The Head of Customs & Freight is responsible for the strategic and operational leadership of all customs, bonded warehouse, and freight activities at Birmingham Bond. The role ensures full compliance with UK customs legislation, efficient movement of goods, and robust governance of bonded and special procedures, while supporting commercial growth and operational excellence.
This is a senior, hands-on role combining technical customs expertise, people leadership, and stakeholder management.
Key Responsibilities
Customs & Compliance Leadership
- Act as the senior customs subject matter expert for Birmingham Bond
- Ensure full compliance with HMRC regulations, including:
- Bonded Warehouse Authorisation
- Temporary Storage
- Customs Special Procedures (e.g. Customs Warehousing, Inward Processing, Outward Processing)
- Excise Bonded Warehousing experience
Maintain and oversee:
- Warehouse records and stock reconciliation
- Audit trails and document retention
- HMRC reporting and declarations
- Lead HMRC audits, inspections, and correspondence
- Own and update customs SOPs, compliance manuals, and training materials
- Monitor regulatory changes (UK & international) and assess business impact
Bonded Warehouse Operations
- Provide strategic oversight of all bonded warehouse activities
- Ensure correct handling, storage, movement, and discharge of bonded goods
- Work closely with warehouse and operations teams to:
- Improve accuracy of inventory and declarations
- Maintain licence conditions and authorisations
- Drive continuous improvement in bonded processes and controls
- Oversee inbound and outbound freight operations (road, sea, air, and multimodal where applicable)
- Manage relationships with:
- Shipping lines
- Customs intermediaries
- Ensure customs and freight processes are aligned to meet service level agreements and customer expectations
- Support route optimisation, cost control, and performance monitoring
Leadership & Team Management
- Lead, mentor, and develop the customs and freight teams
- Ensure team competence through training, coaching, and performance management
- Build a strong compliance culture across the business
- Act as escalation point for complex customs or freight issues
Commercial & Strategic Support
- Support sales and customer onboarding by advising on:
- Customs solutions
- Bonded warehousing benefits
- Duty and VAT optimisation opportunities
- Contribute to business growth initiatives and new service development
- Assess feasibility of new customs authorisations or services
Key Skills & Experience Essential
- Significant experience in UK customs operations, ideally within:
- Bonded warehousing
- Excise Bonded Warehousing
- 3PL or logistics environments
- In-depth knowledge of:
- HMRC bonded warehouse requirements
- Customs declarations and procedures
- Experience managing HMRC audits and compliance reviews
- Strong leadership and people management experience
- Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills
- Experience as an Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) lead or similar
- Familiarity with customs systems (e.g. CDS, inventory systems, WMS integrations)
- Experience supporting post‑Brexit customs operations
Personal Attributes
- Highly organised and detail-focused
- Commercially aware with a practical, solutions-driven mindset
- Strong ethical standards and commitment to compliance
What Birmingham Bond Offers
- Senior leadership role within a growing bonded warehouse operation
- Opportunity to shape customs and freight strategy
- Competitive salary and benefits package
- Long-term career development in a specialist customs environment
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Head of Customs and Freight in Birmingham employer: The Bonded Warehousekeepers Ltd
At GXO, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a vibrant work culture that fosters collaboration and innovation. As a Bond & Compliance Manager in Rotherham, you'll benefit from a competitive salary, comprehensive benefits including private medical insurance, and ample opportunities for professional growth within a supportive team environment. Join us to make a meaningful impact while enjoying a balanced work-life schedule and access to various employee perks.
Contact Details:
The Bonded Warehousekeepers Ltd Recruitment Team
