What is the Data Navigator?
Housing associations are under increasing pressure to demonstrate confidence in the data they present to the board and regulator, while managing heightened scrutiny around assurance, reputational risk, and the potential for regulatory downgrade. This is particularly challenging when you must typically manage data complexities across multiple systems – housing management, repairs, finance, asset management and CRM.
Over time, this can lead to:
- Inconsistent definitions and reporting.
- Unclear data ownership
- Manual reconciliation of figures
- Variable data quality across domains
- Limited visibility of governance gap
These issues rarely arise from a lack of effort. They are usually the natural consequence of organisational growth; system changes and evolving regulatory expectations. The result can be uncertainty around the robustness of reporting and confidence in the data at executive and board level. At Golden Marzipan, we specialise in fixing data governance for organisations to enable regulatory reporting confidence. We highlight data risk across six core themes:
- Regulatory compliance
- Data quality and integrity
- Cyber security
- Data protection and privacy
- IT systems and architecture
- Artificial intelligence
That’s a deep risk portfolio. And the reality? You can’t, and shouldn’t, solve all this alone. To support this, we have developed the Data Navigator, a structured programme that helps you step back, assess and strengthen the foundations that underpin reliable reporting and informed decision-making.
Every organisation’s journey is different. Our services facilitate your specific needs, covering the the following data domains:
- Governance And Assurance:
- Data maturity assessments, risk profiling, data governance frameworks
- Regulatory data assurance and reporting alignment (TSM Data quality challenges, regulator grading risks, audit readiness)
- Architecture & platforms:
- Data architecture design, including modern platforms such as Microsoft Fabric
- Development of data platforms, warehouses, and reporting solutions such as dashboards (*delivered with specialist partners)
- Capability & Delivery
- Roadmap design and program management
- Capability reviews and team development
Our Approach
Data Navigator is delivered over 12-16 weeks as a phased program (Discovery, Governance Design, Priority Stabilisation) and offered with a flexible delivery model.
We typically start with what matters most: your regulatory requirements, ensuring your ratings, assurance, and reputation are protected. At the end of the programme you will leave with a data risk heatmap, defined data ownership, regulatory assurance pack, prioritised roadmap and target architecture (if required).
We act as a critical friend: independent, supportive and pragmatic. We recognise the pressures housing associations operate under and focus on practical steps that are achievable within your organisational context.
Who is this for?
Data navigator is for you if you are dealing with challenges around the credibility of your reporting, are relying on spreadsheets for critical data, or if data ownership within your organisation is undefined or you are not fully confident in the quality of your TSM metrics.
Program Outcomes:
- Audit-ready regulatory reporting
- Clear data ownership and governance
- Board Level Confidence on decision making
- Reduced Manual effort and duplication
Case Study (Coming Soon)
We have recently supported Together Housing Group. to review their data strategy, assess organisational capability, and design a target data architecture aligned to Microsoft Fabric.
The Marzipan Way: Good governance
We’ll help you lead with clarity and integrity. Providing confidence in your data quality, we help housing associations define, align and implement their data strategy, and we can help you too.
