How does fractional CCO salary compare to full-time?

Full-time CCOs in the UK earn an average of £99,227 according to PayScale, with a range of £53,000-£175,000. The Compliance Professionals Guide shows Head of Compliance (SMF16) salaries of £140,000-£375,000 depending on firm size. Fractional CCOs charge £700-£1,500/day.

What is SMF16 and does it affect CCO rates?

SMF16 is the FCA Senior Managers Regime designation for Compliance Oversight. Individuals holding SMF16 carry personal regulatory accountability. Fractional CCOs who can hold SMF16 status command premium rates (£1,000-£1,500/day) vs advisory-only roles (£700-£900/day).

What sectors pay the highest fractional CCO rates?

Investment banking and large UK banks pay the highest rates. According to Compliance Professionals 2025: Investment Banking Head of Compliance £1,000+/day, Large UK Banking SMF16 £1,500+/day, Global Head of Compliance £1,600+/day.

Can a fractional CCO hold SMF16 status?

Yes, a fractional CCO can hold SMF16 status, but this requires FCA approval and typically means a minimum 2-3 days per week commitment. Many fractional CCO arrangements are advisory-only, with an internal individual holding SMF16. This affects pricing - SMF16-capable roles command 20-30% premium.

What qualifications increase CCO earning potential?

ICA (International Compliance Association) qualifications, CISI certifications, and legal qualifications (solicitor, barrister) add credibility. Most important is SMF16 experience, proven FCA relationship management, and track record of successful regulatory examinations or remediation programmes.

How do London CCO rates compare to UK regions?

London dominates the compliance market due to concentration of regulated firms. The Compliance Professionals Guide rates are London-centric. Regional rates may be 10-20% lower, though many compliance roles are now remote-first, reducing the London premium.

What is the difference between CCO Compliance and CCO Commercial?

CCO can mean Chief Compliance Officer (regulated industries, FCA oversight) or Chief Commercial Officer (revenue/sales leadership). This page covers Compliance. Commercial CCO rates are similar (£800-£1,500/day) but the skills and regulatory requirements are completely different.

How does fractional CCO salary compare to full-time?

Full-time CCOs in the UK earn an average of £99,227 according to PayScale, with a range of £53,000-£175,000. The Compliance Professionals Guide shows Head of Compliance (SMF16) salaries of £140,000-£375,000 depending on firm size. Fractional CCOs charge £700-£1,500/day.

What is SMF16 and does it affect CCO rates?

SMF16 is the FCA Senior Managers Regime designation for Compliance Oversight. Individuals holding SMF16 carry personal regulatory accountability. Fractional CCOs who can hold SMF16 status command premium rates (£1,000-£1,500/day) vs advisory-only roles (£700-£900/day).

What sectors pay the highest fractional CCO rates?

Investment banking and large UK banks pay the highest rates. According to Compliance Professionals 2025: Investment Banking Head of Compliance £1,000+/day, Large UK Banking SMF16 £1,500+/day, Global Head of Compliance £1,600+/day.

Can a fractional CCO hold SMF16 status?

Yes, a fractional CCO can hold SMF16 status, but this requires FCA approval and typically means a minimum 2-3 days per week commitment. Many fractional CCO arrangements are advisory-only, with an internal individual holding SMF16. This affects pricing - SMF16-capable roles command 20-30% premium.

What qualifications increase CCO earning potential?

ICA (International Compliance Association) qualifications, CISI certifications, and legal qualifications (solicitor, barrister) add credibility. Most important is SMF16 experience, proven FCA relationship management, and track record of successful regulatory examinations or remediation programmes.

How do London CCO rates compare to UK regions?

London dominates the compliance market due to concentration of regulated firms. The Compliance Professionals Guide rates are London-centric. Regional rates may be 10-20% lower, though many compliance roles are now remote-first, reducing the London premium.

What is the difference between CCO Compliance and CCO Commercial?

CCO can mean Chief Compliance Officer (regulated industries, FCA oversight) or Chief Commercial Officer (revenue/sales leadership). This page covers Compliance. Commercial CCO rates are similar (£800-£1,500/day) but the skills and regulatory requirements are completely different.

Salary Guide 2026

Fractional CCO Compliance Salary UK

Complete guide to fractional Chief Compliance Officer salary UK rates. Data from Compliance Professionals Salary Guide 2025 and PayScale.

£800-2,000

Day Rate

2-6 weeks

Time to Hire

50-70%

Cost Savings

↓

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Quick Cost Calculator

See your potential savings

Days per week

Monthly Cost£8,000

vs Full-Time£22,000

You Save£14,000 (64%)

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📖1 min read

📅Updated 1 Feb 2026

📝145 words

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£800-1500

Day Rate

📅

1-3

Days/Week

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50-70%

Cost Savings

🎯

500+

UK Placements

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Key Takeaways

1Fractional CCOs work 1-3 days per week, providing senior expertise without full-time costs
2UK day rates range from £800 to £1500, depending on experience and sector
3Typical engagements save 50-70% compared to full-time executive hires
4Ideal for startups, scale-ups, and SMEs needing strategic leadership
5No employment overhead: no pension, NI, benefits, or notice periods

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Fractional CCO (Compliance) Salary UK Overview

**Fractional Chief Compliance Officer salary** in the UK typically ranges from £700-£1,500 per day, with the average sitting around £1,000/day. This translates to annual earnings of £73,000-£156,000 depending on days worked per week.

