Customs Manager - Argos
Argos · London
Location: London, Coventry or Manchester Store Support Centre & Home – colleagues go into the office 1-2 days per week on average.
About the team
The Customs team sits within Finance and helps move goods in a compliant, efficient and well-controlled way. Working across Tax and Treasury, Supply Chain, Sourcing, Logistics and business change, the team protects value through effective risk management, sustainable duty optimisation and reliable customs data. This is a visible leadership role with the opportunity to shape customs governance, improve capability and influence decisions across a complex importing organisation.
More about the role
As Customs Manager, you will lead customs activity and manage two Customs Analysts. You will own customs declaration processes, procedures, systems and data, including duty payments and reconciliations, and ensure compliance with customs legislation across relevant goods movements, including those involving Northern Ireland. You will also maintain registrations, guarantees, authorisations and deferment accounts, including Simplified Customs Declaration Process requirements.
Day to day, you will lead governance for customs valuation, tariff classification and origin, identify sustainable opportunities to optimise duty, and provide practical advice on sourcing, suppliers, logistics and new routes. You will manage relationships with customs authorities, brokers, advisers and auditors, including enquiries, disclosures and remediation. You will also embed customs requirements into business and technology change, improve management information and automation, and build customs capability across the team and wider stakeholder community.
More about you
You will bring demonstrable knowledge of UK customs legislation and practice across classification, valuation, origin, declarations and customs authorisations. You will understand how brokers, supply-chain operations, import data, duty and import VAT accounting connect, and be able to turn complex customs requirements into clear, practical actions for senior and operational stakeholders.
You will combine analytical and commercial judgement with a clear commitment to compliance. You will be able to assess risk, identify sustainable duty opportunities and lead constructive relationships with external authorities and partners. As a people leader, you will set priorities, develop customs capability and provide direction through operational or technology change. A relevant customs or tax qualification, or equivalent substantial experience, is required.
Essential criteria
- A relevant customs or tax qualification, or equivalent demonstrable experience leading customs activity.
- Practical knowledge of UK customs legislation and practice covering tariff classification, valuation, origin, declarations and customs authorisations.
- Proven experience of leading customs compliance and risk management within a large or complex importing organisation.
- Evidence of managing customs authority audits or enquiries and working with customs brokers, external advisers or logistics partners.
- Demonstrable experience of leading colleagues and embedding customs requirements into supply-chain, systems or business change.
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