What does an Interim CFO cost?

Interim CFO day rates typically range from £800-1,500, depending on seniority, sector, and complexity. For a 5-day week, this equates to £200-375k annualised. While higher than permanent salaries, you avoid recruitment fees, benefits costs, and can exit with short notice. For short engagements, the total cost is often lower than permanent hire.

Should I use an interim agency or hire directly?

Both approaches work. Agencies provide speed, vetting, and replacement guarantees but charge 15-25% margins. Direct hiring saves cost but requires more effort in sourcing and due diligence. For urgent needs, agencies are faster. For planned transitions, direct hiring can work well with proper lead time.

Can an Interim CFO become permanent?

Yes, "interim to perm" transitions are common—perhaps 20-30% of engagements. However, this should be approached carefully. Some excellent interims aren't suited to permanent roles (and vice versa). Conversion fees may apply if using an agency. Discuss this possibility openly from the start.

What's the difference between Interim CFO and Interim FD?

In the UK, the titles are largely interchangeable for SMEs and mid-market companies. Larger enterprises may distinguish between CFO (strategic, board-level, investor-facing) and FD (operational finance leadership). For interim purposes, focus on the specific experience and capabilities needed rather than title.

What does an Interim CFO cost?

Interim CFO day rates typically range from £800-1,500, depending on seniority, sector, and complexity. For a 5-day week, this equates to £200-375k annualised. While higher than permanent salaries, you avoid recruitment fees, benefits costs, and can exit with short notice. For short engagements, the total cost is often lower than permanent hire.

Should I use an interim agency or hire directly?

Both approaches work. Agencies provide speed, vetting, and replacement guarantees but charge 15-25% margins. Direct hiring saves cost but requires more effort in sourcing and due diligence. For urgent needs, agencies are faster. For planned transitions, direct hiring can work well with proper lead time.

Can an Interim CFO become permanent?

Yes, "interim to perm" transitions are common—perhaps 20-30% of engagements. However, this should be approached carefully. Some excellent interims aren't suited to permanent roles (and vice versa). Conversion fees may apply if using an agency. Discuss this possibility openly from the start.

What's the difference between Interim CFO and Interim FD?

In the UK, the titles are largely interchangeable for SMEs and mid-market companies. Larger enterprises may distinguish between CFO (strategic, board-level, investor-facing) and FD (operational finance leadership). For interim purposes, focus on the specific experience and capabilities needed rather than title.

Interim Leadership

Interim CFO

Full-time finance leadership for critical transitions and transformations

£800-2,000

Day Rate

2-6 weeks

Time to Hire

50-70%

Cost Savings

↓

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Find Your Perfect Match

Answer 3 questions in 30 seconds

Question 1 of 333%

What type of CFO do you need?

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Jobs Rates FAQs Compare

📖1 min read

📅Updated 22 Jan 2026

📝1 words

💷

£800-1500

Day Rate

📅

1-3

Days/Week

💰

50-70%

Cost Savings

🎯

500+

UK Placements

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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

Interim CFO Opportunities

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📖

What is an Interim CFO?

Quick Definition

An Interim CFO is a senior finance executive who provides full-time leadership on a temporary basis—typically 3-12 months. Unlike fractional or part-time arrangements, an Interim CFO works exclusively for one organisation, often during periods of transition (CFO departure), transformation (turnaround, restructuring), or special projects (M&A, IPO preparation).

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When Businesses Need Interim CFOs

Interim CFOs fill critical gaps when continuity of financial leadership is essential. Whether your CFO has resigned unexpectedly, you're navigating a complex transaction, or you need specialist expertise for a transformation, an Interim CFO provides immediate, senior-level capability without the 6-month recruitment timeline of a permanent hire.

Connect with experienced Interim CFOs available for immediate deployment.

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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%

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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Related Executive Roles

Complementary leadership for your organisation

👔

Fractional COO

Operations aligned with financial goals

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👔

Finance Director

Day-to-day financial management

→

👔

Fractional CEO

Strategic leadership and governance

→

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Fractional CDO

Data-driven financial insights

→

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Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know

Most Interim CFOs can start within 2-4 weeks, and some are available immediately. This is significantly faster than permanent recruitment which typically takes 3-6 months. For urgent situations (CFO resignation, financial crisis), interim providers maintain networks of immediately available executives.