Customs Manager
It doesn’t matter how well a logistics or supply chain operation is planned in terms of getting fully laden vehicles between factories, warehouses and fulfilment centres if the customs aren’t all in order. If you’re moving goods from one country to another, it can be the weak link in the process, adding days, hours or weeks to journeys, or in the worst case, revealing exports that should never have been attempted.
Enter the customs team, whose job it is to stress test all ongoing and future logistics activities for a company to ensure that both export and import are legally compliant as regards customs. And at the head of that team is the customs manager. Their job is to oversee the team, which might cover multiple jurisdictions, to keep all that freight flowing freely between parties. In smaller organisations, the customs manager might be a one-person team, tasked with operating over multiple territories or dealing with diverse classifications of goods.
The skills required
When looking for customs manager jobs, you should be an experienced and fully accredited specialist in the field of import and export, perhaps in a specific sector or between certain jurisdictions. Some jobs require you to have a hands-on role checking consignments yourself to ensure they are compliant in terms of quality, weight, size or count. You’ll be expert in the customs declaration procedure in your field, and will know how to optimise supply chain and logistics within the remit of customs procedures.
Communication of often complex laws and protocols will be essential, as you may often be asked to explain the scope of certain customs rules if a company is looking to make strategic decisions based on the trading laws between two nations. Experience in customs compliance, tax or duty applications will be essential.
Customs Manager Jobs in the North East
Covering Northumberland, Tyne and Wear, Teeside and County Durham, the North East includes the cities of Durham, Sunderland and Newcastle upon Tyne, as well as other communities like Gateshead, Middlesbrough and Darlington.
In the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries, the area's economy mainly relied on shipbuilding, heavy industry, coal mining and manufacturing. However, most of these faced significant decline after the second world war.
The region's economy is now mainly based in the service sector, and it is also known for its retail, art and culture. A number of tech companies are located in the North East, as well as businesses based in the petrochemical and steel industries.
What's more, the region is home to a significant amount of scientific research, particularly at the Centre for Life. This facility in Newcastle includes exhibition space for tourists, as well as a number of working laboratories that are used by biotechnology companies and medical clinics.
For those seeking Customs Manager roles, just some of the companies that have headquarters or manufacturing facilities in the North East include Santander, Sage Group, Virgin Money, Tetley Tea, McCoy's Crisps, Greggs the Bakers, Nestle and Coca Cola.
In addition, there's BAE Systems, which manufactures military tanks, while Siemens produces steam turbines and Nissan operates the largest car factory in the UK.
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Customs managers at Cast UK
The world is changing fast, and it’s vital for importing and exporting businesses to know exactly what is allowable, and how to get the most out of the regulations. That’s why high performance customs managers are regularly sought.
If you’re running an import/export operation and need a customs manager, call 0333 121 3345 today – Cast UK will be able to put you in touch with experts in your sector.
Candidates looking for this kind of work should register with us using the link below, even if you haven’t seen a specific role today. We’ll be able to match you up with global businesses looking for your skills.
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