Imports Assistant

We are seeking a diligent and detail-oriented Imports Assistant to join our Finance team in Hammersmith.

As we celebrate this momentous anniversary year, now more than ever, it’s an exciting time to join the Harrods Team. Whether you’re a recent school, college or university leaver, or you’re looking to restart your career in an exciting new field, at Harrods we firmly believe in offering exciting career opportunities.

About the Role

Reporting in to the Imports Assistant Manager, you will play a crucial role in ensuring smooth customs clearance processes, liaising with couriers and freight forwarders, and maintaining compliance with import regulations. Your responsibilities will include managing vendor orders, checking invoices, and resolving shipment queries with our buying offices.

You will also be responsible for:

• Monitor and review shipment clearance emails from freight forwarders and couriers, ensuring all provided documents are accurate and complete.
• Verify PO numbers, Incoterms on airway bills, and invoices against vendor master data. Refer documents for concessions or consignment stock to the sender.
• Check PO validity, liaise with the Buying office for updates or rejections, and log all relevant information in Excel and the Lima system.
• Provide accurate HS codes from the HMRC website for customs clearance and ensure correct Incoterms are recorded in the SAP system.
• Review invoices for CITIES goods and apply for necessary import permits from Defra.
• Ensure compliance with Brexit rules, especially for EU shipments, by checking HS codes, Country of Origin, Net Weight, Preferential Statement, and REX numbers.
• Process and reconcile freight forwarders’ and couriers’ invoices for payment, addressing any shipping or accounting queries promptly.
• Verify and update vendor agreements’ Incoterms in SAP, ensuring accuracy and clarity with vendors and buying offices.

About You

We are seeking a proactive individual with a strong foundation in PC usage, including proficiency in Word and Excel, and ideally, experience with SAP. While basic knowledge of imports and shipping is desirable, it is not essential, as we value your ability to quickly learn and adapt. You will have excellent interpersonal and communication skills, enabling you to effectively engage with both internal teams and external partners. A strong customer service focus is essential, as you will be a key point of contact in ensuring smooth and efficient operations.

You will also have:

• Effective time-management skills with a readiness to handle multiple tasks.
• Flexibility to adapt to changing priorities.
• Keen attention to detail, demonstrated through precise paperwork, organized department, and adequate stock levels.
• Strong work ethic and commitment to Harrods values.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.

About Us

Our 175th anniversary will see the Knightsbridge store become a stage for our legacy of firsts, our house of world-leading brands and our reputation for exceptional. We want you to come and be a part of all this - and help us deliver exceptional service that represents our authority as a long-standing icon, industry-leader and innovator. Inspired by our past, celebrating our present and focusing on our future, you’ll be joining a team with the belief that anything is possible. What makes you different makes us exceptional.

Our Promise to You

Help us make the impossible possible for our customers and we’ll do something remarkable for you. As well as offering a friendly environment to inspire your best work, we provide abundant opportunities and support to build an exceptional career across the varied specialisms of our business. 

In return you’ll receive an excellent benefits package, including a company pension, flexible working, 22 days’ holiday, and your birthday off, up to 33% in-store discount (including across our food hall and restaurants) and a season ticket loan.

Uniquely You

At Harrods we believe the personality and authenticity of our people sets us apart. We celebrate and invite applications from all cultures, backgrounds, tastes, and experiences and are proud of our culture where people from all walks of life can grow and thrive. What makes you unique makes us exceptional.

While our job adverts outline the ideal qualities, skills, and prior experience for the role, we believe in the potential for growth and value individual strengths. If you do not meet every desired criteria but feel you have the skills and experience to thrive in this role as well as a genuine interest in working for Harrods and you can demonstrate an alignment with our values, we would encourage you to apply.

If you want to know more about our people and our culture, search #TogetherHarrods on LinkedIn, Facebook or follow us on Instagram @togetherharrods