1. Curriculum Vitae
Maheswari Perera
Page 1 of 6
Personal Details:
First Names: Maheswari
Surname: Perera
Gender: Female
Health Status: Excellent
Nationality: South African
Languages: English
ID: 741107 0217 08 0
Contact Numbers: (Cell) +27 72 720 8136
(Home) +27 11 453 7732
Education:
School: Johannesburg Secondary School - 1992
School Certificate: Matric (Mathematics, Science, Biology, Computer Science, English, Afrikaans)
Qualifications:
W&R Seta ILDP leadership development program 2010 -
7 months intensive study tour in South Africa, New York and Toronto – Chosen as one of 23 top Retail
Candidates from throughout South Africa.
Economics, Personal Mastery, Group Dynamics, and Communication Skills, In-market Immersions in
South Africa, New York and Canada. Certificate of Participation
Pennsylvania (PENN State Executive program) – Supply Chain Management. Certificate PENN STATE
Executive Program-ILDP 2010.
Henley Management College – Strategic Leadership and Analytical thinking. Certificate for Analytical
Thinking and Leadership
Currently enrolled at: Wits University - WITS Plus
ICSA
CIS Diploma
Subjects Completed – 1
st
Year
Commercial Law, Corporate Law, Information Systems, Communication, Economics, Financial
Accounting 1.
Affiliate CIS Completed
Subjects Completed – 2
nd
Year
Financial Accounting 2, Taxation, Management Principles, Management Information Systems.
Licentiate CIS Completed
Subject -3
rd
Year
Financial Accounting 3, Management Accounting (Completed), Strategic Operational Management.
(Completed)
Associate CIS – Current Year

2. Curriculum Vitae
Maheswari Perera
Page 2 of 6
Career History:
Employer: Edcon
Position: Discount Division Chain Customers Services Manager
Period: November 2011 – November 2014
Edcon is the largest non-food retailer in South Africa. We have been in operation for more than 80 years and have
expanded our footprint to include over 1,300 stores through nine different store formats.
I am responsible for the customers experience in the Discount Division at Edcon, this includes the Jet, Jetmart and
Legit Stores. There are 681 stores in my portfolio over 9 divisions and 50 regions.
Duties:
Roles and Responsibilities: Customer Service Delivery - Corporate
Manage the Group initiatives (e.g. Golden Opportunity, Mystery Shopper) to evaluate the levels of customer
service within the Chain.
Develop training interventions and implement ad hoc projects to address opportunity areas identified to
improve service delivery.
Be actively involved in developing customer service strategies, which includes the reviewing of policies that
impact customer service and builds relationships with various stakeholders to ensure that customer queries
and concerns are professionally resolved on an ongoing basis.
Actively communicate with stores on a regular basis.
To ensure that the implementation of strategy is happening and appropriate.
Facilitate customer service processes within the e-commerce environment (i.e. fashion Hotline, online
purchases and fulfilment).
To manage chain initiatives (e.g. Moments of Truth).
Marketing Planning: Intelligence, Segmentation and Customer Portraits
Diagnose customer needs and preferences, and derive strategies and specific action plans to address these
needs.
Continuously scan the external environment to establish emerging trends and developments in the market
that relate to customers, competitors and customer service.
Anticipate and proactively address obstacles that hinder customer service delivery. Keep abreast of all
external economic factors that have an impact on the retail environment; and make recommendations to the
relevant stakeholders to adjust our business to deal with these factors.
Facilitate various customer service committees and projects.
Product & Service Development
Make recommendations on improvements to the relevant stakeholders in order to improve customer service
at Chain level.
Respond to trends in customer queries that are raised and advise relevant chain stakeholders.
People Management
Encourage, implement and reinforce the Group’s Values, Leadership principles and Employer of Choice
(EOC) strategies and initiatives.
Ensure an open, motivated and harmonious work environment in line with Edcon’s Leadership philosophy.
Manage the performance of self and all direct reports (formally and informally), ensuring that regular feedback
is given/received, coaching and mentoring on performance is given/received to enable continuous
improvement. Be actively involved in own Individual Development Plan (IDP), develop such plans for all direct
reports and ensure that the agreed development interventions are delivered.
Ensure that talent reviews are conducted on all staff to identify the appropriate talent management strategy
and drive implementation.

