Customs and Trade Compliance Advisor (Self-Employed, Global Service Provider) in London

CustomsPlus® is a UK-based global customs consultancy delivering expert compliance, audit, and advisory services to importers, exporters, customs agents, and enterprise clients across multiple trade regimes. We are building a global network of self-employed Customs and Trade Compliance Advisors to support growing client demand across the UK, EU, US and beyond.

This is a self-employed, project-based role. You will operate as an independent expert under the CustomsPlus® banner, delivering high-quality compliance advice and practical support to clients in your region and area of specialism. Success in this role means clients receive accurate, actionable guidance that reduces their compliance risk, recovers duty where it is owed and builds their confidence in navigating complex customs environments. You will be trusted to work autonomously, represent the CustomsPlus® standard and bring your own regional expertise and network to the table.

Responsibilities

• Deliver customs and trade compliance advisory services to SME and enterprise clients across assigned accounts or regions.
• Review and audit import and export declarations, commodity codes, customs values and duty calculations for accuracy and compliance risk.
• Advise clients on applicable customs regimes, procedures and obligations relevant to their trade lanes and business model.
• Identify and pursue duty recovery, drawback and relief opportunities on behalf of clients, preparing and submitting claims where applicable.
• Support clients through customs audits, post-clearance amendments and regulatory queries from customs authorities.
• Monitor and interpret regulatory developments across relevant regimes and communicate the impact clearly to clients.
• Prepare compliance reports, gap analyses and advisory notes to a professional standard.
• Participate in client onboarding, scoping calls and review meetings as required.
• Collaborate with the CustomsPlus® central team to share intelligence, elevate complex cases and maintain consistent service standards.
• Maintain accurate records of client interactions, advice given and outcomes achieved in line with CustomsPlus® operating standards.

Qualifications

• Demonstrable experience in customs and trade compliance across one or more of the following regimes: UK (CDS, HMRC), EU (UCC, AES, CBAM), US (CBP, ACE, IEEPA), or other major trade jurisdictions.
• Practical working knowledge of import and export declaration processes, commodity classification, customs valuation and origin rules.
• Ability to interpret customs legislation, tariff schedules and regulatory guidance and translate it into clear, practical client advice.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills in English; able to explain complex compliance requirements to non-specialist audiences.
• Proven ability to manage your own workload, meet deadlines and maintain high output quality without close supervision.
• Experience working directly with importers, exporters, customs agents or freight forwarders in an advisory or operational capacity.
• Right to work as a self-employed professional in your country of residence.
• Formal qualifications in customs, trade compliance, logistics or a related discipline (for example, CILT, IATA, ACI, NCBFAA, BIFA or equivalent).
• Experience with CBAM (Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism), AEO (Authorised Economic Operator) or duty relief regimes.
• Familiarity with trade compliance software platforms and digital declaration tools.
• Established regional network of trade, freight or customs contacts.
• Multilingual capability relevant to your primary trade region.
• Experience supporting clients through customs authority audits or investigations.

What We Offer

• Competitive day rate, negotiable based on experience, specialism and region.
• Fully remote and flexible working; you set your schedule around your clients and commitments.
• Project-based engagements with the option for ongoing retainer work as client relationships develop.
• Access to the CustomsPlus® brand, methodology and support network.
• Opportunity to work on diverse, cross-border compliance mandates across multiple regimes.
• A collaborative, expert community of advisors with a shared commitment to accuracy and client outcomes.

How to Apply

Send your CV and a brief note covering your primary customs regime specialism, geographic coverage and current availability to: include "Global Advisor Application" in the subject line. We review applications on a rolling basis and aim to respond within five working days.