JOB DESCRIPTIONS from
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Customs officer
Job description Excise Officers monitor compliance with excise
regulations within a variety of business premises
Customs and excise officers are part of the civil service including ensuring that appropriate duty is paid. A VAT
and work closely with other agencies including the Garda Officer advises businesses on their VAT obligations and
and the Department of Foreign Affairs. In Ireland they are ensures full compliance with legislation.
widely known as revenue customs officers.
They use their extensive knowledge of customs laws and Work activities
trade agreements to optimise importing and exporting
costs. While normally associated with ports and airports, • Clearing goods through customs.
some work behind the scenes on routine administrative • Preparing and processing import and export
tasks such as preparing and processing import and export documentation according to customs regulations, laws,
documentation according to customs regulations, laws or or procedures.
procedures. • Advising customers on import and export restrictions,
tariff systems, quotas, or other customs-related
The role of a customs and excise officer is varied but matters.
normally falls into the following categories: • Applying for tariff concessions or for duty drawbacks
• Customs: combating the importation of firearms, drugs and other refunds.
and other banned items and collecting revenues on • Classifying goods according to tariff coding system.
imported goods. • Calculating duty and tariff payments owed on
• Excise: levying duties inland on alcohol and tobacco. shipments.
• VAT: assessing and collecting VAT from businesses. • Conferring with officials in various agencies to facilitate
clearance of goods through quarantine.
Customs Officers working at customs halls in ports and
airports are responsible for ensuring that passengers, Work conditions
baggage, freight and mail are cleared for travel. Often
acting on intelligence in association with the police both Travel: can be a regular feature of the working day.
at home and abroad, they search vehicles and people's Working hours: mainly 9 to 5, Monday to Friday for those
belongings, looking for illegal drugs and other prohibited in administrative roles. Uniformed officers normally work
items. They are allowed to carry out checks on imported shifts including weekends, public holidays and
goods (including personal baggage) to prevent the evenings/nights for those on port duties.
smuggling of dutiable, excisable or prohibited goods.
These checks are carried out routinely on travellers Location: mainly in towns, cities, airports and ports
arriving from outside the EU. throughout the country.
Opportunities for self-employment: not possible.
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JOB DESCRIPTIONS from
For links to further information, jobs and career planning tools visit gradireland.com/careers-advice
Customs officer (continued)
Typical employers Specific entry requirements
Revenue commissioners. Recruitment usually involves aptitude tests as well as
interviews.
Career development
Training
While there is currently a moratorium on promotion
within the public/civil service there are very clear Mainly on the job.
progression routes. Mobility is a key feature and you may
be required to work in a number of diverse areas during Tips for applications
the course of your career. Promotion is on merit rather
than on seniority, and you will be given support in To prepare for assessment tests see:
acquiring qualifications in subjects such as public www.publicjobs.ie/publicjobs/en/advice/sample.do
administration, law and IT.
Skills and qualities
• Ability to collate and analyse often complex
Entry requirements and training information.
• Ability to disseminate detailed information in a clear
Specific degree subjects required and concise manner.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
Open to non-graduates and graduates of all disciplines.
• Self-motivation.
• Tactful and polite with excellent communication and
Other relevant degree subjects interpersonal skills.
• Accounting • Excellent listening and questioning skills.
• Finance • Ability to present information in a clear and logical way.
• Law • Honest and fair in applying the rules.
• Psychology. • Good numeracy skills, with the ability to interpret
accounts and make calculations.
• Ability to work accurately, pay close attention to detail
Postgraduate study and notice inconsistencies.
A pre-entry postgraduate qualification is not a
requirement.
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