Victoria has 8 years of experience in finance and operations roles in Botswana, including payroll administration, accounting, and financial reporting. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree specializing in tourism management. Her most recent role was as a payroll and financial administrator for a large tourism operator, where she was responsible for payroll processing, accounting, financial reporting, and ensuring compliance. She is seeking a new challenging position based in Cape Town.

1. Victoria Jeanette McFarlane
Payroll, Finance and Operations
UNISA – Bachelor of Commerce
I have a Bachelor of Commerce degree and eight years’ experience within finance and Operations. My role over the past
few years has been a specialist one in accounts and payroll for the biggest Tourism Operator in Botswana. Meticulous and
efficient, I am now looking for a challenging new position based in Cape Town
CAREER HISTORY
Payroll and Finance Administrator (May 2013 to Current)
Current Employer: Okavango Wilderness Safaris Ltd
Okavango Wilderness Safaris is the biggest tourism operator in Africa, operating lodges in Botswana, South Africa,
Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Congo as well as North Island in the Seychelles. I am employed at their Maun Head Office
as a Payroll and Financial Administrator
Roles and Responsibilities:
PAYROLL
 Entering data into our VIP Software system for approximately 900 of our employees and checking the data
analysis. I am responsible for 14 camps employees’ salaries each month.
 Utilising spreadsheets for wage requests and wage memos. Then checking this against the Ansar (the staff
register system) to ensure all additions and deductions, which are requested each month, are correct.
 Reconciling all funds, that our employees are members of, each month. This includes Medical Aid Funds, Life
Insurance Fund, Funeral Fund, BURS PAYE, FNB loan report as well as a Stanbic loan report and our Pension/
Provident Funds
 Ensuring all citizen, as well as foreign employees have the correct PAYE tax deducted each month if they fall into
the minimum taxable annual remuneration bracket for BURS related payments and reporting.
 Finalizing all resignations, dismissals, terminations or end of contracts concerning employees who have either
left employment with the company voluntarily or due to disciplinary hearings due to misconduct. We have to
ensure that all the necessary essential paperwork and Labour procedures have been followed correctly to avoid
any Labour dispute issues.
 Preparing cheques and the necessary cheque requisitions for all casual staff employed by the company each
month. The Labour Laws also differ according to casual and permanent staff. I then utilize FPLs (Final Payment
Letters) and ensure the final payments are correct
 Keeping up to date with Labour Law Regulations to ensure each individual employee’s salary is being fairly
calculated each month within their rights
FINANCE
 Entering all cheques into the Cashbook in our Great Plains Accounting System in order to account for all cheques
written in that month. Every allocation of these costs must be posted to the correct financial accounts within the
different companies
 Completing the necessary financial reporting, once salaries are paid, by the 25th of each month and ensuring
these reports are delivered to our Johannesburg Office on a timely basis.

2.  Allocation of all individual costs from our VIP journals into our Great Plains Accounting System. This is
approximately 40 to 50 journals each month
 Ensuring all the Salary Accounts as well as Control Accounts balance and to correct any incorrect allocations.
Once achieved I am then responsible for the Monthly Company Audit Report to ensure our VIP system balances
exactly to our Great Plains reports
 Sorting out any discrepancies to ensure the Johannesburg office receive the correct Monthly financial reports.
My deadline is never missed. This Audit Report is vital for our Company Financial Year End during our annual
Audit
 Each year in March the company has its Annual Audit and we are instrumental in ensuring all our Payroll and
Financial records are correct and available for the Auditors.
ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL PROJECTS
 I have been involved in some major projects throughout my employment, such as our 2015 transition from the
Gratuity based/ severance system to the Pension and Provident Fund systems. This took a total of three months
to complete and implement for each employee within the entire Company
 Sourcing and creating the necessary 12 month analysis reports for BOTA (Botswana Training Authority) for many
employees in our organization in order for the company to claim back a share of the total remuneration paid
over this period as a refund for giving employment to BOTA members.
 Implementing the new Stanbic Loan system designed specifically for Wilderness Employees only and ensuring all
the accurate financial information for every employee is constantly provided to Stanbic Bank
 The country’s Tax year end is a major annual project for me. Each employee’s tax calculations, including all
taxable income from within and outside the company, must be accurately reported to BURS. PAYE calculations
differ between citizens and foreigners. This timeframe can take up to two months to complete
During all of the above tasks, other additional payroll and financial responsibilities of the day-to-day operations are
taken on by our Department. The Department consists of my colleague and myself only and we have responsibility
for all these areas and report to the Head of Payroll and Operations
Operations and Finance Manager (June 2012 – January 2013)
Employer: Ngamiland Adventure Safaris Ltd
Ngamiland Adventure Safaris (NAS), based in Maun, manages a crucial conservation area in the Okavango Delta – the Jao
Reserve. During the course of my employment with the company I had financial responsibilities and was promoted to
Operations Manager.
Roles and Responsibilities:
FINANCE
 Daily recording, entering and correct allocation of the supplier invoices into the QuickBooks accounts system
 Authorizing credit card transactions which were received daily from Jao Camp, Kwetsani Camp, Jacana Camp and
Tubu Tree Camp
 Recording of credit card transactions in Excel for balance check - purposes
 Distributing, recording and maintaining all daily Petty Cash transactions with a full reconciliation against an Excel
record at the end of the month
 Analysing the weekly banking from all four camps which involved foreign currency, credit card slips and camp
invoices for curio, bar and Spa to ensure it balanced with the QuickBooks records
 Calculating foreign currencies and completing bank deposit slips in order to present at the foreign exchange

