Excise and Customs Manager - Operations
This is a rare and exciting opportunity to join a high‑performing Excise & Customs team as a Manager, with responsibility for the day‑to‑day management of UK import and compliance operations. The role spans activity carried out by external service providers and Tesco teams based in the UK and Bengaluru.
As one of the subject matter experts within the Tesco Group, you’ll play a critical role in ensuring our Excise and Customs duty processes remain efficient, accurate, and fully compliant. You’ll act as a primary point of contact for live operational processes, including the movement of goods through the border environment, customs declarations to HMRC, Plastic Packaging Tax obligations, and the associated control frameworks.
Working closely with internal teams and external partners, you’ll also help identify and deliver Excise & Customs facilitation measures that generate profit, cash, and working‑capital benefits for the business.
You will be responsible for:
Managing UK excise and customs compliance processes, ensuring accurate and timely submission of declarations, returns, and data to HMRC
Overseeing excise and customs duty payments, including control processes, duty adjustments, over/under‑payment claims, and refunds
Owning reconciliations, due diligence checks, and financial controls across excise and customs duty accounting, partnering with the India‑based tax team to support cash and working‑capital forecasting
Investigating declaration errors or control issues through root‑cause analysis and implementing corrective actions with stakeholders
Managing customs procedures and authorisations (internal and third‑party), including maintenance of Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) status
Acting as the key point of contact for excise and customs queries across the business, working with internal teams, service providers, and HMRC, including audits and information requests
Developing, maintaining, and continuously improving documented processes and operating models
Providing technical guidance, oversight, and coaching to Excise & Customs Executives in the UK and India
Owning Plastic Packaging Tax controls end‑to‑end, from data collection through to return preparation, submission, and payment
You will need:
Curiosity, drive, and a proactive approach to problem solving
Extensive excise and customs operational knowledge
Ability to interpret tax legislation and policy and translate it into clear, actionable operational processes
Strong stakeholder management skills, including working with third‑party service providers
Strong numerical and analytical skills, with a sound understanding of accounting principles
Proven experience managing excise and customs taxes in a large retail or complex operating environment, including declaration software and customs/excise deferment accounts
What's in it for you:
We’re all about the little helps. That’s why we make sure our Tesco colleague benefits package takes care of you – both in and out of work. Click Here to find out more!
Annual bonus scheme of up to 20% of base salary
Holiday starting at 25 days plus a personal day (plus Bank holidays)
Private medical insurance
26 weeks maternity and adoption leave (after 1 years’ service) at full pay, followed by 13 weeks of Statutory Maternity Pay or Statutory Adoption Pay, we also offer 6 weeks fully paid paternity leave
Free 24/7 virtual GP service, Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) for you and your family, free access to a range of experts to support your mental wellbeing
About us:
Our vision at Tesco is to become every customer's favourite way to shop, whether they are at home or out on the move. Our core purpose is 'Serving our customers, communities and planet a little better every day'. Serving means more than a transactional relationship with our customers. It means acting as a responsible and sustainable business for all stakeholders, for the communities we are part of and for the planet.
We are proud to have an inclusive culture at Tesco where everyone truly feels able to be themselves. At Tesco, we not only celebrate diversity, but recognise the value and opportunity it brings. We're committed to creating a workplace where differences are valued, and make sure that all colleagues are given the same opportunities. We're a big business with diverse working patterns and many business areas which means that we can find something that works for you. Everyone is welcome at Tesco.
We have recently announced that we will be moving towards a more blended working week – combining office and remote working. Our offices will continue to be where we connect, collaborate and innovate. Please talk to us to about how this can work for you.
NOTE: Should you be successful in your application, your offer will be subject to and conditional upon you providing your bank account details on your agreed start date.
We're proud to have been accredited Disability Confident Leader and we're committed to providing a fully inclusive and accessible recruitment process. For further information on the accessibility support we can offer, please visit https://www.tesco-careers.com/accessibility
