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Outsourced Compliance
Cost UK
How much does an outsourced compliance officer cost? Complete UK pricing guide for fractional CCO, MLRO, and compliance consultant services.
£1,050
Avg Day Rate
£5,500
Avg Monthly
50%
Savings vs FTE
Pricing
Outsourced Compliance Rates 2025
| Role | Day Rate | Monthly (1 day/wk) | Monthly (2 days/wk) | Annual Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compliance Consultant (Non-SMF) | £700-£1,000 | £2,800-£4,000 | £5,600-£8,000 | £33,600-£96,000 |
| Fractional MLRO (SMF17) | £900-£1,300 | £3,600-£5,200 | £7,200-£10,400 | £43,200-£124,800 |
| Fractional CCO (SMF16) | £1,000-£1,500 | £4,000-£6,000 | £8,000-£12,000 | £48,000-£144,000 |
| CCO + MLRO Combined | £1,100-£1,500 | £4,400-£6,000 | £8,800-£12,000 | £52,800-£144,000 |
Prices shown are typical market rates for the UK. Actual costs vary based on complexity, sector, location, and specific requirements. Retainer arrangements often include email/phone support between scheduled days.
Comparison
Outsourced vs Full-Time: Cost Comparison
Comparing 2 days/week outsourced CCO to a full-time compliance officer hire.
| Cost Element | Outsourced (2 days/wk) | Full-Time Employee |
|---|---|---|
| Base Salary | — | £90,000-£150,000 |
| Employer NI | — | £12,000-£18,000 |
| Pension Contribution | — | £4,500-£7,500 |
| Benefits (Healthcare, etc.) | — | £3,000-£8,000 |
| Recruitment Fee | — | £20,000-£35,000 (one-time) |
| Training & CPD | Included | £2,000-£5,000 |
| Management Overhead | Minimal | £5,000-£10,000 |
| Day Rate / Retainer | £48,000-£144,000 | — |
| Total Annual Cost | £48,000-£144,000 | £136,500-£233,500+ |
Bottom Line: Outsourced compliance at 2 days/week costs approximately £96,000-£120,000 annually—compared to £150,000-£230,000 for a full-time hire. That's a 40-50% cost saving while accessing senior expertise.
Projects
Project-Based Compliance Costs
Beyond ongoing retainers, some compliance work is delivered as fixed-price projects.
| Project | Typical Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| FCA Authorisation Support | £15,000-£40,000 | Depends on permission complexity |
| Consumer Duty Implementation | £10,000-£25,000 | Gap analysis, policy, governance |
| Compliance Framework Build | £8,000-£20,000 | Full policy and procedure suite |
| Regulatory Change Implementation | £5,000-£15,000 | Per significant regulatory change |
| Compliance Monitoring Programme | £5,000-£12,000 | Annual monitoring plan design |
| AML Framework Review | £6,000-£15,000 | Risk assessment, policies, training |
Factors
What Affects Outsourced Compliance Cost?
1. SMF Accountability
Professionals holding SMF16 (Compliance Oversight) or SMF17 (MLRO) roles charge 20-30% more than non-SMF consultants. This reflects personal regulatory accountability—they can face FCA enforcement action for compliance failures.
2. Industry Complexity
Some sectors command premium rates due to regulatory complexity:
- Crypto/Digital Assets: +15-25% (specialist AML, Travel Rule)
- Investment Management: +10-20% (MiFID II, CASS complexity)
- Consumer Credit: +5-10% (CONC, affordability requirements)
- Payments/E-money: Base rate (high volume but established frameworks)
3. Time Commitment
Higher time commitments often attract volume discounts. A firm requiring 3 days/week may negotiate a 10-15% per-day discount compared to 1 day/week engagement.
4. Experience Level
Day rates correlate with experience:
- 10-15 years: £800-£1,100/day
- 15-20 years: £1,000-£1,300/day
- 20+ years (former CCO): £1,200-£1,500+/day
5. Location
London-based professionals typically charge 10-15% more than those outside London. However, remote delivery has reduced this premium as location matters less for strategic compliance work.
Value
ROI of Outsourced Compliance
Beyond direct cost savings, outsourced compliance delivers return on investment through:
Regulatory Fines Avoided
FCA fines for compliance failures can be millions. Even a small fine exceeds years of compliance costs.
Faster Authorisation
Experienced compliance officers reduce FCA authorisation time by weeks—accelerating revenue.
Business Enablement
Proactive compliance advice enables product launches and market entry that might otherwise stall.
Investor Confidence
Professional compliance arrangements reassure investors and facilitate due diligence.
FAQ
Compliance Cost: Common Questions
Outsourced compliance officers in the UK typically charge £800-£1,500 per day, or £3,000-£12,000 monthly on retainer. Costs vary by seniority (CCO vs consultant), scope (SMF16/SMF17 or advisory), and time commitment. Most firms pay £4,000-£8,000/month for combined CCO and MLRO services at 1-2 days per week.
Yes, typically 40-60% cheaper. A full-time compliance officer costs £100,000-£180,000 annually (salary plus employer costs). Outsourced compliance at 2 days per week costs £80,000-£120,000 annually. You also save on recruitment fees, training, benefits, and management overhead. For firms needing 1-3 days/week coverage, outsourced is significantly more cost-effective.
Key cost factors include: SMF accountability (SMF16/SMF17 holders charge 20-30% more), sector complexity (crypto and investment firms pay premium rates), time commitment (more days = lower per-day rate), experience level (15+ year veterans charge more), scope of work (ongoing oversight vs project-based), and location (London premium applies).
A fractional CCO (SMF16) typically costs £4,000-£6,000/month for 1 day per week, or £8,000-£12,000/month for 2 days per week. This equates to day rates of £1,000-£1,500. Annual cost ranges from £48,000-£144,000 depending on time commitment—compared to £150,000-£250,000 for a full-time CCO.
An outsourced MLRO (SMF17) typically costs £3,500-£5,000/month for 1 day per week, or £7,000-£10,000/month for 2 days per week. Day rates range from £900-£1,300. Combined CCO/MLRO services (same person) are typically 10-15% cheaper than separate appointments.
ROI from outsourced compliance includes: avoiding regulatory fines (which can be millions), faster FCA authorisation (weeks vs months of delay), reduced regulatory risk, and cost savings vs full-time hire. For a FinTech paying £6,000/month, avoiding even a minor FCA fine would represent significant ROI, aside from the direct cost savings.
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