Import Executive

Job description

Role & responsibilities • Manage end-to-end customs clearance activities for import shipments, ensuring timely clearance, under both Home Consumption and WH Bill of Entry (BE), including Re-import procedures, in compliance with AEO T2 guidelines. • Customs General Notifications relevant to AEO operations. • Deferred Duty Payment Scheme, allowing post-clearance duty payments as per AEO T2 privileges. • Strong understanding of compliance requirements, documentation standards, and coordination with Customs and stakeholders for timely clearances. • Review and validate import documentation, including Commercial Invoices, Packing Lists, Bills of Lading/Air Waybills, Certificates of Origin, and other supporting documents to ensure customs compliance and clearance readiness. • Classify imported products under the appropriate HS Codes and determine applicable tariff rates, exemptions, concessions, and licensing requirements in coordination with respective stakeholders. • Coordinate with Customs House Agents (CHAs), freight forwarders, shipping lines, transporters, and internal stakeholders to ensure smooth execution of import clearance activities. • Liaise with Customs Authorities, Port Authorities, Quarantine Departments, and other regulatory agencies to resolve clearance issues, obtain approvals, and expedite cargo release. • Monitor changes in import-export regulations, customs notifications, Foreign Trade Policy provisions, tariff schedules, and trade compliance requirements, and implement necessary process updates. • Support customs audits, investigations, assessments, and compliance reviews by maintaining accurate documentation and providing regulatory justifications when required. • Assist in duty drawback claims, duty refund applications, tariff reclassification requests, valuation disputes, and customs appeals in coordination with regulatory authorities and service providers. • Validate and reconcile invoices raised by CHAs, freight forwarders, shipping lines, and logistics service providers to ensure cost control. • Maintain comprehensive import records and compliance documentation in accordance with statutory retention requirements and company policies. • Identify opportunities for customs duty optimization through applicable trade agreements, exemptions, concessions, and preferential tari schemes while ensuring regulatory compliance. • Generate periodic MIS reports on import clearances, duty payments, logistics costs, clearance timelines, and compliance metrics for management review. • Drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance customs clearance efficiency, reduce shipment delays, and strengthen trade compliance processes. • Co-ordinate with international suppliers and freight forwarder to ensure FOB Inco terms shipment on time arrival • Co-ordinate with shipping lines/ freight forwarder for freight certificate and bill of lading for FOB terms • Ensure timely update of import shipments to internal stakeholder Key Competencies • Customs Clearance & Trade Compliance • Import Regulations & Foreign Trade Policy • HS Classification & Tariff Management • Duty & Tax Assessment • Customs Documentation Management • Regulatory Liaison & Stakeholder Management • Freight Forwarding & Logistics Coordination • Duty Optimization & Refund Management • Invoice Validation & Cost Control • SAP / ERP Systems, MS Excel & Customs Software • Analytical & Problem-Solving Skills • Risk Management & Compliance Governance