Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Customs Broker

🎯 Role Definition

A Customs Broker is responsible for ensuring timely and compliant cross-border movement of goods by preparing and filing customs entries, classifying merchandise under the Harmonized System (HS/HTS), calculating duties and taxes, and liaising with customs authorities and allied government agencies. This role requires deep regulatory knowledge (e.g., 19 CFR, CBP rules), experience with ACE/ABI and brokerage platforms (CargoWise, Descartes, AEB), and a client-focused mindset to manage import/export compliance, mitigate risk, and optimize landed cost and transit time. The Customs Broker acts as the broker of record on behalf of importers/exporters and supports audits, protests, drawback claims, and special permits while maintaining accurate records and POAs.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Customs Entry Clerk / Clearance Clerk
Import/Export Coordinator or Logistics Coordinator
Freight Forwarding Agent or Operations Specialist

Advancement To:

Senior Customs Broker / Licensed Customs Broker
Trade Compliance Manager / Customs Manager
Director of Customs & Trade Compliance / Global Trade Lead

Lateral Moves:

Import/Export Compliance Specialist
Freight Forwarding Manager
Trade Analyst / Tariff Classification Specialist

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Prepare, review and submit accurate customs entries (e.g., Entry/7501, ACE/ABI filings, manifest reconciliations) for imports and exports, ensuring all shipment-level data, HTS/HS classification, country of origin, value for duty, and duty/tax calculations comply with CBP and local customs regulations.
Conduct detailed tariff classification and HTSUS/HS code analysis for diverse product portfolios, maintain classification justification, cite supporting legal notes or binding rulings, and update classifications in the tariff database to minimize duty exposure and classification risk.
Calculate landed cost and duty/tax liabilities, apply correct tariff rates, special duties, antidumping/countervailing duties, and prepare pre-entry cost estimates and invoices to support client decision-making and reduce surprises at customs release.
Manage and file Importer Security Filings (ISF 10+2) and other required pre-arrival notifications accurately and within regulatory cutoffs to avoid penalties, delays, or cargo holds.
Act as primary liaison with customs authorities (e.g., CBP, local Customs), coordinate examinations/inspections, respond to requests for information (RFIs), and resolve holds or detentions to obtain timely cargo release.
Maintain and manage powers of attorney (POA), broker of record documentation, importer/exporter numbers, EORI/VAT registrations, and all client authorization paperwork required to act on behalf of shippers and consignees.
Prepare and support customs protests, entry corrections (CF 29/19 or equivalents), post-entry amendments, and formal ruling requests to mitigate financial exposure and resolve classification or valuation disputes.
Administer bonded entries, bond management, continuous bonds and single transaction bonds; coordinate bond claims and renewals and ensure bond sufficiency to prevent trade disruptions.
Evaluate and apply preferential trade agreement claims (e.g., USMCA, CAFTA, EU FTAs), verify certificate of origin documentation, and document origin determinations to secure preferential duty treatment and compliance.
Execute drawback and duty recovery programs, prepare and file drawback entries, track qualifying exports, and reconcile claims to recover overpaid duties where appropriate.
Screen shipments and parties against denied party lists, sanctions lists, and export control restrictions (OFAC, EU sanctions), and coordinate with compliance/legal teams on release or refusal decisions.
Apply export control regulations (ITAR, EAR) and advise clients on licensing requirements, re-export controls, and classification of controlled items to prevent non-compliance and enforcement actions.
Maintain meticulous recordkeeping in accordance with regulatory retention schedules (e.g., 5 years for CBP) for all import/export documents, invoices, entry summaries, bills of lading, and communications to support audits and client inquiries.
Coordinate with internal teams (operations, billing, account management) and external stakeholders (freight forwarders, carriers, consignees, customs brokers globally) to ensure documentation completeness, correct shipment routing, and timely clearance.
Use customs brokerage systems and trade technology platforms (CargoWise, Descartes, AEB, ACE Portal, or in-house TMS/ERP integrations) to create entries, reconcile manifests, and drive automation of repetitive tasks to improve throughput and reduce errors.
Lead and execute audits and internal compliance reviews, support government audits and broker exams, implement corrective action plans, and develop process changes to remediate gaps found during compliance assessments.
Provide client-facing advisory services including HS classification guidance, duty optimization strategies, tariff engineering recommendations, and landed cost optimization to add commercial value while remaining compliant with customs law.
Manage high-volume workloads, prioritize time-sensitive shipments (perishables, urgent commercial shipments), and coordinate expedited clearance and release processes to meet SLA and customer expectations.
Train and mentor junior brokers and entry clerks on classification, entry filing best practices, regulatory changes, and system usage to build bench strength and ensure compliance continuity.
Maintain up-to-date knowledge of customs regulations, tariff changes, rulings, and trade policy developments; disseminate regulatory updates to internal teams and clients and update standard operating procedures accordingly.
Prepare and reconcile monthly trade compliance KPIs, brokerage performance metrics (clearance times, penalty/penalty-free performance), and billing versus duty paid reports to support leadership decision-making and client invoicing accuracy.
Negotiate with carriers, customs authorities, and vendors to resolve disputed duties, penalties, or fees, and coordinate credit or reimbursement when overcharges or assessment errors occur.
Support special handling and regulatory clearance for controlled or sensitive shipments (FDA, USDA, EPA, DOT, hazardous materials), obtaining required permits, certifications, and advance notices for prohibited/restricted goods.
Collaborate with supply chain stakeholders to implement C-TPAT/AEO related security controls, validate vendor security practices, and maintain program documentation for customs security certifications.
Manage cross-border tax and VAT implications when applicable (EORI, VAT registrations, import VAT accounting), working with tax teams and consultants to correctly account for VAT, PST, GST, or other indirect taxes.

