Customs Manager - Watford

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 Watford

A town located in Hertfordshire, Watford is just 18 miles from London and is a busy area with many opportunities for those seeking Customs Manager roles.

It also boasts easy access to the capital - via overground trains or the Metropolitan underground line - making it perfect for those who want to work in London, but live away from the hustle and bustle of the big city.

Situated on the River Colne, Watford is thought to have originated during the Saxon period and was mainly an agricultural area until the Industrial Revolution. Thanks to the completion of the Grand Union Canal in 1798 and the London and Birmingham Railway in 1837, the city quickly began to expand.

During this period, manufacturing became an important part of the local economy, particularly paper-making, printing and brewing.

For most of the 20th century, a Rolls-Royce factory was located in Watford, which was responsible for manufacturing jet engines. This site was shut down in the early 1990s and re-born as the world-famous Leavesden Film Studios, which has been used for work on blockbuster franchises like James Bond, Star Wars and Harry Potter.

In line with the rest of the country, the service sector has taken over in Watford during the last 20 years and the city is now home to various multimedia companies. What's more, a number of large companies have the headquarters here - including Mothercare, Hilton and JD Wetherspoons.

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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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