Senior Data Quality Assurance Analyst

Islington Council; Greater London; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

31 days annual leave

36 days after five years

Flexible working arrangements

London Living Wage

Pension scheme

Cycle to Work

Discounts for local services

Job summary

Islington Council is seeking a Senior Data Quality Assurance Analyst to lead data quality across Housing. You will design and implement frameworks, set standards for data capture, monitoring and improvement, and move the organisation toward scalable, controlled data practices.

You will apply advanced SQL for profiling and reconciliation, work with senior stakeholders, and drive governance across datasets to ensure accurate reporting and regulatory compliance.

Qualifications

• Experience in a senior data quality, governance or analytical role.
• Proven ability to design and implement data quality frameworks and processes.
• Experience working with large, complex operational datasets.
• Advanced SQL skills for data profiling, validation and reconciliation.
• Experience producing assured outputs for senior stakeholders or external scrutiny.
• Strong understanding of data governance, data protection and regulatory requirements.
• Experience using Power BI or similar tools, with a focus on accuracy and transparency.
• Ability to influence stakeholders and improve processes, behaviours and systems.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to explain complex data issues clearly.
• Experience coordinating teams and delivering through influence rather than hierarchy.

Responsibilities

• Leading data quality improvement across Housing services.
• Designing and implementing data quality frameworks, rules and controls.
• Monitoring data quality and managing issues through structured processes.
• Identifying root causes of data issues and delivering sustainable fixes.
• Validating and reconciling data across multiple systems and sources.
• Supporting high-stakes reporting, including statutory and performance outputs.
• Establishing governance processes for tracking, escalation and accountability.
• Developing data profiling and automated monitoring approaches.

Skills

Senior data quality

Data governance

SQL proficiency

Power BI

Stakeholder influence

Communication

Team coordination

Tools

SQL

Job description

Want to lead how a council defines and delivers trusted, high-quality data? Ready to take ownership of data quality across critical Housing services? Join our Data Infrastructure team at Islington Council and play a central role in improving how data is managed, validated and used. You’ll work at the heart of a major transformation programme, ensuring data used for reporting, regulatory returns and decision‑making is accurate, reliable and fit for purpose.

As a Senior Data Quality Assurance Analyst, you will act as the lead specialist for data quality across Housing. You will design and implement frameworks that set clear standards for how data is captured, monitored and improved. Your work will move the organisation away from reactive fixes towards a consistent, scalable and controlled approach.

What you’ll be doing

• Leading data quality improvement across Housing services
• Designing and implementing data quality frameworks, rules and controls
• Monitoring data quality and managing issues through structured processes
• Identifying root causes of data issues and delivering sustainable fixes
• Validating and reconciling data across multiple systems and sources
• Supporting high‑stakes reporting, including statutory and performance outputs
• Establishing governance processes for tracking, escalation and accountability
• Developing data profiling and automated monitoring approaches

What you’ll bring

• Strong experience in a senior data quality, assurance, governance or analytical role
  • Proven ability to design and implement data quality frameworks and processes
  • Experience working with large, complex operational datasets
  • Advanced SQL skills for data profiling, validation and reconciliation
  • Experience producing assured outputs for senior stakeholders or external scrutiny
  • Strong understanding of data governance, data protection and regulatory requirements
  • Experience using Power BI or similar tools, with a focus on accuracy and transparency
  • Ability to influence stakeholders and improve processes, behaviours and systems
  • Strong communication skills, with the ability to explain complex data issues clearly
  • Experience coordinating teams and delivering through influence rather than hierarchy

Your impact

• Improve the quality and reliability of Housing data used for decision-making
  • Reduce reliance on manual fixes and inconsistent reporting processes
  • Support accurate, transparent reporting to senior leaders and regulators
  • Establish scalable data quality practices that can be adopted across the council

How you’ll work

• Provide independent assurance on critical datasets and reporting outputs
• Establish clear data quality standards, controls and expectations
• Drive accountability for data quality across service areas
• Promote a “right first time” approach to data capture and management

About You

Islington is a place rich with diversity and culture. As a council our sense of purpose couldn’t be clearer: we serve. It’s in the logo. We are committed to challenging inequality in the borough and as one of the largest employers we know that to look after the place and the planet, we have to look after our people. Together we can change the future. We are determined to create a more equal Islington, where everyone who lives here has an equal chance to thrive. To do this, everyone who works at Islington Council lives by a set of values which guide us in everything that we do: collaborative, ambitious, resourceful, and empowering. They spell out ‘CARE’, which is what we think public service is all about.

Our offer to you

• Up to 31 days leave per year, increasing to 36 days after five years of local government service
• A range of flexible working arrangements to maintain a healthy work‑life balance, as well as a 35‑hour working week
• Learning and development opportunities to maximise your potential
• Competitive pay and a commitment to paying all staff the London Living Wage at minimum
• Excellent local government pension scheme
• Cycle to Work scheme and discounted gym memberships
• Local discounts from restaurants, shops, health and beauty therapists, and more!

Please note: Priority will be given to those at risk of redundancy within Islington Council. Current employees who are part of the redeployment pool must meet the essential criteria for shortlisting to be prioritised.

Workforce Equality, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Statement

We are dedicated to creating an inclusive and equitable workforce, where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. Our workforce strategy places equality, equity, diversity, and inclusion at the heart of everything we do, reaffirming our commitment to fostering a culture of inclusion. We strive to create an environment where all colleagues feel they belong and can safely express their thoughts, ideas, and challenges, without fear of judgement or discrimination. We maintain a zero‑tolerance approach to any unlawful discrimination, harassment, or victimisation on the grounds of any protected characteristics under the 2010 Equality Act, including but not limited to race, disability, sexual orientation, sex, religion and belief, age, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy, and maternity. Any incidents of discrimination will be promptly investigated and addressed in line with our HR policies to ensure a safe and inclusive environment for all colleagues. We use data to identify and address disparities, ensuring that our policies and practices are transparent and impactful in promoting a diverse representation of backgrounds and perspectives at all levels of the organisation. We look at inequality through an intersectional lens, recognising that different aspects of someone’s identity can combine to create unique experiences of discrimination and disadvantage. We know that advancing diversity and inclusion is a continuous journey, and we must listen to our colleagues and learn where we can further improve. We work closely with our Colleague Forums and Trade Unions, supported by active allies from our Corporate Management Team, to monitor and evaluate our practices, identify barriers, and empower colleagues to promote equality and inclusion in the workplace. Every one of us has a role to play in making Islington Council a truly inclusive workplace. By living out our CARE (collaborative, ambitious, resourceful, and empowering) values every day and embedding the principles of equality, equity, diversity, and inclusion in our work, we can all actively contribute to empowering people and creating a more equal Islington.

Pre‑Employment Checks

• Proof of address
• Evidence of any name changes (if applicable)
• Right to work in the UK
• Overseas criminal record check (if applicable)
• Satisfactory references
• Occupational Health clearance
• Evidence of professional qualifications or registrations
• DBS check at the appropriate level (if applicable)

Safeguarding

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults, and expects all staff, and volunteers to share this commitment. Some posts are subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Disability Confident Scheme

Islington Council operates a guaranteed interview scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum criteria and we are committed to providing support to applicants who request reasonable adjustments to be made during the recruitment process and throughout their career with us.