Senior US Customs Entry Writer

About the role

JORI Logistics is seeking an experienced and highly motivated Senior U.S. Customs Entry Writer to join our U.S. Customs Brokerage Department. This is not a routine, high-volume data-entry position. The successful candidate will be a knowledgeable U.S. customs professional who can independently manage complex import transactions, identify compliance concerns, troubleshoot entry and release issues, and provide reliable guidance to clients and colleagues.

The ideal candidate will have advanced experience with U.S. customs entries involving multiple modes of transportation, customs bonds, Foreign-Trade Zones, rail imports, Partner Government Agencies, and other complex or non-standard transactions. This position requires excellent attention to detail, sound judgment, resourcefulness, and the ability to communicate clearly with clients, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Partner Government Agencies, carriers, and JORI colleagues in multiple offices.

Responsibilities

U.S. Customs Entry Processing

• Prepare, review, transmit, and finalize U.S. customs entries for truck, rail, ocean, and air shipments.
• Process complex entry types, including consumption entries, warehouse entries and withdrawals, in-bond movements, temporary importations, Foreign-Trade Zone withdrawals, and other specialized transactions.
• Review commercial invoices, packing lists, bills of lading, certificates of origin, permits, and supporting documents to confirm that entries are complete and ready for transmission.
• Confirm the accuracy of tariff classifications, country of origin, entered value, duty calculations, trade program claims, and applicable fees.
• Identify transactions involving antidumping or countervailing duties, quotas, special tariffs, trade remedies, or other elevated compliance requirements.
• Process Importer Security Filings and monitor acceptance, timeliness, and resolution of errors or rejections.
• Obtain CBP and Partner Government Agency releases, permits, or admissibility decisions as applicable.
• Monitor entry status through release, entry summary acceptance, duty payment, and final file completion.

Rail Imports and In-Bond Shipments

• Prepare and monitor customs entries and associated documentation for U.S. rail imports.
• Review rail manifests, bills of lading, equipment details, border crossing information, and arrival data for accuracy.
• Monitor rail shipment transmissions and promptly investigate EDI failures, manifest discrepancies, rejected entries, and delayed releases.
• Monitor weekend and after-hours rail activity when assigned, ensuring time-sensitive issues are escalated and resolved.
• Create, monitor, arrive, export, or close in-bond movements, as applicable, and follow up on overdue or unresolved in-bond transactions.
• Communicate with rail carriers, clients, CBP, and internal team members to resolve manifest, release, and in-bond discrepancies.

Foreign-Trade Zones

• Process or support Foreign-Trade Zone transactions, including electronic admissions, withdrawals, weekly entries, zone-to-zone transfers, and related customs filings.
• Review merchandise status designations and supporting documentation for FTZ admissions and withdrawals.
• Ensure FTZ transactions are supported by accurate inventory, valuation, classification, and admission information.
• Identify and resolve discrepancies involving zone admissions, customs status, quantities, values, classifications, or withdrawals.
• Coordinate with FTZ operators, importers, carriers, CBP, and internal compliance personnel as required.
• Maintain organized records supporting FTZ entries, admissions, transfers, and withdrawals.

Complex Entries and Compliance Review

• Handle entries involving multiple tariff classifications, multiple countries of origin, complex valuation issues, assists, royalties, related-party transactions, free trade agreement claims, or special duty programs.
• Review transactions involving Partner Government Agencies, including FDA, USDA, EPA, DOT, FCC, Fish and Wildlife, and other agencies, as applicable.
• Identify missing information, inconsistencies, or potential compliance concerns before transmitting an entry.
• Ensure customs compliance documents and client instructions are accurate, complete, and current.
• Document decisions, client instructions, and corrective actions in CargoWise and the applicable client or shipment file.

Quality Control and File Management

• Conduct detailed audit reviews of assigned brokerage files before and after transmission.
• Review entries prepared or pre-keyed by other team members and provide clear, constructive feedback.
• Verify that releases, entry summaries, customs payments, supporting documents, and internal notes are properly recorded.
• Monitor CargoWise and ACE messages for entry rejections, payment issues, missing documentation, or government requests.
• Investigate and resolve EDI transmission failures and other system-related exceptions.
• Complete accurate and timely billing for customs brokerage services and ensure files are financially complete before closure.
• Maintain complete and audit-ready customs records in accordance with company procedures and regulatory requirements.

Client Service and Team Support

• Provide knowledgeable and responsive service to clients by telephone and email.
• Request missing documentation or information clearly and explain why it is required.
• Help clients understand customs procedures, documentation requirements, bond requirements, and the potential consequences of incomplete or inaccurate information.
• Work closely with JORI’s Customs Brokerage, Trade Compliance, Freight Forwarding, Accounting, Sales, and overseas teams to provide coordinated service.
• Support and mentor junior entry writers and assist with training, technical questions, and complex files.
• Contribute ideas for improving entry-writing procedures, quality controls, client communication, and operational efficiency.
• Escalate significant compliance risks, recurring client issues, and unusual transactions to the appropriate manager.
• Perform other customs brokerage and operational duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Several years of progressive experience preparing and processing U.S. customs entries.
• Advanced working knowledge of U.S. Customs and Border Protection entry and release procedures.
• Demonstrated experience with complex customs entries and non-routine import transactions.
• Experience handling customs bonds, including continuous and single-transaction bonds.
• Experience processing or supporting Foreign-Trade Zone transactions.
• Experience with U.S. rail imports, rail manifests, EDI messages, and in-bond movements.
• Strong knowledge of customs documentation, tariff classification, valuation, country of origin, and duty calculation.
• Experience working with Partner Government Agency requirements.
• Strong analytical, research, and problem-solving skills.
• A high degree of data-entry accuracy and attention to detail.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to communicate professionally with clients, government agencies, carriers, sureties, and colleagues.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and time-sensitive shipments in a fast-paced environment.
• Willingness to work a flexible schedule and participate in assigned weekend or after-hours coverage.
• Strong customer-service orientation and a commitment to compliance.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience using CargoWise for U.S. customs brokerage operations.
• Experience reviewing or auditing the work of other entry writers.
• Experience mentoring or training junior customs brokerage employees.
• Certified Customs Specialist certification.
• Active U.S. Customs Broker License.
• Experience with post-entry corrections, protests, reconciliation, antidumping and countervailing duties, quotas, or other specialized customs programs.

Benefits

• Comprehensive extended health benefits
• Group insurance
• Career advancement opportunities
• Education and professional-development support
• Opportunities to expand your technical customs and trade-compliance expertise
• A collaborative, family-first workplace with a strong and supportive culture
• The opportunity to join a growing, technology-driven company with an international reach