Excise and Customs Manager - Operations

This is a rare and exciting opportunity to join a high‑performing Excise & Customs team as a Manager, with responsibility for the day‑to‑day management of UK import and compliance operations. The role spans activity carried out by external service providers and Tesco teams based in the UK and Bengaluru.

As one of the subject matter experts within the Tesco Group, you’ll play a critical role in ensuring our Excise and Customs duty processes remain efficient, accurate, and fully compliant. You’ll act as a primary point of contact for live operational processes, including the movement of goods through the border environment, customs declarations to HMRC, Plastic Packaging Tax obligations, and the associated control frameworks.

Working closely with internal teams and external partners, you’ll also help identify and deliver Excise & Customs facilitation measures that generate profit, cash, and working‑capital benefits for the business.

Responsibilities

• Managing UK excise and customs compliance processes, ensuring accurate and timely submission of declarations, returns, and data to HMRC
• Overseeing excise and customs duty payments, including control processes, duty adjustments, over/under‑payment claims, and refunds
• Owning reconciliations, due diligence checks, and financial controls across excise and customs duty accounting, partnering with the India‑based tax team to support cash and working‑capital forecasting
• Investigating declaration errors or control issues through root‑cause analysis and implementing corrective actions with stakeholders
• Managing customs procedures and authorisations (internal and third‑party), including maintenance of Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) status
• Acting as the key point of contact for excise and customs queries across the business, working with internal teams, service providers, and HMRC, including audits and information requests
• Developing, maintaining, and continuously improving documented processes and operating models
• Providing technical guidance, oversight, and coaching to Excise & Customs Executives in the UK and India
• Owning Plastic Packaging Tax controls end‑to‑end, from data collection through to return preparation, submission, and payment

Qualifications

• Curiosity, drive, and a proactive approach to problem solving
• Extensive excise and customs operational knowledge
• Ability to interpret tax legislation and policy and translate it into clear, actionable operational processes
• Strong stakeholder management skills, including working with third‑party service providers
• Strong numerical and analytical skills, with a sound understanding of accounting principles
• Proven experience managing excise and customs taxes in a large retail or complex operating environment, including declaration software and customs/excise deferment accounts

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