Chamberlain of London

The Chamberlain of the City of London is an ancient office of the City of London, dating back to at least 1237.

The Chamberlain is the finance director of the City of London Corporation.^[1] They are the financial adviser, accountant, receiver and paymaster and are responsible for the City of London's local and private trust funds. The Chamberlain is responsible for making arrangements for the investment of City of London and other funds and is one of the three official trustees. The role is assisted by the Clerk of the Chamber or Chamberlain's Court, a similarly ancient role. The Lord Mayor of London, elected annually, is the leader of the corporation.

Through the Chamberlain's Court^[2] they administer the admission to the Freedom of the City and personally admit all honorary freemen. The Chamberlain is responsible to the Court of Aldermen for constituting new livery companies and for interpreting and amending their ordinances and charters.

The Chamberlain's relationship with the Court of Common Council is the same that applies to other local authority chief finance officers (CFOs) and therefore they have the same responsibilities placed upon them as any other CFO in the United Kingdom.

The current holder of the office is Caroline Al-Beyerty, the 81st Chamberlain in unbroken succession from 1237 to the present. Mrs Al-Beyerty has made history in becoming the first woman to hold this office.