A highly experienced professional in various aspects of customs, revenue, and international trade, bringing over 14 years of expertise. Skill set includes proficiency in baggage handling, international intergovernmental desk procedures, rules of origin, managing inland container depots, and overseeing document processing centers. Accredited as an expert in customs valuation and training by WCO. Adept at negotiating with international trade bodies such as COMESA. Possess strong administrative skills in processing documents like Certificate of Export and Certificate of Origin, as well as verifying customs procedures, laws, and regulations. Extensive knowledge about customs activities within EAC and beyond, particularly in valuation, tariff classifications, and tax collection. Seeking a position to contribute to policy and strategy development to facilitate organizational growth and success.
Hi, I’m
Esther Watene
Summary
Overview
7
years of professional experience
Work History
Tech Home East Africa Ltd
Director of Administration
03.2019 - Current
Job overview
- Leads the day-to-day business management and administration in the areas of Finance, Human Resources and design departments
- Spearheads the importation and distribution of equipment and smart devices used in the Smart Home projects
- Analyzes business processes, implementing data-driven solutions, improving operational efficiency, and developing business cases
- Develops and executes a C2B lead generation strategy to acquire new clients
- Implements performance management and customer analytic tools, driving operational processes and increasing customer satisfaction by 30%
- Identifies gaps in existing processes and develops solutions to streamline operations, reducing cycle times by 20% for key deliverables
- Trained and expanded our customer product offering in Interior Design, effectively raising our customer conversion rate by 15%.
Kenya Revenue Authority
Supervisor Quality Management Systems section
04.2018 - 02.2019
Job overview
- Planned, coordinated, and monitored the performance of the PVOC service providers using key performance indicators stipulated in the contracts in order to ensure contractual obligations are monitored
- Identified skills gaps and recommends the appropriate training programs to bridge the gap
- Approved PVOC operating procedures to ensure they are adequate before implementation
- Developed performance monitoring tools and ensured that they are implemented to improve productivity
- Participated in developing the pricing/costing criteria for the organization's services
- Communicated findings of performance to staff to ensure continual improvement
- Managed and disseminated PVOC information in line with corporate communication policy for purposes of updates and continual improvement
- Coordinated the reporting of certifications done by PVoC Inspection Bodies and maintains a database of all certificates of conformity, registrations, and licenses issued under the programme
- Validated information being disseminated to customers and inspection staff in order to ensure correct and accurate information is available to program users
- Planned for sensitization and education of the Stakeholders on the application of standards and implementation of the PVOC program through workshops to enhance understanding and improve the quality of imported products
- Guided on the targeting of imported consignments for inspection based on a risk profiling framework to prevent the importation of substandard, banned, and concealed products from entering the Kenyan market
- Planned for inspection, organizes logistics, inspects and assesses consignments for product compliance and gives feedback to the importers, and guided in the implementation of corrective actions by importers whose products fail to comply with the requirements of relevant standards
- Led the team by promoting the group's best practices and positive attitude in solving problems and opportunities for the different services calling Kenyan ports
- Steered the inspection of vessels docking at the port
- Collected revenues and other government levies due for all imports
- Reviewed and approved sectional performance targets, monitored implementation, submits reports, and recommends performance rewards to the Chief Manager, quality inspection.
Education
Kenya School of Revenue Administration.
Post Grad Diploma from Customs And Border Control
11-2005
University Overview
United States International UniversityNairobi, Kenya
Bachelor of Science from International Business Administration
12-2001
University Overview
St Marys Girls High SchoolEgoji, Meru
High School Diploma
12-1997
University Overview
Skills
- Standards Act and Related Regulations
- Inspection Techniques
- Quality Management
- Statistical Techniques
- Strategic Planning
- Budgeting
- Staff Performance Monitoring and Evaluation Methods
- Negotiation
- Communication
- Attention To Detail
- Innovative
- Conformity Assessment
- Pre-Shipment Assessment Schemes
- Investigation
- Quality Inspection and Auditing
- Trade Facilitation
- International Business
- Organizational Leadership
- Customer Relations
- Policy Implementation
- Data Analysis
- Regulatory Compliance
- Problem-Solving
- Critical Thinking
Accomplishments
Accomplishments
- Reduced processing time of certificate issuance from 6 days to 4 days over a period of 3 months.
- Successfully managed to come up with an EAC syllabus, curriculum, course outline, PowerPoint presentations, and a textbook in customs valuation.
- Benchmarked on trade facilitation in Malaysia and Japanese customs.
- Successfully trained valuation to customs agents and customs officers in Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, Tanzania, and Kenya.
- Author of the Customs valuation handbook currently being used in all the training schools around East Africa.
Affiliations
Affiliations
- Trainer, World Trade Organization (WTO)
- Trainer, (EAC) East African Community
- Trainer, Federation of Clearing and forwarding association (FIEFFA)
- Trainer, (KRA) Kenya Revenue Authority
- Accredited Valuation Expert, World Customs Organization (WCO)
References
References
1. Seraphine Anamanjia
Indirect Taxes - Customs & International Trade
Ernst & Young
seramanjia@gmail.com
+254 723 995 245
2. Catherine Njoroge
Assistant Manager - Customs Law & Enforcement
Kenya Revenue Authority
catherine.njoroge@kra.go.ke
+254 719 874 737
3. Kiprono Bullut
Chief Manager - Customs & Border Control
kiprono.bullut@kra.go.ke
+254 722 386 145
Training
Training
- Bench Marking Study, Royal Malaysian Customs - Acquired Certificate
- Bench Marking Study, Japan Customs - Acquired Certificate
- Certificate of Training of Trainers, FIEFFA
- Anti-Illicit Trade, BAT
- Project on Capacity Building for exemplary performance in all activities of customs valuation, JICA - Acquired Certificate
- Ex East Africa Boarder Security Seminar, British Army - Acquired Certificate
- Agricultural sectors in Africa in relation to Rules of Origin, WCO
- Accredited Technical Trainer, Valuation Expert, World Customs Organization (WCO)
- Undertaken courses in valuation under WCO for trainers in valuation
PREVIOUS ROLES
PREVIOUS ROLES
- Supervisor PVOC Section Nairobi HQS, KRA, (Aug 2016-April 2017)
- Revenue Officer (In-charge Port Operations), KRA-Kisumu Pier (Sept 2013-May 2015)
- Revenue Officer, Malaba Border Station (2012-Sept 2013)
- Revenue Officer, Document Processing Centre (DPC) (2009-2012)
- Revenue Officer, ICD Nairobi (2009-2010)
- Revenue Officer, Rules of Origin (2007-2008)
- Revenue Officer, International Intergovernmental desk (2006-2007)
- Revenue Officer, Baggage Hall (2005-2006)
Timeline
Director of Administration
Tech Home East Africa Ltd
03.2019 - Current
Supervisor Quality Management Systems section
Kenya Revenue Authority
04.2018 - 02.2019
Kenya School of Revenue Administration.
Post Grad Diploma from Customs And Border Control
United States International University
Bachelor of Science from International Business Administration
St Marys Girls High School
High School Diploma
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