According to the [Compliance Professionals Salary Guide 2025](https://www.complianceprofessionals.co.uk), Head of Compliance (SMF16) roles command £700-£1,000+/day in corporate banking, rising to £1,500+/day for Global Heads. [PayScale](https://www.payscale.com/research/UK/Job=Chief_Compliance_Officer/Salary) reports average full-time CCO salary of £99,227 with a range of £53,000-£175,000.

Compliance leadership is critical in regulated industries. The FCA’s Senior Managers Regime (SMF16) means compliance heads carry personal accountability, driving premium rates for experienced fractional CCOs.

CCO Day Rates by Sector (Compliance Professionals 2025)

Sector	Salary Range	Day Rate	Source
Corporate/Wholesale Banking	£140,000+	£700+/day	CP Guide 2025
Investment Banking	£180,000+	£1,000+/day	CP Guide 2025
Large UK Banking (SMF16)	£275,000-£375,000	£1,500+/day	CP Guide 2025
Global Head of Compliance	£250,000+	£1,600+/day	CP Guide 2025

Fractional CCO Salary by Experience Level

Experience Level	Day Rate	Annual (2 days/week)	Typical Background
Deputy Head Level	£600-£800	£62,000-£83,000	10+ years compliance, deputy CCO
Head of Compliance	£700-£1,000	£73,000-£104,000	SMF16 experience
Senior CCO	£1,000-£1,400	£104,000-£146,000	15+ years, IB background
Global CCO	£1,400-£1,600+	£146,000-£166,000+	Multi-jurisdiction, FTSE experience

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Cost Comparison

Fractional vs Full-Time Executive

Full-Time Executive£286k/year

Salary + Benefits + Overhead

Fractional Executive£106k/year

1-2 days/week average

Your Potential Savings

£180k+

63%

saved

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Time Allocation

How fractional executives spend their time

Strategy30%

Operations25%

Leadership20%

Governance15%

Technology10%

Fractional CCO (Chief Compliance Officer) Salary Guide UK

Fractional Chief Compliance Officers command premium rates in financial services and regulated industries where compliance failures carry significant financial and reputational risk. FCA↗/PRA experience is the primary rate driver.

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CCO [Day Rates](/fractional-executive-day-rates "Fractional Executive Day Rates") by Sector

Sector	Day Rate	Annual Equivalent
Banking/Insurance	£1,100-£1,500/day	£220-300k
Financial Services	£1,000-£1,400/day	£200-280k
Fintech/Scale-Up	£900-£1,200/day	£180-240k

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Factors Affecting Compliance Officer Rates

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FCA/PRA experience: Direct regulator experience adds 25-35%

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SMCR: Senior Managers Regime expertise highly valued

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Financial crime: AML, KYC, sanctions screening experience

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International regulation: Multi-jurisdiction compliance capability

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Fractional CCO Jobs UK

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Part-Time CCO Jobs

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Fractional Recruitment Agency

UK Fractional Executive Day Rates

Compare day rates across C-suite roles

CFO£800 - £1500/day

£1100

CTO£900 - £1600/day

£1200

CMO£750 - £1400/day

£1000

COO£800 - £1400/day

£1050

CDO£900 - £1450/day

£1150

CISO£900 - £1550/day

£1200

Rate Range

Average

Source: UK Market Data 2025

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Fractional vs Interim vs Full-Time

Choose the right engagement model

Aspect	Fractional	Interim	Full-Time
Time Commitment	1-3 days/week	4-5 days/week	5 days/week
Duration	Ongoing/flexible	3-12 months	Permanent
Annual Cost	£50-150k	£150-300k	£200-400k+
Best For	SMEs, startups, scale-ups	Crisis, transitions	Large enterprises
Flexibility	★★★ High	★★☆ Medium	★☆☆ Low

Costs are indicative UK market rates. Actual costs vary by role, experience, and sector.

Calculate Your Day Rate

Fractional CCO Earnings

Calculate Your Potential Income

Your Day Rate

£900

£700Avg: £900£1300

Days Per Client/Week

2.5 days

1 day5 days

Number of Clients

2 clients

Weekly

£4,500

Monthly

£19,485

Annual

£216,000

Based on 2.5 days/week x 2 clients x 48 working weeks. CCO UK average day rate: £900.

BetaThis calculator provides rough estimates for illustration only. Actual rates and salaries vary based on location, experience, industry, and market conditions.

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Technology leadership

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Marketing and growth

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Fractional COO

Operations excellence

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Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know

The average fractional CCO (Compliance) earns around £1,000 per day in the UK. According to the Compliance Professionals Salary Guide 2025, Head of Compliance (SMF16) day rates range from £700-£1,000+ in corporate banking, rising to £1,500-£1,600+ for Global Heads of Compliance in investment banking.