Customs Coordinator
Making sure all the customs requirements are in place has always been a challenge for anyone in freight import and export, but now the UK is out of the EU, there’s a whole new set of challenges – and rules that can change at a moment’s notice. That’s where the customs coordinator comes in. They will be in charge of ensuring all the paperwork (and online equivalents) has been completed and that all exports and imports are legitimately logged.
In small logistics firms, this job might be quite hands-on, liaising with warehousing staff and drivers to keep everything in order, often with quite severe time pressures. For larger companies, customs coordinator jobs are going to be more about delegating tasks to personnel who will quite often be widely spread geographically.
Another important part of the job is checking the paperwork of other customs staff, be they suppliers, customers or colleagues. It’s hard to overstate how important this role is for businesses, as mistakes and oversights can be expensive and legally perilous. Good customs coordinators can command excellent remuneration packages because of this responsibility.
The skills required
Businesses looking to fill these roles need conscientious, experienced people, so the more years you have under your belt, the better. In such a frequently changing role, where the laws of multiple jurisdictions affect the work you do, a quick mind that’s ready to learn and understand new legislation and apply it to your daily work is essential.
You’ll be comfortable with getting down on the shop floor and talking issues over with colleagues, clients and suppliers, but also sitting at the computer and working your way through pages of documents to sign off. Although much of it is automated nowadays, your keen eye will be able to spot anomalies and errors and your training will give you the confidence to challenge them.
Customs Coordinator Jobs in Portsmouth
Although it doesn’t really feel like it when you are there, Portsmouth is technically an island city, indeed the UK’s only one, located as it is on Portsea Island and separated from the Hampshire coast by a 30-metre-wide creek. Geographically, it is about as close as possible to being the perfect natural harbour, with its small inlet hiding the large, navigable Fareham Lake. And needless to say, it is one of Britain’s most influential ports, with a wealth of military and civilian history behind it. The city was heavily bombed during World War II, but was also a key staging post for the D-Day landings in 1944.
Today, Portsmouth is an international port, with ferries and freight leaving its docks for Cherbourg, Le Havre, St Helier and Santander, among others. As with any port, Customs Coordinator jobs are abundant thanks to its pivotal role in the international logistics network.
The city is currently booming and undergoing a major redevelopment of its central area, with new housing and shopping centres being built. The military still plays a massive role in the city, with one in ten of its employees linked to the Navy, and the UK’s two aircraft carriers being built there. The European headquarters of IBM is based in the city, as well as he UK HQs of Zurich Financial Services and defence company Northrop Grumman.
Popular locations
Coordinate your recruitment needs with Cast UK
If you’re a customs coordinator who fits the bill, it’s likely that Cast UK will have some top roles waiting to be filled by people like you. All you have to do is click the link below which will take you to a brief registration page – leave your details with us and we’ll come back as soon as the right role arises.
If you’re an employer in supply chain and logistics and need a qualified customs coordinator, we can help. Give one of our consultants a call on 0333 121 3345 and we can get you a professional shortlist that’ll make your recruitment job simple and quick.
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