UK Customs and Excise Manager

WHAT DOES A CENTRE OF EXCELLENT CUSTOMS & EXCISE MANAGER DO?
The UKOC (Operations Centre) is responsible for the production and supply of Bacardi’s Scotch Whisky and Gin, including DEWAR’S®, ABFERFELDY® and BOMBAY SAPPHIRE®.
The UK Customs & Excise Manager role is perfect for someone who wants to learn and gain knowledge in an ever changing and exciting function across our UK Brands. You would be joining at a time when the markets and brands are growing, and you will be part of the team ensuring our incredible brands can reach those Global markets.
The UK Customs & Excise (C&E) Manager is responsible for supporting the UK Customs & Excise team to ensure ongoing compliance with all customs and excise regulations across UK operations. The role provides leadership, technical expertise, and strategic direction, ensuring that Customs & Excise requirements are consistently understood and applied throughout the business. Working closely with our distilleries, local authorities, customs authorities, and global trade teams, the UK C&E Manager promotes best practices, shares knowledge, and drives the implementation of the company’s Customs & Excise strategy. Through collaboration, training, and governance, the role helps protect the business from compliance risks while supporting operational efficiency and regulatory excellence across all UK sites.
ABOUT YOU
You are an ambitious and motivated individual looking to build a successful career within Customs & Excise and the wider business. You enjoy working collaboratively and establishing strong relationships, IT literate, comfortable working with systems, data, and reporting tools, and have the ability to quickly learn and adapt to new technologies and processes.
Hours: Monday to Thursday 8.30-16.30, Friday 8.30-12.30
Please note, this role can offer 1-2 days a week working remote
Responsibilities
•Lead and support the UK Customs & Excise function, ensuring compliance with all relevant customs, excise, and trade regulations across UK operations.
•Provide technical expertise and guidance to operational teams, ensuring customs and excise requirements are understood, embedded, and consistently applied.
•Develop, implement, and maintain Customs & Excise policies, procedures, and controls to support regulatory compliance and business objectives.
•Act as the primary point of contact for HMRC and other regulatory authorities, managing enquiries, audits, inspections, and compliance reviews.
•Monitor legislative and regulatory changes, assessing business impact and implementing necessary process, system, and procedural updates.
•Collaborate closely with distillery, supply chain, logistics, finance, legal, and planning teams to ensure customs and excise considerations are incorporated into business activities and strategic initiatives.
•Identify and mitigate customs and excise risks, driving a culture of compliance and continuous improvement across all UK operations.
•Oversee customs authorisations, excise approvals, duty relief programmes, and regulatory obligations, ensuring all records and documentation are maintained to the required standard.
•Lead internal audits, compliance reviews, and corrective action plans, ensuring any identified issues are resolved effectively and sustainably.
•Build and maintain strong relationships with key external stakeholders, including customs brokers, industry bodies, consultants, and government authorities.
•Provide training, coaching, and knowledge-sharing across the business to improve Customs & Excise awareness and compliance capability.
•Support customs and excise aspects of business transformation projects, system implementations, and process improvement initiatives.
•Responsible for determining the correct:
•Customs classification of goods produced in the UK
•Non‑preferential origin of UK‑produced goods
•Preferential origin eligibility under UK Free Trade Agreements
•Excise duty classification for goods produced or imported into the UK
To be successful in this role you will have / be:
•Proven knowledge or experience in Customs & Excise (essential) with strong knowledge of UK customs and excise legislation, regulations, and compliance requirements.
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•Experience managing customs and excise processes within a manufacturing, logistics, FMCG, or regulated environment.
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•Experience working with HMRC authorisations, audits, compliance reviews, and regulatory reporting.
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•Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and negotiate at all levels.
•High IT literacy, including intermediate to advanced Excel skills and a sound understanding of SAP (required).
•Strong analytical and project‑management skills, with the ability to interpret business needs and translate them into meaningful reports.
•Understanding and experience of customs documentation creation, customs data, and excise duty rates.
•Ability to maintain an organised and accessible filing system for audit purposes.
•Experience working with Supply Chain and Logistics teams to resolve documentation issues.
•Additional European language skills (desirable).
•Strong problem‑solving and decision‑making abilities.
•Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the confidence to work across multiple functions.
Personal Qualities:
•High energy, flexibility, and a proactive approach.
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•Ability to engage professionally and confidently with stakeholders at all levels.
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•Comfortable working in a fast‑paced, changing environment, responding quickly and effectively to shifting priorities.
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•Strong organisational skills, with the ability to prioritise workload and meet tight deadlines.
LEADERSHIP AGILITY
At Bacardi we care deeply about finding brilliant talent who can bring the following personal attributes to help elevate our 3Fs: Fearless, Family, Founder culture to the next level.
Belonging: You have a strong capacity to create a culture of ‘Belonging’, where people feel appreciated for who they are, what they do, and who they can become
Self-Awareness: You have high levels of self-awareness, are reflective and know yourself well, understanding both your own strengths and weaknesses and your impact on others
People Agility: You bring a deep ability to understand and relate to people and navigate through tough situations to harness and multiply collective performance
Results Agility: You demonstrate consistent delivery of results in first-time situations by inspiring teams, exhibiting a presence that builds confidence in yourself and others.
Mental Agility: You can think critically to penetrate complex problems and expand the possibilities by making fresh connections. You think strategically whilst being execution focused and bring creativity to the challenges you’re presented with
Change Agility: You have a deep natural curiosity, desire to experiment and ability to effectively deal with the heat of change. You have a growth and learning mindset: ready to test, stumble, learn and apply from experience
Disclaimer: Bacardi seeks talent from all backgrounds to bring diversity of thought, agility and capability to our organization across the globe. We promote a working environment where all employees are treated and rewarded fairly. We do n