What does a fractional strategy officer cost?

Day rates typically range from 1000-1500 GBP depending on scope and experience.

How do I evaluate strategy officer candidates?

Assess strategic planning track record, M&A experience, and executive communication skills.

What qualifications matter most?

Strategy consulting or corporate strategy background, M&A experience, and measurable growth outcomes.

How long are typical engagements?

Strategy engagements typically run 3-12 months depending on scope.

What does a fractional strategy officer cost?

Day rates typically range from 1000-1500 GBP depending on scope and experience.

How do I evaluate strategy officer candidates?

Assess strategic planning track record, M&A experience, and executive communication skills.

What qualifications matter most?

Strategy consulting or corporate strategy background, M&A experience, and measurable growth outcomes.

How long are typical engagements?

Strategy engagements typically run 3-12 months depending on scope.

Hiring Guide

Hire a Fractional Chief Strategy Officer

Complete guide to hiring fractional strategy leadership

£800-2,000

Day Rate

2-6 weeks

Time to Hire

50-70%

Cost Savings

↓

Scroll to explore

✨

AI Assistant

Ask anything about Executives

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

0jobs found

Department

Location

Work Type

View All UK Jobs

📖

When to Hire a Fractional CSO (Strategy)

Quick Definition

Consider a fractional Chief Strategy Officer when defining growth strategy, evaluating M&A opportunities, or entering new markets. Ideal for companies at strategic inflection points needing senior strategy expertise.

What to Look For

Evaluate candidates on strategic planning frameworks, M&A due diligence experience, market entry success, and executive communication skills. Look for strategies that delivered measurable growth.

Evaluation Criteria

Criteria	What to Assess	Red Flags
Strategic Planning	Framework application and outcomes	Only analysis not execution
M&A Experience	Due diligence and integration	No transaction experience
Market Entry	New market success stories	Only domestic experience
Executive Presence	Board and investor communication	Unable to simplify complexity

Interview Questions

Ask about their strategic planning methodology, M&A experience, market entry examples, and how they communicate strategy to boards and investors.

💰

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

📊

Time Allocation

How fractional executives spend their time

Strategy30%

Operations25%

Leadership20%

Governance15%

Technology10%

Hire a Fractional CSO (Chief Strategy Officer)

A fractional Chief Strategy Officer provides senior strategic leadership to define direction, drive M&A strategy, and guide business transformation without the £250-350k cost of a permanent strategy executive.

✦

⏰

Why Hire a Fractional CSO?

🎯

Strategic clarity: Experienced strategists who cut through complexity

🎯

M&A expertise: Acquisition strategy, due diligence, and integration planning

🎯

Market expansion: New market entry and diversification strategy

🎯

Investor confidence: Credible strategic narrative for boards and investors

✦

📌

What a Fractional CSO Delivers

Deliverable	Timeline
Strategic assessment and market analysis	Weeks 1-4
Strategy development and options appraisal	Weeks 4-8
Execution roadmap and OKR framework	Weeks 8-12
Ongoing strategic governance and M&A support	Ongoing

✦

📌

Typical Engagement Models

🎯

Strategic: 1-2 days/week for ongoing strategy leadership

→

M&A: 3-4 days/week during transaction periods

🎯

Planning: 2-3 days/week during annual strategic planning cycles

✦

📌

→

CSO Salary Guide

→

Fractional CEO Jobs UK

→

Fractional COO Jobs UK

→

UK Fractional Jobs

→

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

⚖️

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.

🔗