Senior Customs Broker

Cargo Compass SA; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 350,000 - 520,000; Full time

Job summary

Cargo Compass SA in Johannesburg seeks an experienced customs declarations specialist to process imports and exports with accuracy, framing BOEs, and ensuring compliance with SA customs legislation.

You will maintain Shipshape system records, perform quality checks, audit declarations, and liaise with authorities to minimise delays while meeting deadlines.

Qualifications

• Matric certificate (Grade 12).
• A customs-related qualification will be an added advantage.
• A minimum of 5 years’ experience in a customs department within the clearing and forwarding industry.
• Proven working experience with the Shipshape system.
• Practical experience in framing Bills of Entry (BOEs) and processing customs refunds.
• Sound knowledge of Incoterms® 2020.
• A strong understanding of South African customs legislation, import and export procedures, and customs compliance requirements.
• Experience in customs quality control, declaration auditing, and error identification will be an advantage.
• Strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and the ability to work under pressure in a deadline-driven environment.

Responsibilities

• Process a minimum of 15 customs declarations per day across all modes of transport, imports and exports.
• Prepare, frame, and process Bills of Entry (BOEs) accurately and timely.
• Ensure correct tariff classification, customs valuation, origin, quantities, and other declaration particulars.
• Apply correct customs valuation methods per legislation.
• Process customs refunds with complete supporting documentation.
• Liaise with authorities to handle detentions and resolve issues.
• Monitor queries, discrepancies, and delays to facilitate timely releases.
• Ensure declarations are supported by accurate documentation and compliant with regulations.
• Maintain Shipshape system records and filing for audit purposes.

Skills

Customs clearance

Detailed orientatio

Analytical skills

Deadline-driven

Quality control

Communication

Problem solving

Team collaboration

Education

Matric certificate (Grade 12)

Customs qualification (advantage)

Tools

Shipshape system

Job description

We are pleased to announce an exciting opportunity to join a highly successful clearing and forwarding company within our customs Department.

We are seeking an experienced, detail-oriented, and quality-driven individual with a strong understanding of customs legislation, import and export procedures, customs declaration processing, and quality control. The successful candidate will be responsible for processing customs declarations accurately and efficiently while ensuring compliance with applicable legislation, company procedures, and established quality standards.

1. Minimum Requirements and Qualifications

• Matric certificate (Grade 12).
• A customs-related qualification will be an added advantage.
• A minimum of 5 years’ experience in a customs department within the clearing and forwarding industry.
• Proven working experience with the Shipshape system.
• Practical experience in framing Bills of Entry (BOEs) and processing customs refunds.
• Sound knowledge of Incoterms® 2020.
• A strong understanding of South African customs legislation, import and export procedures, and customs compliance requirements.
• Experience in customs quality control, declaration auditing, and error identification will be an advantage.
• Strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and the ability to work under pressure in a deadline-driven environment.

2. Duties and Responsibilities

A. Customs Declaration Processing

• Process a minimum of 15 customs declarations per day across all modes of transport, covering both imports and exports, in accordance with applicable customs legislation and procedures.
• Prepare, frame, and process Bills of Entry (BOEs) accurately and within the required timeframes.
• Ensure the correct tariff classification, customs valuation, origin, quantities, and other declaration particulars are applied.
• Apply the correct customs valuation methods in accordance with applicable customs legislation.
• Process customs refunds and ensure that all supporting documentation is complete and compliant.
• Handle and resolve customs and Other Government Agency (OGA) detentions by liaising with the relevant authorities and stakeholders.
• Monitor and resolve customs queries, discrepancies, and clearance delays to facilitate the timely release of shipments.
• Ensure that all declarations are supported by accurate documentation and comply with the relevant regulatory requirements.

B. Quality Control and Compliance

• Conduct quality checks on customs declarations to ensure accuracy, completeness, and compliance before submission to Customs.
• Review declarations, supporting documents, tariff classifications, customs values, Incoterms®, and other relevant information to identify and prevent errors.
• Verify that all customs entries are prepared in accordance with the Customs and Excise Act, applicable regulations, and internal company procedures.
• Identify, investigate, and correct discrepancies, omissions, and recurring errors in customs declarations.
• Perform quality audits on processed customs entries to ensure that established quality standards and compliance requirements are consistently maintained.
• Ensure that all required supporting documentation is available, accurate, and correctly linked to the relevant customs declaration.
• Monitor the quality and accuracy of customs entries processed by team members, where applicable.
• Provide feedback and guidance to colleagues on identified errors, compliance gaps, and opportunities for improvement.
• Maintain a record of quality control findings, errors, corrective actions, and recurring issues.
• Recommend and implement corrective and preventative measures to minimise errors, reduce customs penalties, and improve operational efficiency.
• Escalate significant compliance risks, repeated errors, and potential customs infringements to management.
• Assist with internal and external audits by ensuring that customs documentation and records are accurate, complete, and readily available.

C. Operational Efficiency and Administration

• Maintain accurate and up-to-date customs records in the Shipshape system.
• Ensure that all customs documentation is properly filed and readily available for audit purposes.
• Monitor daily workloads and processing targets while maintaining the required level of quality and accuracy.
• Identify opportunities to improve customs processing procedures, quality control measures, and operational workflows.
• Keep abreast of changes to customs legislation, regulations, and import and export requirements.
• Liaise professionally with clients, shipping lines, transporters, customs authorities, OGAs, and internal departments to resolve operational and compliance-related matters.
• Ensure that all work is completed within agreed service levels and company deadlines.

3. Key Competencies

• Strong technical knowledge of customs clearance and declaration processing.
• Excellent understanding of customs compliance and quality assurance principles.
• Exceptional attention to detail and accuracy.
• Strong analytical, investigative, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to identify risks, investigate discrepancies, and implement corrective actions.
• Excellent organisational, administrative, and time-management skills.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and meet daily processing targets without compromising quality.
• A proactive approach to continuous improvement, compliance, and operational excellence.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a team environment