Import Customs Co-ordinator in Basildon

Our client based in Basildon, Essex are looking for an experienced Import Customs Coordinator to join their team on a permanent basis. The ideal candidate will need experience of raising customs declarations using HMRC’s CDS and have a strong understanding of UK customs compliance requirements, import procedures and customs regulations. You will be supporting customs operations, ensuring the timely clearance of goods, maintaining compliance with HMRC requirements and providing excellent customer service to both internal and external stakeholders.

Duties for the Import Customs Coordinator role will involve:

• Supporting the development and growth of Customs services through excellent customer service and operational performance.
• Completing Customs Import, Export and Cross Trade activities accurately and within required timescales, including all associated financial, legal and invoicing transactions.
• Completing customs import & export declarations in line with HMRC regulations.
• Ensuring all operational activities are completed accurately and on time.
• Reporting any amendments to customs declarations to line management.
• Carrying out ad-hoc and spot checks on customer entries and providing weekly reports.
• Maintaining and utilising operational systems and customs platforms effectively.
• Ensuring Import Duties and VAT are correctly applied and invoiced accordingly.
• Maintaining excellent customer and internal relationships, providing regular updates to the line management team.
• Following up outstanding customer payments with the Credit Control team.
• Maintaining regular communication with the sales teams, reporting potential opportunities and handing over shipments as required.
• Ensuring quotations are communicated to the sales team within 2 hrs of receipt and recorded.
• Identifying/implementing efficiencies in customer workflows with line management.
• Ensuring all required reports are completed and submitted within agreed deadlines.
• Ensuring all goods released under the deferment account have approvals in place.
• Completing invoicing accurately within 48 hours of activity.
• Ensuring insurance charges are applied and escalating any insurance claims urgently.

What you will need:

• At least 1 years’ experience within Customs, Imports or Customs Compliance.
• Experience raising import declarations using CDS.
• A good understanding of UK customs regs, procedures and compliance requirements.
• Knowledge of the UK Trade Tariff and commodity classifications.
• Experience identifying import licensing requirements, including SPS controls, CITES requirements and military or controlled goods.
• Experience of Postponed VAT Accounting (PVA).
• Experience of HMRC amendments and duty reclaim processes.
• Working knowledge of customs formalities relating to UK and EU imports.
• Good knowledge of Microsoft Office 365, particularly Word and Excel.
• Excellent attention to detail, accuracy and ability to prioritise and organise workload.
• Strong communication and customer service skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Flexible approach to working hours, occasional weekend work may be required.

What’s in it for you:

Our client is offering a salary of £27,000 - £28,000pa, 21 days holiday plus bank holidays (holiday entitlement increases with service), Great pension scheme and free annual pension and investment review, Death in Service benefit 3 x salary, Private Medical, Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) for you and eligible family members, employee discounts and benefits platform and on-site car parking. The working hours for this role are Monday to Friday 8:30am to 5.30pm.

If you have the relevant skills, experience and attributes for this role then we would like to hear from you.