Customs Process & Compliance Manager

The Briggs Equipment Group is a leading provider of asset management and maintenance solutions across the UK and Ireland.

The Impact you will have:

• Design, implement, and roll out a single, standardised import process across the Group, including Ireland and Northern Ireland.
• Oversee end-to-end customs compliance for imports and exports, ensuring adherence to UK, EU, and Northern Ireland Protocol / Windsor Framework requirements.
• Manage and maintain accurate customs compliance records, including robust document control and audit-ready processes.
• Review, maintain, and govern tariff classifications for all products moving cross-border.
• Maintain records of Country of Origin (COO) for imported products to support future exports and preferential duty claims.
• Conduct a detailed review of historic and current movements between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland addressing any historic gaps in Trader Support Service documentation and assess potential financial exposure.
• Implement compliant processes for all movements within the island of Ireland, including use of the Trader Support Service (TSS).
• Support the business in transitioning to and operating under UKIMS, including working with relevant stakeholders to implement supporting systems and controls.
• Work closely with the Head of Tax to ensure all customs documentation supports the VAT positions taken.
• Support improvements to the VAT return process, including EC Sales Lists, Intrastat (where applicable), and related reporting.
• Remediate historic non-filings of EC Sales Lists in Northern Irish subsidiaries and implement controls to prevent recurrence.
• Leverage existing ERP systems to automate reporting, reconciliations, and data validation where possible.
• Third-Party Management & Cost Optimisation:
• Manage relationships with external customs and compliance service providers (e.g. SEKO, Clear Customs).
• Review and challenge external reporting, including reconciling MSS data against internal records.
• Identify opportunities to reduce costs by internalising processes, reducing dependency on intermediaries, and ensuring correct application of duty reliefs and exemptions.
• Identify customs and trade compliance risks across the Group and implement mitigating controls.
• Keep up to date with changing customs, VAT, and trade legislation and proactively update internal processes.
• Support internal and external audits by providing accurate documentation and explanations.
• Act as a subject matter expert for customs and trade compliance, advising stakeholders across the business.

What will help you to excel in this role:

• Strong experience in customs, trade compliance, or indirect tax within a multi-entity or cross-border environment.
• In-depth knowledge of UK, EU, and Northern Ireland customs requirements, including TSS and NI-ROI movements.
• Experience managing import/export processes, tariff classification, and origin documentation.
• Strong understanding of the interaction between customs and VAT.
• Experience working with ERP systems and using data to improve controls and reporting.
• Proven ability to manage external advisors and challenge third-party outputs.
• Strong attention to detail with the ability to resolve historic compliance issues.
• Proactive and solution-focused, with the ability to work independently.
• Strong communicator, able to explain complex customs issues to non-technical stakeholders.
• Comfortable operating in a changing regulatory environment.

What you can expect from us:

• Negotiable base salary.
• Future development and career opportunities.
• Contributory pension scheme with employer contributions up to 6%.
• Profitshare bonus based on business performance.
• Paycare and eyecare health scheme.
• High street discounts.

What’s next:

If you are interested in joining the Briggs Group then please click on the apply now button and a member of the team will be in touch. Not sure if this is the right role for you? Please feel free to visit the careers page on our website and send us your CV speculatively for a member of the team to review. If you require any reasonable adjustments to assist you in the interview process, then please contact a member of the Recruitment team and inform them prior to attending so we can ensure these are met.