How long are engagements

6-12 months for governance setup.

What to expect in 90 days

Data audit governance framework and quality roadmap.

How long are engagements

6-12 months for governance setup.

What to expect in 90 days

Data audit governance framework and quality roadmap.

Hiring Guide

Hire a Fractional CDO

Complete guide to hiring fractional data leadership

£800-2,000

Day Rate

2-6 weeks

Time to Hire

50-70%

Cost Savings

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Key Takeaways

1Fractional CFOs 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

Latest Fractional Jobs

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When to Hire

Quick Definition

Hire a fractional CDO when building data capabilities without full-time overhead. Ideal for companies establishing data governance preparing for AI initiatives or improving data quality.

What to Look For

Look for candidates with data leadership at similar organizations. Key qualities include data governance experience data quality improvement track record modern data platform knowledge and regulatory compliance expertise.

Evaluation Criteria

Criteria	Assess	Red Flags
Governance	Built frameworks	No formal programs
Quality	Improved data quality	Tech only focus
Platforms	Modern stack knowledge	Legacy only
Compliance	GDPR etc experience	No regulatory

Interview Questions

Key questions: What data governance frameworks have you built? How do you improve data quality? What modern data platforms have you implemented? How do you ensure regulatory compliance?

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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%

Hire a Fractional CDO (Chief Data Officer)

A fractional Chief Data Officer provides expert data strategy, governance, and analytics leadership to help your organisation become truly data-driven without the £200-350k cost of a permanent data executive.

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Why Hire a Fractional CDO?

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Data strategy: Experienced leaders who turn data into business value

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Platform expertise: Modern data stack architecture (Snowflake, Databricks, dbt)

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AI readiness: Build the data foundations required for AI and ML

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Governance: Implement data quality, cataloguing, and compliance frameworks

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What a Fractional CDO Delivers

Deliverable	Timeline
Data maturity assessment and strategy	Weeks 1-4
Data platform architecture and selection	Weeks 4-8
Governance framework and team structure	Weeks 8-12
Advanced analytics and AI programme	Ongoing

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Typical Engagement Models

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Strategic: 1-2 days/week for data governance and direction

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Build: 3-4 days/week for data platform implementation

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Advisory: 1 day/week for data strategy and team mentoring

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→

CDO Salary Guide

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Fractional CTO Jobs UK

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CAO Salary Guide

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UK Fractional Jobs

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Fractional Recruitment Agency

UK Fractional Executive Day Rates

Compare day rates across C-suite roles

CFOThis Role£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 CFO Earnings

Calculate Your Potential Income

Your Day Rate

£1,000

£750Avg: £1000£1500

Days Per Client/Week

2.5 days

1 day5 days

Number of Clients

2 clients

Weekly

£5,000

Monthly

£21,650

Annual

£240,000

Based on 2.5 days/week x 2 clients x 48 working weeks. CFO UK average day rate: £1000.

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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