01
Initial Interview
We start with you and the people who rely on the data. We agree which decisions, reports and metrics matter most, and which data needs to be reviewed.
For Business · 6 of 6
The Data
Audit.
Two reports give different answers to the same question. Nobody is quite sure which is right, where the data came from or who is responsible for it.
I review the data your business depends on and explain what you can rely on, where the problems are and what to fix first. I examine representative datasets directly and connect the findings to the reports and decisions they support.
Independent data review · Fixed scope · Plain-language report
Book the AuditReport within 5 business days. If you don't leave knowing whether to trust your data, you don't pay.
What You Get
A verdict you
can stand behind.
A Data Map
What you hold, where it lives, how it moves between systems and who owns it.
A Quality Verdict
Accuracy, completeness, consistency, duplication and timeliness, assessed against the data itself.
A Trust Rating on Your Key Numbers
Which reports and metrics you can rely on and where caution is needed.
Ownership and Governance Gaps
A review of ownership, accountability and missing controls.
A Readiness Check
Whether your data is ready for a migration, reporting build, analytics or AI project, and what has to happen first.
A Prioritised Remediation Plan
Each issue's impact, the work needed to fix it and approximate cost.
A Readout Session
A session with your leadership team to discuss the findings and next steps.
How It Works
3 DAYS · ON-SITE OR REMOTE
From the data itself,
not opinions about it.
02
Data Profiling
I profile representative datasets directly for accuracy, completeness, consistency, duplication and validity. The findings come from the data, not from opinions about it.
03
Owner Interviews
I speak with the people who create, manage and use the data, including data leads, system owners, finance and operations.
04
Written Report
You receive a report covering the agreed scope, with the quality findings and a prioritised plan. Delivered within 5 business days.
05
Readout
We then meet to discuss what I've found and what to do about it. Questions encouraged.
Scope
What's in.
What's out.
In Scope
- +Data mapping across your key systems
- +Quality profiling: accuracy, completeness, consistency, duplication, validity and timeliness
- +Report and metric reliability
- +Ownership and governance review
- +Migration, reporting or analytics readiness assessment
- +A prioritised remediation plan in business language
Out of Scope
- ,Data cleansing, repairs, pipelines, dashboards, migrations and integrations (separate work, available through Stratford Ellis)
- ,Formal certification or accreditation
How I work
I focus on the data your business depends on, using representative datasets within the agreed scope. Depending on scope, audits typically involve one to three days of work, with the report delivered within five business days.
When to Book This
Before the numbers
have to hold up.
Before Moving to or Replacing a System
Existing data problems can be addressed before migration.
Before Building or Rebuilding Reporting
Know what you're standing on first.
When Reports Give Different Answers
The audit finds the source of the disagreement.
Before a Board Pack or Funding Round
Explain the figures confidently before they're scrutinised.
After a Merger or Acquisition
Bringing two data estates together turns up duplicates, conflicts and stray records nobody owns.
Before an Analytics or AI Project
Models are only as good as the data underneath. The audit tells you whether you're ready.
When Duplicates, Gaps and Workarounds Are Becoming Difficult to Manage
If it feels fragile, it usually is.
When Nobody Can Clearly Explain Who Owns the Data
That answer alone is worth the audit.
Why Barbara
The technology
rarely fails first.
I've spent over a decade leading migrations and building reporting and analytics across sectors. I've seen how data problems affect go-live, board reporting and budgets.
As Lead Data Consultant at Stratford Ellis, I also understand what it takes to fix the issues an audit finds.
I don't sell a platform or tool, and I don't receive referral fees. When I tell you something's fine, it's because it is.
Next step
Know what your
data is worth.
A clear verdict on which numbers you can trust, where the risk sits, and what to fix first. A written position you can defend to your board, your investors, and yourself.
FROM £4,000 · SCOPED TO THE SIZE OF YOUR DATA ESTATE
Common Questions
What people
ask first.
- What is a data audit?
- An independent review of the data you hold, where it lives, who owns it and whether it's reliable. The findings explain which numbers you can trust and what needs attention.
- How is it different from a migration?
- A migration moves data between systems. An audit assesses its quality and readiness, helping you identify problems before you move it.
- Should we audit before migrating?
- An audit helps identify quality issues before they become problems in the new system. We can discuss the right scope for your migration.
- How do you assess quality?
- I profile the records directly for accuracy, completeness, consistency, duplication, validity and timeliness, then relate the findings to the reports and decisions that use them.
- Can you work without a data team or warehouse?
- Yes. I work with the systems and exports you already have. Understanding where the data sits is part of the review.
- Can you fix the problems as well?
- The audit identifies the issues and sets out the work needed. Stratford Ellis can carry out cleansing, pipeline repairs and other improvements through a separate engagement.
- Is it relevant outside regulated or data-heavy businesses?
- Yes. The audit can address unreliable reporting, duplicated records and dependence on spreadsheets or manual processes, whatever your sector.
- How long does it take?
- Typically one to three days of work, with a report within five business days. The timing depends on the systems and data domains in scope.
- What does it cost?
- From £4,000, depending on the size of your data estate. We agree the scope before starting.