3. Curriculum Vitae
Maheswari Perera
Page 3 of 6
Employer: The House of Busby
Position: Promoted to Special Projects and Customers Services Manager
Period: August 2002 – November 2011
The House of Busby is a leading wholesaler and retailer operating in South Africa and Australia. The group employs
more than 2000 people worldwide. Busby distributes ranges of clothing, eyewear, accessories, footwear, luggage and
handbags all bearing international brand names and private labels. Busby operates over 147 retail stores
incorporating some of SA’s most desired leading brands including Busby Leather goods, Guess, Aldo, Nine west,
Mango, Forever New and now Topshop.
In my dual portfolio as Special Projects and Customer Service Manager for the group I was responsible for overseeing
the planning, implementation, and tracking of specific projects in line with specific deliverables as well as to
understand and satisfy customers' requirements and needs exceeding their expectations if possible, reporting directly
to the CFO.
Customer Service Role:
Providing help and advice to customers using products or services;
Communicating courteously with customers by telephone, email, letter and face to face;
Investigating and solving customers' problems, which may be complex or long-standing problems that have
been passed on by customer service assistants;
Handling customer complaints or any major incidents, such as a security issue or a customer being taken ill;
Issuing refunds or compensation to customers;
Keeping accurate records of discussions or correspondence with customers;
Analyzing statistics or other data to determine the level of customer service provided;
Producing written information for customers, often involving use of computer packages/software;
Writing reports analyzing the customer service that is provided;
Developing feedback or complaints procedures for customers to use;
Developing customer service procedures, policies and standards or for the business;
Meeting with other managers to discuss possible improvements to customer service;
Being involved in staff recruitment and appraisals;
Training staff to deliver a high standard of customer service;
Leading or supervising a team of customer service staff;
Learning about products or services and keeping up to date with changes;
Keeping ahead of developments in customer service by reading relevant journals, going to meetings and
attending courses.
Project Manager Role:
Planning
Define the scope of the project in collaboration with senior management
Create a detailed work plan which identifies and sequences the activities needed to successfully complete the
project
Determine the resources (time, money, equipment, etc) required to complete the project
Develop a schedule for project completion that effectively allocates the resources to the activities
Review the project schedule with senior management and all other staff that will be affected by the project
activities; revise the schedule as required
Determine the objectives and measures upon which the project will be evaluated at its completion
Staffing
In consultation with the appropriate manager, recruit, interview and select staff and/or volunteers with
appropriate skills for the project activities
Manage project staff and/or volunteers according to the established policies and practices of the organization
Ensure that personnel files are properly maintained and kept confidential
Ensure that all project personnel receive an appropriate orientation to the organization and the project
Contract qualified consultants to work on the project as appropriate

4. Curriculum Vitae
Maheswari Perera
Page 4 of 6
Implementation
Execute the project according to the project plan.
Develop forms and records to document project activities.
Set up files to ensure that all project information is appropriately documented and secured.
Monitor the progress of the project and make adjustments as necessary to ensure the successful completion
of the project.
Establish a communication schedule to update stakeholders including appropriate staff in the organization on
the progress of the project.
Review the quality of the work completed with the project team on a regular basis to ensure that it meets the
project standards.
Control
Write reports on the project for management.
Monitor and approve all budgeted project expenditures
Monitor cash flow projections and report actual cash flow and variance to senior management on a regular
basis (monthly/bimonthly).
Manage all project funds according to established accounting policies and procedures.
Ensure that all financial records for the project are up to date.
Prepare financial reports and supporting documentation.
Evaluation
Ensure that the project deliverables are on time, within budget and at the required level of quality.
Evaluate the outcomes of the project as established during the planning phase.
Position: Senior Debtors Control Supervisor
To ensure that monies from debtors come in within the credit limit periods or otherwise agreed with.
Responsibility for a client ledger of around +-debtor’s 500 accounts ranging from 100 ZAR to 2 mil ZAR per
month, with a total book value
Dealing with any queries relating to my debtor’s and escalating where needed.
Management of direct debits.
Processing of these payments according to monthly reconciliations.
Management of ledger, all allocations of payments on accounting package Great Plains.
Ensuring direct debits received prior to commencement of service and liaising closely with sales team to
ensure the ledger runs smoothly.
Use of email and telephone to communicate to clients and obtain prompt payment.
Monthly reporting to high level internal management, sales & account management teams on outstanding
issues and inform them of potential debtors’ problems.
Documenting all the relevant correspondence related to outstanding invoices and communication from clients.
Liaising with other departments within the company to ensure the best possible service is given to the client
as well as ensuring prompt payment is received.
Assisting with invoicing and ad hoc manual invoicing when required.

