Import Customs Specialist

Freight Personnel; Ashford; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Trade Affairs Coordinator to oversee customs operations at their Ashford site. This pivotal role involves optimizing customs clearance, ensuring compliance with trade regulations, and managing documentation for import/export activities. The ideal candidate will have a degree in Customs compliance or equivalent experience, along with strong communication skills and proficiency in SAP and Excel. Join a dynamic team where your expertise will contribute to efficient customs processes and compliance management, making a significant impact in a well-respected organization.

Qualifications

• Minimum 2 years of experience in import/export compliance.
• Fluency in English with excellent communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Manage and document daily customs activities.
• Coordinate with customs agents and ensure compliance.

Skills

Customs compliance

Import/Export regulations

SAP/GTS knowledge

Advanced Excel

Communication skills

Education

Degree level or certificate in Customs compliance

Tools

SAP

GTS

Excel

Job description

Trade Affairs Coordinator - Import / Customs

The client with 70 + sites worldwide specialise in the manufacturing of products for the Fragrance, Beauty, Food and Well-being industry. They are a well established business with a long history and known for their best-in-class processes and procedures.

As a Trade Affairs Coordinator you will oversee and coordinate all customs-related activities at our Ashford site. In this pivotal role, you will optimize daily customs clearance procedures, ensure compliance with inward processing, trade regulations and manage customs duties effectively.

You will oversee & coordinate the day-to-day customs operational activities and will primarily be responsible to manage all requirements to clear goods at the border, ensure that documentation and data entry are consistent and compliant with our licenses.

The role includes a high degree of administrative tasks to comply with customs regulations as well as coordination and communication aspects with internal and external partners to ensure timeliness and efficiency of processes and prompt management of daily exceptions and requests.

Reporting directly to the Shipping / Planning Manager in Ashford with a functional reporting link to the UK Trade Affairs Manager, you will work closely with other departments and streams as part of an extended team.

Qualifications

Education: Degree level or certificate in Customs compliance level 4 or higher or working experience of minimum 2 years in an equivalent position.

Recognized experience in the import / export area including Inward Processing

In depth experience working in Import - Export Compliance and specifically in filing IPR submissions to UK Tax & Revenue

Languages: Fluency in English

Excellent communication & command skills

High level of accuracy

Accountability, initiative and integrity

SAP / GTS knowledge, advanced Excel knowledge.

Able to work in a matrix environment, in a team or independently and to interact with diverse stakeholders

Core Responsibilities

Management and documentation of daily local customs' activities
Official point of contact for local customs authorities - for day-to-day operations
Administration and maintenance of import & export records in our systems Ensure compliance to international trade regulations and local customs accreditations
Ensure continuity including local backup solution for Trade affairs
Coordination of import and export declarations with customs agents and forwarders
Control of import and export documents and duties.
Management of duties refund, duty drawbacks including optimizing and coordination of the IPR program.
Support with common customs audits
Ensure compliance and flawless execution of inbound and outbound duty processes
License Management.
Ensuring the correct duty is applied through checking the (url removed) websites
Monitoring SLA's and keeping them up to date with the customs broker / forwarders
Functional support to other departments