3. teller, along with any cheques received by the company
 Analysing and querying monthly statements against invoices received to ensure accuracy
 Entering and ensuring payments were made to over 20 suppliers by the 25th of each month
 Dealing with BURS and ensuring the deferred tax was paid before the 25th of each month and working with
BURS to ensure all tax had been paid up to date to receive the tax clearance certificate
OPERATIONS
 Ensuring bookings for freight runs were placed and co-coordinating the routes between Maun, Jao airstrip and
Hundu airstrip, depending on staff movements and guests
 Receiving and checking weekly dry and fresh orders from the camps and placing these orders with the various
suppliers on a timely basis. Expected camp occupancy numbers determine the quantities ordered to remain
within the budget.
 Following up, receiving the weights and ensuring the delivery of camp orders to the weekly freight runs on the
company’s caravan
 Compiling the load-sheets for each freight run and ensuring that the weight was correct for the freight to be
flown out to the various camps. This is a critical responsibility as the Air Laws have very strict restrictions
pertaining to maximum weight allowed on each flight. The penalties that could be incurred, should the weight
be over the given allowance, are serious and could result in criminal negligence charges
 Responsibility for any guest specific requests, camp emergencies and daily Office Operations.
 Checking invoices against orders placed to ensure accuracy and checking with camp managers that all goods
were received and that the quality was up to standard
 Immediate and proficient problem solving is significant due to the nature of operating in the Tourism Industry,
especially when the logistical challenges of operating in the Okavango Delta are taken into consideration.
Administration, Accounts and Stock Control Manager (April 2011 to April 2012)
Employer: Desert and Delta Safaris (Chobe Holdings)
Desert & Delta Safaris owns and operates lodges in both Botswana and Namibia. Established in 1982, Desert & Delta
Safaris’ portfolio brings together some of Botswana’s most historic and iconic lodges. I was involved in the technical
operations and accounting of Desert & Delta Safaris’ five lodges (Camp Moremi, Camp Okavango, Leroo La Tau, Savuti
Safari Lodge and Xugana) plus Ker & Downey’s three lodges (Kanana, Okuti and Shindi)
Overview of Responsibilities:
 Monitoring camp machine information such as average running hours, fuel consumption etc.
 Entering invoices and assessing daily, weekly and monthly expenses
 Monitoring service hours of camp vehicles, boats and generators
 Sourcing and ordering of spares and consumables from both local and international suppliers
 General communication with and liaison between higher management, mechanical staff, camp managers and
suppliers
 Introducing new systems for better staff management (a more economic procedure concerning staff overtime
requests)
 Creating an accurate spares inventory system
 Developing an up-to-date accounts recording procedure
 Graphing data for analysis in order to reduce machine operation expenditure in camp
 Successfully working towards the reduction of general expenditure of the technical department

4. Accounts and Business Development (July 2008 to May 2011)
Employer: Nxawaxwuwa Safaris & Lodges (Pty) Ltd. (Botswana)
Nxawaxwuwa Safaris & Lodges (Pty) Ltd, trading as Jumbo Junction Camp, is located to the north of the
Okavango Delta. Since the commencement of my employment in 2008, I was involved with the loan applications,
financial management, design and building, marketing, ordering of equipment and general site maintenance
Overview of Responsibilities:
 Application of the necessary Government licensing, including company approval, Environmental Impact Analyses
(E.I.A.), Tourism and operating permits and labour related documentation
 Maintaining daily and monthly financial records
 Liaising with guests and maintaining and updating their bills in order to be settled at the end of their stay
 Meeting with potential investors and liaising with the Government Tourism Officials
 Liaising with current staff and their requirements, employment of staff and maintaining staff records including
employment contracts and salaries
 Ensuring customer satisfaction and assisting in the provision of a variety of safe activities
 Stock control and stock orders
 Representing the company during tourism inspections
EDUCATION
Bachelor Degree: Bachelor of Commerce specializing in Tourism Management (2015 - UNISA)
Secondary School: Matric – University Exemption – at Reddam House College
Subjects: English H.G. French H.G. Mathematics H.G. Physical Science H.G. Drama H.G. Art H.G.
PERSONAL DETAILS
Email: victoria_j_mcfarlane@hotmail.com
Current phone: (+267) 7502 4471
Date of birth: 19 /12/1985
Driving License: Yes
Hobbies:
Starlite and Vertical Excellence Helicopter Flying School – 2006
Music, Reading, Running, Wildlife, Cooking, Adventure trips
REFERENCES
Available on request