Who are you?
I’m Adam Grimshaw, the compliance manager for the UK. I’m based in Felixstowe, and have been with this office for two years now, starting at UK Customs Solutions before the acquisition in 2021.
What does a compliance officer do?
I make sure that our declarants are following company procedures, in line with HMRC’s requirements in the UK. We have AEO certification, and need to ensure that everything is done correctly to maintain that.
What does your typical working day look like?
Every day is different. I can be doing anything from spot-checking declarations to internal queries and more. I do this to ensure that the correct information is being given and processed at all times. In addition to this, I can be found generating reports for audits or providing training when gaps are identified.
Have you always done compliance?
No. I’ve been in the industry for just under 30 years now, working in customs, warehousing, transport, and other operational roles. Due to generated business over the years, I am also well educated in DEFRA / Port Health procedures for foodstuffs and goods of animal origin. I’ve also worked as an office manager and an operations manager, so I’ve had a variety of different roles before beginning this one.
What do you like most about your job now?
Most importantly it’s about working with good people. It’s the most important thing and I’m happy to work with a bunch of people that are on the same wavelength.
Do you cover compliance for the whole of the UK?
Yes, compliance for the UK is done here in Felixstowe. There are compliance managers in other offices across Europe.
What excites you the most about joining a Europe-wide network of customs experts?
Having representatives in multiple countries around Europe, and being able to provide that end-to-end service because of it. We can do the export declaration from Europe then the import clearance in the UK and oversee compliance on both ends. It keeps it tidy and compliant.
What is the next stage for the compliance team in the UK?
We are working with our colleagues in Europe to learn from them and make things more efficient. There is also a lot of knowledge across the network. People have unique experiences and opinions because of our diverse office locations. It makes us stronger as a team and we learn from each other.
What is the most important thing a client should look for in a customs broker?
Compliance. When we find something that isn’t being done in the right way, we can educate the declarant and the customer to ensure that the problems aren’t there going forwards. It makes us stronger as a team and protects our customers as they are all following customs procedures.
Customs is mentally intensive. What do you do when you are not at work to unwind?
Exercise is very important. I go mountain biking and running; I do the park run most Saturdays. I also have two daughters, so I enjoy spending a lot of time with them and my wife. Also socializing and catching up with good friends.
You now work in a European-wide network. If you were to visit an office location of custom support, which country would you want to see first and why?
Belgium. I used to go there a lot when I was a child on family holidays. I have beautiful memories of Belgium. I’d like to go there again.