How long are engagements

12-24 months for transformation.

What to expect in 90 days

Digital maturity assessment strategy and roadmap.

How long are engagements

12-24 months for transformation.

What to expect in 90 days

Digital maturity assessment strategy and roadmap.

Hiring Guide

Hire a Fractional CDO

Complete guide to hiring fractional digital 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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Department

Location

Work Type

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When to Hire

Quick Definition

Hire a fractional CDO when beginning digital transformation without full-time overhead. Ideal for companies modernizing legacy systems developing digital strategy or building digital capabilities.

What to Look For

Look for candidates with digital transformation experience. Key qualities include transformation track record modern technology knowledge change management skills and ability to connect digital to business outcomes.

Evaluation Criteria

Criteria	Assess	Red Flags
Transformation	Led digital change	Tech only focus
Business Link	Digital to revenue	Technology for its own sake
Change	Managed adoption	No people skills
Modern Tech	Current platforms	Legacy only

Interview Questions

Key questions: What digital transformations have you led? How do you connect digital to business outcomes? How do you manage change and adoption? What technologies do you recommend?

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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 Digital Officer)

A fractional Chief Digital Officer provides expert digital transformation leadership to modernise your business, build digital-first customer experiences, and drive technology innovation without full-time executive costs.

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Why Hire a Fractional CDO?

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Digital transformation: Experienced leaders who deliver measurable digital impact

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Customer experience: Build digital-first journeys that drive engagement

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Technology modernisation: Migrate legacy systems to cloud-native platforms

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Data-driven: Implement analytics and insight-led decision-making

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What a Fractional CDO Delivers

Deliverable	Timeline
Digital maturity assessment	Weeks 1-4
Digital strategy and roadmap	Weeks 4-8
Platform selection and implementation	Weeks 8-16
Digital culture and capability building	Ongoing

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Typical Engagement Models

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Strategic: 2-3 days/week for digital strategy leadership

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Transformation: 3-4 days/week for major digital programmes

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Advisory: 1 day/week for digital governance and direction

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CDO Salary Guide

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Fractional CTO Jobs UK

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Fractional CIO Jobs UK

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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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