Deloitte to expand East of England customs operations
Professional services giant Deloitte has added a new customs operation to its East of England wing. The team of 30 professionals is based in Ipswich, and will form part of the firm’s Global Trade Bureau.
Customs and global trade is a multi-faceted area that requires a high degree of pragmatic support. Big Four professional services firm Deloitte advises businesses on both fiscal and non-fiscal regulations duties and taxes, as well as penalties and consequences related to non-compliance. With the backdrop of Brexit, which threatens to greatly increase the level of complexity companies in the UK face with their duties and taxes, Deloitte is preparing for heightened demand in the area.
As a result, Deloitte has opened a new Customs Trade facility, as part of its East of England operations. A new 30-strong team at Crown House in Ipswich will now provide digital tax services for companies to manage customs compliance and other areas such as customs freight simplified procedures.
Paul Schofield, Deloitte South East practice Senior Partner, remarked, “By extending our tax offering with the Global Trade Bureau, our new colleagues in Ipswich will enable us to deliver another great service in the region.”
Deloitte’s Customs Trade facility will form part of Deloitte’s Global Trade Bureau and will work alongside the firm’s Global Trade Advisory team. The wing of Deloitte includes customs brokers, industry specialists, accountants, lawyers, supply chain specialists, auditors, economists and former government officials who have in-depth knowledge of customs-related policies, national regulations, and practices.
Commenting on the news, Deloitte Global Trade Bureau Lead Partner, Richard Vitou, said, “We’re hugely excited about establishing Global Trade Bureau as a market-leading customs compliance offering here in Ipswich. Being in such close proximity to the Port of Felixstowe, a hugely significant transport hub for the UK and Europe has also provided us with access to the very best talent in customs and international trade in the UK.”
