Continuing our short series of articles on female highfliers in finance with Corinthia, our next guest is Jennifer Schembri Attard who started her journey with Corinthia in 2000 as Assistant Financial Controller at the Corinthia Palace Hotel. At an early stage, she was thrust into a challenging situation when her superior departed unexpectedly and, for some time, dealt with both roles.
Jennifer Schembri Attard
“Though still quite young, I pushed through the challenge and within two years I was asked to join the Group head office’s team as Financial Controller of the parent company, giving me a wider perspective of the Group’s corporate structure. Shortly after, I was asked to assist temporarily at the Corinthia Hotel Tripoli, following a leadership gap in the hotel’s Finance department. That two-month stint turned into a full-time role as Finance Director and ultimately a three-and-a-half-year chapter that proved pivotal to my growth.”
After Tripoli, Jennifer was appointed Divisional Financial Controller at Corinthia Hotels Ltd (CHL), the operating arm of the group, where she was tasked with developing financial policies and procedures under the Guidelines of Excellence framework, which were later launched and implemented across all CHL-operated hotels. She also led a review team supporting hotel operations and was involved in the pre-opening phases of third-party owned hotels in Dubai, Sharjah, and Sharm El Sheikh.
“In 2014, I was appointed Director of Finance at Corinthia Hotel St Petersburg and, after two years in Russia, I was nominated Senior Financial Officer at the Group corporate office, focusing on the Group’s financial consolidation and supporting closely the Group CFO.
“Currently, I am Group Head of Finance, working closely with the Group CFO.”
Has her status as a female in the upper echelons of a large international company presented particular challenges? “From a personal perspective, stepping into senior finance roles has been both a rewarding and demanding journey. Balancing a demanding career with family responsibilities remains one of the most significant challenges, particularly in an industry known for its long hours, tight deadlines and complex statutory obligations.
“During my tenure in Tripoli, I faced the initial hurdle of asserting leadership in a predominantly male environment, which required both resilience and cultural sensitivity. Similarly, while working in St. Petersburg, I was conscious of the cultural and geographical differences that came with representing a small island like Malta in a fast-paced Russian business context.
“Ultimately, these experiences have shaped my professional growth, strengthened my adaptability, reinforced my commitment to fostering inclusive workplaces, and deepened my understanding of the multifaceted support women need to succeed in leadership roles.”
Jennifer oversees a broad range of financial aspects for the Group, including financial reporting, cash flow management, the preparation of financial projections, due diligence exercises, and asset valuation processes. She also assists in investment evaluations, offering financial insights and information that help guide key business decisions, while working closely with the Group CFO on various strategic initiatives.
A crucial part of her role involves collaborating with all of the Group’s entities, both locally and internationally. This includes detailed coordination on various corporate finance matters, ensuring timely completion of audits and punctual finalisation of the Group’s consolidated financial statements. Throughout, she guides and supports the finance teams at the corporate office and across the organisation, fostering alignment and consistency in financial practices.
With family
Naturally, collaboration is needed to address the challenging pace and alleviate work pressures not only at work but also at home. “ I am grateful to have the support of a wonderful family. My husband, Anton, also comes from a hospitality background in food and beverage management across a range of hotels and recently also in sales and marketing. His encouragement and steady support have been invaluable throughout my career.
“Our son, Kieran, brings a vibrant energy to our family. He is passionate about parkour, gaming, and Formula 1—proudly supporting Scuderia Ferrari. He also enjoys anime, karting, and computing. He too is quite creative and enjoys drawing.”
Great photo!
What mentorship or support has significantly impacted her career? How does she approach mentoring younger professionals in finance?
“Throughout my career, I’ve worked with leaders who each brought different strengths; some were strategic thinkers, others analytical or strong problem-solvers. I learned by observing what worked well and took note of traits to avoid, shaping my own approach over time.
“As a mentor, I maintain an open-door policy and always provide context so that younger professionals understand the ‘why’ behind decisions, not just the ‘how’. I believe in sharing knowledge openly and guiding them through all aspects of the role to help build their confidence, adaptability, and independent thinking. I also provide constructive feedback to encourage reflection and continuous advancement.”
I enquired what trends she foresees in the finance sector of the hospitality industry, and what advice would she offer to aspiring finance professionals, particularly females, looking to enter this space?
“With digital transformation, automation and AI becoming increasingly prevalent, finance professionals are evolving into strategic partners, leveraging data-driven decision-making through advanced analytics. Routine processes are progressively being automated, allowing finance teams to focus on higher-value tasks. We can expect to see greater user of real-time dashboards to support operational and perhaps also investment decisions, along with more sophisticated insight-driven forecasting tools.
“Additionally, as sustainability and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) reporting become a strategic priority, finance professionals will play a key role in integrating ESG metrics into financial reporting, investment analysis and transparent reporting.
“The finance profession today offers immense opportunities for both women and men, especially in the current environment where demand for skilled finance professionals exceeds supply. It’s a highly versatile field—one that can be dynamic, engaging, and fulfilling. In today’s technology-driven world, embracing digital transformation is essential.
“My advice is to embrace change, continuously invest in learning, and recognise the value of perseverance, adaptability, and timeliness.
“A further piece of advice for women entering the profession, is not to shy away from voicing their perspective – it can be a different and unique one that truly adds value.”
