Why Broker and Entry Audits Matter Now: See Us at ICPA in San Antonio, March 1 to March 4

Customs enforcement is intensifying, and too many importers and exporters only discover gaps when an audit is already underway. That is avoidable. At Vigilant Global Trade Services, we help companies turn audits into a point of strength, not stress.

The Moment We Are In

The current administration’s enforcement efforts, combined with rising regulatory complexity, have raised the stakes for trade compliance. Broker audits and entry audits are no longer occasional checkups. They are essential controls that protect margins, safeguard supply chains, and keep your name off a regulator’s radar.

That is exactly why we are heading to the International Compliance Professionals Association annual conference in San Antonio, Texas, March 1 to March 4. The ICPA conference brings together importers, exporters, attorneys, and service providers to share what works in today’s environment. If you need practical, current insights on customs compliance, this is the room to be in.

Learn more at ICPAinc. org.

Our Focus: Broker Audits and Entry Audits

We are presenting on broker audits and entry audits because they sit at the center of CBP expectations and day-to-day trade operations. Done well, they tighten your controls, reduce errors, and lower the risk of penalties. Done poorly, they invite rework, profit leakage, and regulatory attention.

Here is how we advise companies to prepare:

• Clarify roles and instructions

  • Confirm powers of attorney, written instructions, service level expectations, and escalation paths with each customs broker.
  • Validate that your broker has current product data, HTS classifications, valuation elements, and partner government agency flags.

• Test the data that drives your entries

  • Pull ACE reports and sample entries by product family, supplier, and port to test consistency.
  • Validate duty rate application, classification accuracy, country of origin, assists, and declared value.

• Reconcile exceptions quickly

  • Track post entry corrections and protests by root cause.
  • Close gaps with corrective actions, then re-test to confirm the fix.

• Strengthen internal controls

  • Document who owns classification, valuation, FTA eligibility, and restricted party screening.
  • Establish a cadence for internal entry audits and broker scorecards.

• Train and document

  • Keep current procedures, classification rationales, and decision logs.
  • Train internal teams and brokers on updates before they hit live shipments.

• Prepare for questions before they come

  • If CBP asked for your last 12 months of entries and supporting records, could you furnish them quickly and confidently?
  • Make sure retention, retrieval, and version control are audit ready.

Why Listen to Us

Our speaker, Jamie from Vigilant Global Trade Services, has led complex compliance projects for years. Before joining Vigilant, Jamie served as a consulting director at Livingston for a decade, working hands-on with importers and exporters across industries. That experience shapes our practical, control-focused approach to broker and entry audits.

We do not deal in theory. We build programs that hold up under scrutiny and help companies move product faster with fewer surprises.

Why ICPA Is Worth Your Time

ICPA is built by and for practitioners. Sessions are led by people doing the work every day, which means you hear what is actually happening with regulations, audits, and enforcement. If you need to get current on customs compliance and connect with peers facing the same challenges, this is the most efficient four days you can invest.

• Dates: March 1 to March 4
• Location: San Antonio, Texas
• Details and registration: ICPAinc. org

Make the Most of the Conference

• Bring your audit checklist and questions. Use sessions to pressure test your controls.
• Schedule time with us to discuss your broker oversight or entry review program.
• Network with peers who face the same issues across ports and product lines.
• Take notes on quick wins you can execute in 30 days, then assign owners and timelines.

A Fun Tradition You Should Know

We also help kick off the conference in a unique way. Jamie serves as the ICPA choir director, organizing a volunteer choir that opens the annual conference with the national anthem. Volunteers receive the music in advance, rehearse briefly on site, and perform on opening day. It is a great way to meet people, and participants receive a discount to the conference. Interested in joining the choir? Contact us or reach out through ICPA.

Let’s Strengthen Your Audit Readiness

If you want confidence before CBP comes calling, we can help. Meet with us at ICPA in San Antonio to benchmark your broker audits and entry audits, or schedule a consultation to assess your current controls.

• Contact Vigilant Global Trade Services to start an audit readiness review
• Book time with our team during the ICPA conference
• Learn how to build a sustainable, repeatable audit program that fits your risk profile

Your entries tell your compliance story. Let’s make sure it is one you are proud to share.