Account book found by shelf close to Chancellor (6)
I believe the answer is:
ledger
'account book' is the definition.
('ledger' can be a synonym of 'account book')
'by shelf close to chancellor' is the wordplay.
'by' says to put letters next to each other.
'shelf' becomes 'ledge' ('ledge' can be a synonym of 'shelf').
'close to' says to take the final letters (the close/ending of).
The final letter of 'chancellor' is 'r'.
'ledge' put next to 'r' is 'LEDGER'.
'found' is the link.
(Other definitions for ledger that I've seen before include "Business record book" , "Old-fashioned heavy accounts book" , "Book-keeper's book" , "Account book" , "Accounting journal" .)