A fractional director is an experienced senior executive who works for a business part-time, typically one to three days a week or on a monthly retainer, taking real responsibility for a function such as finance, operations, technology or marketing without the cost of a full-time board-level hire.
What it means
A fractional director holds genuine accountability for a function rather than simply advising on it. They attend leadership meetings, set strategy, manage the team and deliver results, but they spread their time across a small number of clients.
The model gives SMEs and scale-ups access to people who have done the job before at larger organisations, at a fraction of a full-time salary and without the long recruitment process.
When you need one
Businesses usually bring in a fractional director when a function has outgrown its current leadership but does not yet justify a full-time executive, or when a specific challenge such as fundraising, a system change or rapid growth needs senior experience quickly. Leadership Services provides fractional directors from its bench of 500+ senior directors, from £1,795 per month.
Frequently asked questions
How is a fractional director different from a consultant?
A consultant usually diagnoses a problem and recommends a solution, then leaves. A fractional director is embedded in the business, owns the outcome and is accountable for delivery over months or years. They manage people, attend leadership meetings and take decisions, which makes them closer to an employee in responsibility than an external adviser.
Is a fractional director a statutory company director?
Not necessarily. Many fractional directors hold an operational title such as CFO or COO without being appointed to the board at Companies House. Some clients do appoint them as statutory directors, in which case they take on the legal duties that come with that role. The choice depends on the business and the level of authority required.
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Last updated: 5 November 2026