University of Ulster. Her career pivot into accountancy began with a receptionist role at a Derry accountancy firm, where she qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 2005. She is a Lead Entrepreneur for Acorns, a mentor for Enterprise Ireland, and current President of the Donegal Women in Business Network.
The IMAGE PwC Businesswoman of the Year Awards, now in their 18th year, are run by IMAGE Media, which marks its 50th anniversary in 2026. The awards celebrate women who demonstrate outstanding leadership, vision, and impact across Irish business.