Customs Manager

• National Deferment and Financial Governance:
  
• Manage all national Customs deferments and reconciliations.
  
• Forecast duties, VAT liabilities, and refund recoveries.
  
• Prepare monthly Customs financial reporting and variance commentary.
  

• Oversee duty refund and provisional-payment applications.
  
• Ensure timeous liquidations and SARS submissions.
  
• Own governance of permits, rebates, and bond-store operations, including:
  Monthly reconciliations
  Tracking and renewal of expiry dates
  Compliance reporting
  Supporting clients in establishing rebate/bond facilities
  
  

• Attend to SARS stops, inspections, verifications, and documentary reviews.
  
• Drive rapid query resolution to minimize penalties and delays.
  
• Lead SARS post-clearance audits, verifications, and AEO compliance requirements.
  

• Perform full import, export, cross-border road freight, and transit clearances when required (tariffing, EDI processing, refunds, bonding, RIT/RIB, etc.).
  
• Provide operational cover during staff absence, peak periods, or emergencies.
  
• Support Unitrans divisions with all Customs requirements.
  

• Ensure timely acquittal of all RIT/RIB movements.
  
• Oversee compliance with SARS bonding regulations and SADC/COMESA transit requirements.
  
• Monitor and govern all cross-border road freight documentation and compliance.
  

• Maintain an updated tariff classification library.
  
• Provide advanced tariff, Incoterms, regulatory and trade documentation guidance.
  
• Track and implement tariff amendments, rebate updates, and regulatory changes.
  

• Ensure accuracy and turnaround of all ShipShape entries.
  
• Drive workflow automation, digital optimization, and integration with BI dashboards and client systems.
  
• Identify efficiency improvements and standardize national Customs processes.
  

• Conduct client reviews on tariff rulings, rebates, refunds, and regulatory impacts.
  
• Support tender inputs and new business proposals with customs expertise.
  
• Guide clients on AEO readiness and cross-border compliance.
  

• Supervise, mentor, and appraise customs staff performance.
  
• Manage KPIs and foster a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.
  
• Support succession planning and identify high-potential internal talent.
  

• Facilitate SARS, Incoterms, and industry updates.
  
• Promote continuous technical development and compliance awareness across branches.
  

• The role actively engages with:
  
• SARS Customs and Excise (operational, audit, and compliance teams)
  
• Regulatory bodies (ITAC, NRCS, SADC/COMESA)
  
• Clients (operational, finance, procurement, supply chain)
  
• Internal stakeholders:
  Operations
  Finance
  Sales and Commercial
  Divisional management
  Risk and Compliance
  IT/Systems
  

Requirements

• Tertiary qualification in Customs and Excise, International Trade, or Supply Chain Management.
  
• Minimum 8–10 years’ senior Customs experience, including supervisory or management roles.
  
• Strong hands-on Customs expertise (tariffing, bonding, rebates, refunds, RIT/RIB, inspections, cross-border).
  
• Advanced knowledge of SARS systems (TMS, eFiling, EDI), ShipShape, and BI reporting.
  
• SARS Customs Master Accreditation or equivalent (advantageous).
  
• Experience in a large freight forwarding, logistics or supply chain environment (advantageous).