Secondary Functions

Develop and refine SOPs for customs entry processing, classification decision logs, and import/export compliance checklists to reduce entry errors and accelerate clearance.
Support process improvement initiatives using automation, macros, and integration between brokerage software and client ERP/TMS to increase throughput and reduce manual entry.
Provide ad-hoc trade compliance analysis, cost modeling, and scenario planning to support commercial pricing, vendor selection, and product routing decisions.
Assist billing and revenue teams with duty/tax reconciliation, client invoicing, fee disputes, and monthly accruals related to customs transactions.
Represent the brokerage in cross-functional projects (global trade implementations, new market entries) ensuring customs compliance requirements are embedded in operational plans.
Participate in industry forums and internal working groups to align on best practices for tariff classification, drawback optimization, and trade agreement utilization.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Licensed Customs Broker credentials or demonstrable experience preparing and filing customs entries in ACE/ABI and other national customs systems.
Expert knowledge of HTS/HS tariff classification, customs valuation rules, country-of-origin determination, and preferential trade agreement documentation (e.g., USMCA).
Proficiency with customs brokerage software and platforms such as CargoWise (WISEtech), Descartes, AEB, ACE Portal, or equivalent TMS/ERP integrations.
Strong understanding of 19 CFR, CBP regulations, local customs legislation, ISF filing requirements, and record retention requirements.
Experience preparing and managing drawback claims, protests, post-entry corrections, and formal ruling requests.
Familiarity with export control regimes (ITAR, EAR) and sanctions/denied party screening tools and processes (OFAC, EU consolidated lists).
Ability to calculate duties, taxes, taxes reclaim (VAT), and landed cost components accurately and to produce clear cost-to-serve analyses.
Working knowledge of bonded warehousing, inward/outward processing procedures, and customs bond management.
High proficiency in Microsoft Excel (pivot tables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, formulas) and aptitude for working with data exports from customs systems for reconciliation and reporting.
Experience with packaging, commodity-specific regulations (e.g., food, chemicals, pharma), and coordination with regulatory agencies such as FDA, USDA, EPA.

Soft Skills

Exceptional attention to detail and accuracy under tight deadlines.
Strong client-facing communication and customer service skills; able to explain complex customs issues in plain language.
Analytical problem-solving mindset with the ability to triage and resolve clearance exceptions quickly.
Time management and prioritization skills to handle high-volume, time-sensitive shipments.
Team leadership and mentorship capabilities for developing junior brokerage staff.
Negotiation and stakeholder management skills to resolve disputes with carriers, customs, or vendors.
Continuous learning orientation to stay current with evolving trade policy and tariff schedules.
Cross-cultural sensitivity and ability to collaborate with international teams and government agencies.
Resilience and calm under pressure during inspections, audits, or enforcement actions.
Multilingual ability (e.g., Spanish, Mandarin) is often preferred for global trade roles.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

High school diploma or equivalent; strong candidates often have significant hands-on customs brokerage experience and licensing.

Preferred Education:

Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, International Trade, Logistics, Business Administration, or a related field.

Relevant Fields of Study:

International Trade / Trade Compliance
Supply Chain Management / Logistics
Business Administration / Finance
Customs Administration / International Business

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

2–5 years of progressive customs brokerage or import/export operations experience for entry to mid-level roles; experience may vary depending on licensing and jurisdiction.

Preferred:

5+ years of customs brokerage experience with demonstrated experience in ACE/ABI filings, tariff classification, trade agreement utilization, and managing complex/high-value entries; possession of a Customs Broker license or equivalent certification strongly preferred.