Scaling Self-Service Analytics in Regulated Banking With Metadata-Driven Design

Self-service analytics in banking is not primarily a technology challenge. It's a governance challenge. This article explores the design of a metadata-driven analytics platform on GCP that enabled business teams to access trusted financial data without creating new silos. Key lessons include treating lineage as a first-class feature, using semantic layers to enforce consistent business logic, and prioritizing auditability over raw performance in regulated environments.