Customs Compliance Specialist

Customs Compliance Specialist – Southampton

The Customs Compliance Specialist is responsible for ensuring compliance with UK customs regulations, supporting risk management, and liaising with authorities. This role involves overseeing logistics operations while maintaining adherence to customs procedures and legal requirements.

Job type: Permanent

Hours: 08:30 to 17:00

Days: Monday to Friday

Hybrid working after completion of probation

Key Responsibilities:

• Ensure compliance with UK customs regulations and stay updated with HMRC requirements.
• Support the logistics department’s growth and improvements to deliver value to clients.
• Act as a customs expert, assisting the company with legal obligations related to customs procedures.
• Support the finance team with duty deferment account queries and liaise with HMRC.
• Monitor changes in customs regulations and conduct regular audits to ensure compliance.
• Coordinate day-to-day logistics for DSCS customers, including operational planning and service monitoring.
• Negotiate freight costs, prepare offers and tender responses, and maintain positive customer relationships.
• Ensure timely creation and processing of invoices, and maintain departmental profitability and customer service quality.
• Comply with GDPR legislation and ensure legal compliance within all department activities.
• Meet Forwarding and Customs KPIs and deadlines set in contractual agreements.

Compliance & Company Policies:

• Adhere to the company’s Code of Conduct, ensuring ethical and compliant behavior.
• Follow Health & Safety regulations, including PPE requirements and incident reporting protocols.
• Comply with ISO 9001, 14001, and 45001 standards for quality, environmental, and occupational health & safety.
• Ensure terminal security compliance in line with company, Port Authority, and ISPS Code rules.

Qualifications & Experience:

• 4+ years of experience with a UK based freight forwarder (import/export), and at least 5 years in customs clearance.
• Right to work in the UK (No sponsorship is available)
• In-depth understanding of UK and international customs regulations, including tariff classification, valuation, and origin rules.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and negotiation skills.
• Ability to work independently, under pressure, and meet tight deadlines.
• Familiarity with customs software and EDI systems.