Customs Clearing and Forwarding Officer job at Lafab Solutions

Job Purpose

To provide leadership and operational oversight of the Customs Clearing and Forwarding function, ensuring efficient and timely cargo clearance, regulatory compliance, effective customs risk management, client satisfaction, departmental performance and revenue growth.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the Customs & Clearing Department and develop operational plans, KPIs and performance targets.
• Oversee end-to-end clearance of import, export, transit, bonded, warehousing and duty-exempt cargo through URA customs systems.
• Review and approve customs declarations and ensure compliance with URA requirements, EACCMA, customs procedures and applicable laws.
• Manage and resolve URA/customs matters, including queries, rejected or blocked entries, tax assessments, audits, disputes and compliance issues.
• Manage customs bonds, transit guarantees, accountabilities and related documentation.
• Maintain effective relationships with URA and other regulatory authorities, clients and key stakeholders.
• Allocate departmental work, monitor productivity, conduct performance appraisals and identify staff training and development needs.
• Ensure accurate and proper records of declarations, taxes, customs correspondence, approvals and other regulatory documentation.
• Provide timely client communication on cargo status, customs requirements and clearance progress.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree in Customs Administration, Logistics & Transport, Supply Chain Management, International Trade, Business Administration or a related field.
• Postgraduate qualification and professional customs certification (URA Customs, EACFFPC or equivalent) are an added advantage.
• Minimum 5 years’ progressive experience in customs clearing and forwarding, including at least 2 years in a supervisory/management role.
• Preferably experienced in reputable and professionally managed logistics, clearing & forwarding, transport or freight companies.
• Proven experience handling URA-related matters, including customs queries, declaration rejections, blocked entries, tax assessments, audits, disputes and compliance issues.
• Sound knowledge of EACCMA, customs valuation, tariff classification, tax computation, transit procedures, customs bonds and regulatory requirements.
• Strong leadership, supervisory, analytical, problem-solving and communication skills, with the ability to resolve complex customs, operational and regulatory challenges promptly and effectively.

• Lead the Customs & Clearing Department and develop operational plans, KPIs and performance targets.
• Oversee end-to-end clearance of import, export, transit, bonded, warehousing and duty-exempt cargo through URA customs systems.
• Review and approve customs declarations and ensure compliance with URA requirements, EACCMA, customs procedures and applicable laws.
• Manage and resolve URA/customs matters, including queries, rejected or blocked entries, tax assessments, audits, disputes and compliance issues.
• Manage customs bonds, transit guarantees, accountabilities and related documentation.
• Maintain effective relationships with URA and other regulatory authorities, clients and key stakeholders.
• Allocate departmental work, monitor productivity, conduct performance appraisals and identify staff training and development needs.
• Ensure accurate and proper records of declarations, taxes, customs correspondence, approvals and other regulatory documentation.
• Provide timely client communication on cargo status, customs requirements and clearance progress.

• Strong leadership skills
• Supervisory skills
• Analytical skills
• Problem-solving skills
• Communication skills
• Ability to resolve complex customs, operational and regulatory challenges promptly and effectively.

• Bachelor’s Degree in Customs Administration, Logistics & Transport, Supply Chain Management, International Trade, Business Administration or a related field.
• Postgraduate qualification and professional customs certification (URA Customs, EACFFPC or equivalent) are an added advantage.
• Minimum 5 years’ progressive experience in customs clearing and forwarding, including at least 2 years in a supervisory/management role.
• Preferably experienced in reputable and professionally managed logistics, clearing & forwarding, transport or freight companies.
• Proven experience handling URA-related matters, including customs queries, declaration rejections, blocked entries, tax assessments, audits, disputes and compliance issues.
• Sound knowledge of EACCMA, customs valuation, tariff classification, tax computation, transit procedures, customs bonds and regulatory requirements.