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 South East
As the most populous region of England, the South East stretches from Oxford to Southampton and from Reading to Dover, comprising some parts of the Greater London Urban Area and a number of the Home Counties, such as Buckinghamshire , Kent and Surrey.
The largest city in the in the South East is Brighton and Hove, while towns like Chatham, Gillingham and Strood make up the Medway conurbation, which has a similar population.
Over the years, the area has been an important part of the UK's economy and has been a centre for innovation - from the Enigma machine and Alan Turing's breakthroughs in computer technology, through to the development of Britain's space programme at Westcott.
Those looking for Customs Manager jobs in the South East will have a range of options to consider, as the region is home to a number of large companies specialising in everything from car manufacture to pharmaceuticals, food and beverages to petrochemicals and packaging to retail.
The main branch of Amazon.co.uk is based in Slough, while other top-name brands in the South East include PepsiCo, Harley-Davidson UK, Vodafone, Hovis, Ben & Jerry's, Blackberry, Panasonic UK, HP UK, Virgin Media and ExxonMobil UK.
Of course, transport is also a major part of the South East's economy, with Gatwick Airport, South Eastern Rail and the Channel Tunnel Rail Link and the Port of Dover all important elements.
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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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