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)
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