Excise, Customs and Compliance Manager

About The Role

We are seeking a highly experienced and proactive Customs and Excise Manager to join our team in a newly created, pivotal role. This is an exceptional opportunity for a self‑starter to be instrumental in shaping our excise duty operation. You will have high visibility and direct impact on our financial and operational efficiency, making this a challenging yet highly rewarding role for a seasoned professional looking to own the excise function.

You will have the character and drive to take ownership of a new function, scoping out the role and defining the operational and compliance landscape. The successful candidate will be instrumental as the partnership’s subject matter expert on all aspects of spirits and alcoholic beverage excise duties, ensuring absolute compliance and operational excellence.

• Expected salary: £80,000‑£85,000 (depending on experience)
• Contract type:
  Permanent
• Working pattern/flexible working:
  Hybrid, mix of office and home based on personal needs
• Location:
  
  Remote with occasional travel to Pimlico and/or Waitrose DCs

• Full ownership of the excise duty process, providing technical leadership and operational guidance.
• Monitor changes in UK excise duty legislation and advise the business on necessary adaptations to maintain 100% compliance.
• Act as the primary point of contact with HMRC for excise matters, obtaining and maintaining all necessary excise authorisations.
• Oversee and manage the existing duty drawback process, seeking opportunities for optimisation and efficient claim resolution.
• Act as the internal SME for all excise‑related queries, supporting finance, distribution and supply chain teams.
• Bring external expertise and establish and drive good/great processes, continually guiding and shaping this specialised area.
• Identify and implement improvements to current customs and excise‑related financial and operational processes.
• Line‑manage the dedicated Excise Analyst role, focusing on Waitrose excise duty operations.

• Significant experience of excise regimes and a proven track record dealing with excise matters.
• Ability to engage efficiently with internal and external stakeholders at different levels.
• Excellent attention to detail and good written communication skills.
• Proficiency in Excel and/or Google Sheets.
• Ability to work under pressure and adapt to a changing environment.
• Basic knowledge of excise principles and warehousing.
• Previous management experience.
• Previous experience in an excise role.

• Level 3 Certificate in Excise Practices and Procedures.
• Proven experience creating excise movements on EMCS.
• Experience in retail logistics, particularly with spirits.
• Knowledge of excise documentation requirements (e.g., W5D, W1).
• Good knowledge of excise stock management and reconciliation.
• Good knowledge of duty suspension procedures.

We’re the largest employee‑owned business in the UK and home to our cherished brands, John Lewis and Waitrose. As Partners, we’re driven by our purpose to build a happier world. We’re ruthlessly focused on retail excellence, innovation and diversity, always emerging better together.

We value ownership, kindness, respect and continuous growth. Imagine a place where you can thrive, embrace differences and contribute to collective success.

Some roles may require pre‑employment vetting, including DBS checks and financial probity checks. We may close vacancies early due to high application volume. If you need a reasonable adjustment for a disability or longer application time, please let us know promptly.

We support flexible working arrangements, including compressed hours, job sharing or shorter‑hour contracts where possible.

Mid‑Senior level

Full‑time

Management and Manufacturing

Retail

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