5. Curriculum Vitae
Maheswari Perera
Page 5 of 6
Employer: Egoli Gas Pty Ltd
Position: Senior Debtors Control Supervisor
Period: June 2000 – July 2002
Duties:
Financial Roles:
Full Debtors Control Function
Collections, Reconciliations, Running of Statements, application of payments to the GL, assisting with Billing
runs and exception reporting.
Governance Roles:
Compliance
Created and documented collection strategy for the debtors department.
Management and Customer Roles:
Customer Services and Ad hoc administration.
Supervised 4 staff members.
Employer: Edcon Pty Ltd
Position: Debtors Control Supervisor
Period: January 1998 – May 2000
Duties:
Financial Roles:
Debtors Control Function
Collections, Reconciliations
Debtors Supervision exceeded all target requirements set.
Supervised 12 staff members.
Employer: Clientele Life Pty Ltd
Position: Telesales and Customer Services Consultant
Period: August 1995- April 1997
Duties:
Customer Service and Sales Roles:
Insurance Telesales.
Customer Services and Ad hoc administration.
Employer: M Net Multichoice
Position: Telesales
Period: January 1995 – July 1995
Duties:
Customer Service and Sales Roles:
Telesales for the Gaming Chanel
Customer Services and Ad hoc administration.

6. Curriculum Vitae
Maheswari Perera
Page 6 of 6
My Key Competencies include the ability to:
Behave Ethically: Understand ethical behaviour and business practices, and ensure that own behaviour and
the behaviour of others is consistent with these standards and aligns with the values of the organization.
Communicate Effectively: Speak, listen and write in a clear, thorough and timely manner using appropriate
and effective communication tools and techniques.
Creativity/Innovation: Develop new and unique ways to improve operations of the organization and to create
new opportunities.
Foster Teamwork: Work cooperatively and effectively with others to set goals, resolve problem, and make
decisions that enhance organizational effectiveness.
Lead: Positively influence others to achieve results that are in the best interest of the organization.
Make Decisions: Assess situations to determine the importance, urgency and risks, and make clear
decisions which are timely and in the best interests of the organization.
Organize: Set priorities, develop a work schedule, monitor progress towards goals, and track
details/data/information/activities.
Plan: Determine strategies to move the organization forward, set goals, create and implement actions plans,
and evaluate the process and results.
Solve Problems: Assess problem situations to identify causes, gather and process relevant information,
generate possible solutions, and make recommendations and/or resolve the problem
Courses:
Bytes Technology - SA
MS Projects 2003
Dynamics - SA
MS Excel (Basic and Advanced)
The House of Busby (A division of Main Street 252 (Pty) Ltd) – SA (In House)
Performance Management Training
Management Development Training
Bustrac Database
Great Plains Database
IISA - SA
Life insurance 1 (Certificate of Proficiency)
Edcon – SA (In House)
Customer services vision 2000
Customer service screens
Collection, Tracking and Analysis
Investigating and initiating disciplinary processes
Conducting and chairing disciplinary hearings
Credit training Excellence program
Corporate Business and Management Training
References:
Edcon:
Thomas Wiseman (011) 495 1870 / 083 452 3426
The House of Busby:
Shawn Lashansky 0828590351
Egoli Gas:
Isabel Rademeyer - (011) 726-3138 (Ext 217)
Margie Venter - (011) 726-3138 (Ext 217)
Edgars:
Raymond Kona - (011) 249-4005
Clientele Life Assurers:
Francois Marais – (011) 320-3054
Multichoice:
Stephen Motau - (011) 889-1185