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 Widnes
At the north-eastern edge of Cheshire lies Widnes, a town of around 60,000 population built on heavy industry, particularly chemicals, where ICI had a huge presence for decades before fragmenting in the 1990s. The chemical industry chose Widnes partly for the plentiful supply of water, just like Runcorn, to which it is joined by a railway and road bridge over the Mersey.
The centre of Liverpool is 11 miles (17 km) to the west, with Liverpool John Lennon Airport just 4 miles (7km) form the centre of Widnes. Although not actually in Widnes, the Jaguar Land rover car production plant is just outside the town in Halewood, and it has been a large employer of people from Widnes. For decades the plant was owned by Ford, and the locals still cal the main boulevard that passes it “The Ford Road”. Under the new management, the factory is doing extremely well, helped by a local enthusiastic workforce.
Widnes has two musical claims to fame, one certain, one apocryphal. First was the Stone Roses’ Spike Island gig, the pinnacle of the Madchester scene in 1990. The second claim is that Paul Simon wrote “Homeward Bound” at Widnes Station, although Simon isn’t 100% sure himself!
Widnes has retained many of its industrial plants, although they are no longer owned by the giant ICI, and have been taken over by a multitude of companies. The well-connected town is handy for Liverpool, Warrington, St Helens and Runcorn, and has the M62 at its northern point. All this makes it a good place to locate any logistics operations, and indeed, Customs Coordinator jobs or similar positions have been through our system in Widnes.
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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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