Governance, Risk & Compliance Consultants in Texas
Cognito Consultants provides governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) consulting to healthcare and social care providers, charities and NGOs, and public sector organisations across Texas, from our Texas office. We help Texas-based organisations build practical governance that meets both state and federal requirements, without the bureaucracy that slows down day-to-day service delivery.
Why Texas organisations need a Texas-aware GRC partner
Texas organisations operate under a regulatory landscape that is different from other states in real, practical ways. Healthcare and social care providers answer to the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) and the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS), on top of federal requirements like HIPAA. Any organisation handling personal data of Texas residents now also has to account for the Texas Data Privacy and Security Act (TDPSA), which took effect in 2024. Charities and nonprofits registered in Texas answer to the Texas Attorney General’s office as well as the IRS. A generic national compliance template does not account for any of this, and gaps show up during a state inspection, an HHSC audit, or a data privacy complaint rather than being caught early.
Working with a firm that understands both the federal picture and the Texas-specific detail means governance work actually holds up when it is tested, rather than looking complete on paper and falling apart under scrutiny.
Who we work with in Texas
Healthcare and social care providers. Clinics, care homes, and social care organisations navigating HHSC and DSHS requirements alongside federal healthcare regulation, including HIPAA and Duty of Candour-equivalent incident reporting practices.
Charities and nonprofits. Texas-registered nonprofits balancing Texas Attorney General oversight, IRS 501(c)(3) requirements, and donor expectations around governance and financial stewardship.
Public sector and government bodies. Texas state and local government entities and agencies working under open records requirements, state audit expectations, and the same higher bar of public accountability public bodies carry everywhere.
What we help with
Governance and assurance. Board and leadership oversight structures, documented decision-making, and committee processes that genuinely scrutinise rather than rubber-stamp.
Risk and crisis management. A live risk register covering operational, financial, safeguarding, and reputational risk, reviewed on a real cycle and actually used to inform decisions.
Policy and regulatory readiness. Policies and procedures that reflect current Texas and federal requirements, including TDPSA-related data handling obligations, reviewed regularly rather than left in place after they were first written.
Independent investigations. An impartial, evidenced review when something has already gone wrong and the organisation needs a credible account of what happened.
Our approach
We start with an honest assessment of where an organisation’s governance stands today, then build a practical, prioritised plan around it, sized to the organisation’s actual size and risk profile rather than a one-size-fits-all template. Our free GRC self-assessment tool is one way to get that starting picture in 10 to 15 minutes, tailored to your sector and Texas’s specific regulatory context.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you work with organisations across all of Texas, or only specific cities?
We work with healthcare, social care, charity, and public sector organisations across the whole state of Texas, not just a single metro area.
What makes Texas compliance different from other states?
Texas has its own state-level requirements layered on top of federal ones, including HHSC and DSHS oversight for healthcare and social care providers and the Texas Data Privacy and Security Act (TDPSA) for organisations handling personal data of Texas residents. A national-only compliance approach can miss these state-specific obligations.
Do you only work with Texas-based organisations, or also the UK?
We work with organisations in both the UK and the US, including Texas, from our two offices. The regulatory detail differs by country and state, but our approach to practical, right-sized governance is the same everywhere we work.
How do we know where our organisation’s governance gaps are?
An honest external assessment is usually the fastest way to find out. Our free GRC self-assessment tool is tailored to your sector and location and takes 10 to 15 minutes, giving you a scored report of where the gaps are.
How can Cognito Consultants help our Texas organisation?
We provide practical, hands-on support across governance and assurance, risk and crisis management, policy and regulatory readiness, and independent investigations, sized to what your organisation actually needs. Get in touch to talk through your specific situation, or start with our free self-assessment tool.