Customs Compliance Specialist

ASCO Group; Aberdeen City; Hybrid; GBP 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

ASCO Group seeks a Customs Compliance Specialist to ensure all cross-border movements comply with UK, EU, and international customs laws. You will oversee regulatory adherence, maintain audit-ready documentation, and minimize compliance risk across import/export processes.

The role emphasizes managing HMRC authorisations, customs warehousing, and bonded stock compliance, with a focus on continuous process improvements and stakeholder guidance across multiple jurisdictions.

Qualifications

• Strong knowledge of UK customs legislation, tariff classification, origin determination and duty management.
• Experience with CDS, customs procedures and multi-jurisdictional regulations.
• Experience managing HMRC authorisations and bonded stock compliance.

Responsibilities

• Interpret and apply customs legislation (UK Customs Code, WTO rules, sanctions regimes).
• Maintain internal compliance frameworks, SOPs and controls across customs activities.
• Manage HMRC authorisations and ensure compliance with warehousing requirements.
• Monitor regulatory changes and update processes, tariff classifications and valuations.
• Conduct internal audits, risk assessments and corrective actions.
• Investigate holds, discrepancies and regulatory queries with HMRC and authorities.
• Provide guidance to internal teams, clients and partners on customs requirements.
• Coordinate with global teams to align across jurisdictions.

Skills

UK customs knowledge

Tariff classification

Origin determination

Duty management

Regulatory interpretation

Data integrity

Auditing & risk identification

Analytical thinking

Stakeholder communication

Education

CCS or CILT qualification

Export controls training

Tools

CDS

Destin8

CNS

Job description

Hours of Work: 37.5 hours per week, Monday - Friday 0830 - 1630

Reporting to the Customs Manager, the Customs Compliance Specialist ensures that all crossborder movements comply with UK, EU, and international customs legislation. They oversee regulatory adherence across import/export processes, maintain auditready documentation, and implement controls that minimise compliance risk, duty exposure, and operational delays.

The successful candidate will play a key role in maintaining customs compliance, managing HMRC authorisations and ensuring customs warehousing and bonded stock activities meet all relevant regulatory requirements. They will also identify opportunities to improve customs processes, systems and operational controls. Key responsibilities include:

Regulatory Compliance & Governance

• Interpret and apply customs legislation (UK Customs Code, WTO rules, sanctions regimes, export controls).
• Maintain internal compliance frameworks, SOPs, and controls to ensure consistent adherence across all customs activities.
• Manage and monitor HMRC authorisations, ensuring ongoing compliance with associated conditions and requirements.
• Ensure customs warehousing and bonded stock activities comply with relevant legislation, procedures and record‑keeping requirements.
• Monitor regulatory changes and update internal processes, tariff classifications and valuation methodologies accordingly.

Customs Data Integrity & Documentation

• Validate accuracy of all customs data: HS codes, origin, valuation, procedure codes, licences, certificates, and supporting documents.
• Ensure declarations meet HMRC requirements and align with CDS, port community systems, and thirdparty platforms.
• Maintain complete, auditready records for all customs entries, duty payments, and compliance documentation.
• Identify compliance risks across supplychain flows and implement corrective actions.
• Investigate customs holds, discrepancies, and regulatory queries; liaise with HMRC, Border Force, port authorities, and carriers.
• Conduct internal audits, rootcause analysis, and compliance reviews to prevent recurrence of issues.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Provide expert guidance to internal teams, clients, suppliers, and logistics partners on customs requirements and best practice.
• Support tender responses, client onboarding, and operational planning with compliance expertise.
• Coordinate with global compliance teams to ensure alignment across multiple jurisdictions.

Minimum Competencies (Skills, Knowledge and Behaviours)

• Strong knowledge of UK customs legislation, tariff classification, valuation rules, origin determination and duty management.
• Practical understanding of HMRC authorisations, customs warehousing and bonded stock compliance.
• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to interpret regulations, assess compliance risks and identify gaps in existing processes.
• High attention to detail and accuracy in documentation, data validation and record keeping.
• A proactive approach to problem‑solving, corrective action and continuous improvement.
• Ability to work independently, manage competing priorities and drive improvements through to completion.
• Effective communication skills when working with regulatory authorities, clients and internal teams.
• Ability to manage multiple deadlines in a fast‑paced logistics environment.
• Proficiency with CDS, port community systems (including Destin8 and CNS) and trade‑management platforms.

Qualifications & Experience

• Proven experience in UK customs compliance, customs brokerage, freight forwarding or international trade.
• Strong working knowledge of CDS, customs procedures and multi‑jurisdictional regulatory environments.
• Experience managing HMRC authorisations and ensuring compliance with customs warehousing and bonded stock requirements.
• Experience conducting internal audits, risk assessments and implementing corrective actions.
• Experience with Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) compliance would be highly beneficial.
• Relevant professional customs qualifications are advantageous, such as: o Certified Customs Specialist (CCS). o CILT customs qualifications. o Export controls and dual‑use compliance training.