Manuel Sieben
Steuerberater | Master of Customs Administration (MCA) |
Diplom-Finanzwirt (FH) | Fachberater für Zölle und Verbrauchsteuern
Partner
- Former official, German customs administration
- Trainer, AWA FOREIGN TRADE ACADEMY GmbH
- Trainer of the specialist course for customs and excise of the Bundessteuerberaterkammer, Berlin
- Author of publications on customs law
On graduating from high school, I started the dual-study program at the Federal University of Applied Administrative Sciences (Finance Department) in Münster and three years later graduated as Diplom-Finanzwirt (FH). During my studies, I completed various practical placements and decided relatively quickly that I did not wish to pursue a career in the customs administration.
I became aware of AWB by chance and immediately left the customs administration to take up a position there as consultant. I did consider studying law but ultimately rejected the idea. However, this is also a viable career path and several AWB colleagues currently study law on a part-time basis.
My work at AWB is completely different from what I had previously experienced in the customs administration. You are directly involved in various projects and have personal contact to the clients. In the customs administration, you often specialise in one particular area whereas my work for AWB requires me to have an overview not only of customs law as a whole but also other related legal areas (e.g. preferential origin). Every case presents new challenges.
Continuing education is a central concern at AWB: In 2016, I completed the part-time course "Master of Customs Administration (MCA)" at the Westphalian Wilhelms University in Münster and passed the tax consultant exam in 2018. Since 2021, I have been a specialist consultant for customs and excise duties. AWB is very supportive of continuing education and has one's back during intensive learning phases. Ultimately, this also made it possible for me to become an AWB partner.
A great advantage of working at AWB is the variety: on-site or online appointments with clients of various sizes and specialisms have improved my understanding of processes, thereby enabling me to optimise their structure and organisation in relation to customs law. Drafting legal opinions and representing clients at administrative and judicial proceedings also form part of our core business.
We are also involved in international projects, largely due to our close ties with other specialist law firms worldwide. Our clients are often global companies and frequently arrange consulting appointments or training courses at their sites throughout the world.