Social Entitlement Chamber prepares to recruit 14 fee-paid Finance Members from September.
Social Entitlement Chamber is preparing to recruit 14 non-legal, fee-paid Finance Members, with the Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) expected to launch the selection exercise in September 2026.
The Courts and Tribunals Judiciary announced the recruitment plans on 7 August 2026 and also publicised a pre-application seminar for people considering applying for the positions. The online event is intended to give prospective candidates information about the role and the JAC selection process before the recruitment exercise begins.
The pre-application seminar will take place on Tuesday 8 September 2026 from 5pm to 6pm. The Judicial Office will hold the event through Microsoft Teams, allowing prospective applicants to learn more about the Finance Member positions and the work of the Social Entitlement Chamber.
The Judiciary said the seminar will provide up-to-date guidance and advice about the JAC selection process. The session will cover eligibility, the application process and what prospective applicants can expect from the selection exercise.
It will also provide an opportunity for attendees to learn more about the work of the Social Entitlement Chamber itself. Prospective applicants will hear about the Finance Member role and the work involved in sitting as a member of the tribunal.
Tribunal Judge Angela Shields will participate in the seminar alongside a Financially Qualified Tribunal Member. They will discuss the work of the chamber and provide information about the Finance Member position. The session will also allow attendees to ask questions about the role and the selection process.
The recruitment exercise is for non-legal Finance Members. The Judiciary has specified that applicants should be accountants who have held full membership for at least five years with one of seven professional accountancy bodies.
The professional bodies listed in the announcement are the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW), the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (ICAS), Chartered Accountants Ireland (CAI), the Institute of Certified Public Accountants in Ireland (CPA Ireland), the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), and the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA).
The five-year membership requirement forms part of the eligibility information provided for the forthcoming recruitment exercise. The announcement therefore specifically directs the opportunity towards established members of the listed professional accountancy bodies.
For people considering applying, the September seminar offers an opportunity to understand the process before the JAC launches the selection exercise. The Judiciary has positioned the event as a pre-application session, giving potential candidates the chance to receive information about the recruitment process before submitting an application.
The Social Entitlement Chamber forms part of the tribunal system and the Finance Member positions are described as fee-paid and non-legal. The seminar will therefore focus on both the nature of the Finance Member role and the practical steps involved in applying through the JAC.
The event is scheduled to take place shortly before the expected September launch of the selection exercise. Prospective applicants can register for the online seminar through the information provided by the Judiciary.
The announcement also directs candidates towards further information about the Social Entitlement Chamber and the JAC’s vacancies. Separate contact details are provided for questions concerning the selection exercise and the pre-application seminar.
For eligible accountants, the seminar provides an opportunity to obtain information directly from those involved with the chamber before deciding whether to apply. Tribunal Judge Angela Shields and a Financially Qualified Tribunal Member will explain the work of the chamber and the Finance Member role, while the JAC-related part of the session will address the selection process.
The Social Entitlement Chamber recruitment exercise will involve 14 Finance Member positions. The Judiciary has made clear that the appointments are non-legal and fee-paid, with eligibility focused on accountants who meet the specified professional membership requirement.
The announcement does not state that applicants must have a legal qualification. Instead, it identifies the relevant professional accountancy memberships and requires full membership of one of the listed bodies for at least five years.
The pre-application seminar is consequently an important preliminary stage for anyone considering the opportunity. It will allow prospective applicants to receive information about eligibility, applications and the selection exercise, while also hearing directly about the work carried out by Finance Members within the Social Entitlement Chamber.
The online seminar will take place on 8 September 2026, from 5pm to 6pm, through Microsoft Teams. The JAC selection exercise is expected to follow in September, giving eligible accountants an opportunity to consider the Finance Member roles and the application process.