Fractional Executive Opportunity

Advisory CIO Opportunities Across the UK

Advisory CIO roles offer experienced technology leaders the opportunity to provide strategic IT guidance without day-to-day operational responsibilities. These positions are perfect for accomplished CIOs who want to share their expertise as technology advisors, board members, or digital transformation consultants to multiple organisations.

What Advisory CIOs Do

As an advisory CIO, you'll typically work 1-4 days per month with each client. Your responsibilities include providing strategic IT guidance to founders and boards, advising on digital transformation and technology roadmaps, reviewing IT strategy and vendor relationships, mentoring in-house IT leaders, and serving as a sounding board for major technology decisions. Advisory roles focus on strategic direction rather than IT operations.

UK Market Demand

The demand for experienced technology advisors continues to grow as companies navigate digital transformation. According to Gartner, CIO advisory services are increasingly sought after. Tech Nation reports that UK companies are investing heavily in technology leadership. CIO UK highlights the evolving strategic importance of IT leadership at board level.

Day Rates for Advisory CIOs

Advisory CIO day rates in the UK typically range from £650-£950 per day, depending on the nature of the engagement and your background. Digital transformation advisory or IT due diligence may command higher rates. Many advisory CIOs work with 4-6 clients simultaneously, combining advisory work with NED positions or technology consulting.

Ideal Candidate Profile

Successful advisory CIOs typically have 18+ years of IT experience with multiple CIO or IT Director roles. You should have experience leading digital transformation and managing enterprise technology. Knowledge of cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP), enterprise systems, and emerging technologies is essential. Strong business acumen is critical for connecting technology to business outcomes.

Industries Seeking Advisory CIOs

Advisory IT leadership is particularly valuable in:

• Financial Services - Banks and insurers modernising systems
• Healthcare - NHS trusts and private healthcare providers
• Manufacturing - Companies digitising operations
• Private Equity - IT due diligence for acquisitions
• Board Advisory - Companies adding technology expertise to boards

How to Find Advisory CIO Roles

The best advisory CIO opportunities come through technology networks and specialist platforms. Fractional Quest focuses specifically on fractional and advisory executive roles in the UK. BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT offers professional networking. Computing UK and The Register provide industry insights.

Getting Started

To explore advisory CIO opportunities, browse our Advisory CIO Jobs UK listings. For more hands-on roles, see our Fractional CIO Jobs and Part-Time CIO positions. Check our CIO salary guide to understand current market rates.