Customs Manager

We are seeking an experienced and highly motivated Customs Manager to lead and oversee all customs clearing operations across our Johannesburg, Durban, and Richards Bay branches. The successful candidate will be responsible for ensuring full compliance with Customs and Excise legislation, managing bonded warehouse activities and registers, leading customs clearing teams, mitigating compliance risks, and driving operational excellence throughout the business.

This role requires a hands-on leader with extensive knowledge of customs procedures, bonded warehousing, tariff classification, valuation principles, and freight forwarding operations. The Customs Manager will serve as the company's subject matter expert on customs compliance and act as the primary liaison with customs authorities on operational matters.

Key Responsibilities

Customs Compliance Management

• Ensure full compliance with all applicable Customs and Excise legislation, regulations, and customs procedures.
• Oversee customs clearing activities for imports, exports, transit cargo, temporary imports, rebates, and bonded movements.
• Monitor legislative and procedural changes and implement necessary operational adjustments.
• Develop, maintain, and continuously improve customs compliance policies, procedures, and work instructions.
• Conduct regular internal audits to identify and mitigate customs compliance risks.
• Manage customs-related investigations, queries, inspections, and audits.
• Ensure accurate tariff classification, valuation, origin determination, and customs declarations.

Bonded Warehouse Management

• Oversee all bonded warehouse operations and customs-controlled areas.
• Ensure accurate maintenance and reconciliation of bonded warehouse registers.
• Monitor bond stock movements and investigate discrepancies.
• Implement controls to ensure compliance with customs warehouse requirements.
• Conduct periodic stock verifications and reconciliations.
• Ensure all customs-controlled inventory is properly accounted for and reported.

Operational Management

• Manage customs clearing teams across Johannesburg, Durban, and Richards Bay.
• Ensure customs declarations are processed accurately and within required service levels.
• Monitor departmental productivity and performance.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance operational efficiency.
• Develop and implement standardised customs processes across all branches.
• Support business growth by providing customs guidance on new opportunities and specialised projects.

Leadership and Team Development

• Lead, mentor, and develop customs clearing personnel across multiple locations.
• Conduct performance reviews and establish development plans.
• Foster a culture of accountability, compliance, and continuous learning.
• Identify training requirements and facilitate customs-related training initiatives.
• Support succession planning and talent development within the department.

Stakeholder Management

• Build and maintain strong relationships with customs authorities and regulatory bodies.
• Act as the primary escalation point for customs-related matters.
• Collaborate with branch managers, operations teams, warehouse personnel, and clients to resolve customs issues.
• Provide expert customs advice to internal and external stakeholders.

Risk Management

• Identify potential customs, excise liabilities, and implement preventative controls.
• Investigate and resolve customs discrepancies and compliance breaches.
• Ensure corrective actions are implemented and monitored.
• Reduce exposure to penalties, delays, and financial losses through proactive compliance management.

Reporting and Governance

• Maintain records required for customs audits and regulatory reviews.
• Ensure all customs documentation is maintained in accordance with legislative requirements.

Minimum Requirements

Qualifications

• Relevant qualification in Customs, International Trade, Logistics, Supply Chain Management, Freight Forwarding, or related field.
• Customs Compliance or Customs Practitioner certification advantageous.
• Additional management qualifications will be beneficial.

Experience

• Minimum 8–10 years' experience within customs clearing and freight forwarding.
• Minimum 5 years' experience in a customs management role.
• Extensive knowledge of Customs and Excise legislation and customs procedures.
• Proven experience managing bonded warehouses and customs-controlled inventory.
• Experience managing multi-site customs operations.
• Demons

Technical Knowledge

Strong working knowledge of:

• Customs and Excise legislation
• Tariff classification
• Customs valuation methodologies
• Rules of origin
• Bonded warehousing procedures
• Transit and cross-border movements
• Customs audits and investigations
• Customs risk management
• EDI customs systems
• Freight forwarding operations

Competencies

Leadership

• Strong people management and coaching skills
• Ability to lead geographically dispersed teams
• Decisive and confident decision-maker

Analytical Skills

• Strong problem-solving ability
• High attention to detail
• Ability to identify compliance risks and implement preventative controls

Communication

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to engage effectively with customs authorities, clients, and senior management

Personal Attributes

• Highly organised and self-motivated
• Integrity and professionalism
• Strong sense of accountability
• Results-driven approach
• Ability to perform under pressure and meet deadlines

Pay: R55 000,00 - R65 000,00 per month

Work Location: In person