Skip to content

Article

From reactive to ready: Managing compliance and risk across complex projects

Learn how to meet rising compliance standards, avoid costly fines, and streamline construction project management with MYOB Acumatica.

Two construction workers in safety vests and helmets observing a multi-story building under construction.

In large-scale construction, compliance is non-negotiable. Whether you’re delivering a bridge upgrade, managing HVACR installation for a hospital build, or overseeing multiple subcontractors on a utilities expansion, your projects operate under intense scrutiny. Public safety, regulatory enforcement, and multimillion-dollar budgets mean even minor oversights can carry major consequences.

For general contractors, specialist subcontractors, and civil engineering firms, every project demands precision, from safety documentation to financial reporting. The challenge? Compliance requirements are tightening across Australia and New Zealand, and manual systems are making it harder to keep pace.

That’s where MYOB’s construction-specific ERP solution can help by providing a single, integrated platform that makes staying compliant and managing risk far less resource-intensive.

Compliance complexity is rising across ANZ

In 2025, regulators are taking a more proactive approach. Safe Work Australia’s 2024–2025 National Compliance and Enforcement Policy targets construction site inspections and high-risk work licensing, requiring up-to-date documentation on demand.

In New Zealand, WorkSafe’s Construction Sector Plan emphasises incident reporting, site-specific safety plans, and ongoing risk assessments.

Fines and penalties are increasing too: under Australia’s Model WHS Act, corporations can face penalties exceeding $3 million, and directors can be held personally liable for system failures. Even minor breaches in Victoria now carry fines from $11,000 to $55,000.

For leaders working across multi-site or multi-entity operations, that means every site and subcontractor needs to be audit-ready at all times, not just before a scheduled inspection.

The cost of manual compliance management

Many mid-sized construction businesses still rely on spreadsheets, PDFs, and site registers. These tools:

  • Make it hard to maintain accurate, centralised records across jobs

  • Provide no automatic alerts for expiring licences or overdue tasks

  • Require days of prep work before audits or tender responses

Master Builders Australia notes that excessive time spent on regulatory and administrative obligations is a major productivity drain for construction businesses, taking leaders away from the money-making part of business and increasing operational strain.

Strong Foundations: A practical guide to protecting margins, cash flow, and growth in construction

Unpack the practical steps that savvy construction firms are taking to stay competitive in a high-pressure market.

Download guide

When compliance gaps hit the bottom line

Insurance and risk frameworks in Australia are demanding greater transparency and documentation. For instance, many insurers now rely on platforms like Cm3, where contractors must upload essential safety documentation, including licences, safety plans, SWMS, and insurances, which are assessed by WHS-qualified personnel before coverage decisions can be made.

Additionally, brokers and insurers emphasise that failure to disclose subcontractor involvement can lead to coverage gaps or even invalidated policies, highlighting the importance of proactive risk communication when subcontractors are engaged.

Even more, insurers frequently require proof that subcontractors hold their own public liability insurance, providing protection against vicarious liability and ensuring sites remain compliant.

Without these measures in place, businesses risk:

  • Denied insurance claims

  • Tender disqualification

  • Project delays or site shutdowns

In high-value infrastructure and civil projects, a single compliance lapse can quickly erode margins, extend timelines, and damage your reputation.

How MYOB Acumatica Construction supports compliance and efficiency

MYOB Acumatica Construction is purpose-built for large-scale, non-residential construction, helping businesses centralise compliance management while reducing administrative load with:

  • Built-in compliance tracking: Safety plans, permits, incident reports, and subcontractor records all live in one system, accessible anywhere, anytime.

  • Document version control: Avoid outdated forms and inconsistent information with automated version management.

  • Role-based access and activity logs: Maintain a clear audit trail showing who signed off on what, and when.

  • Real-time reporting: Generate audit-ready compliance reports in seconds, without chasing multiple teams for information.

  • Automated alerts: Get reminders before licences, insurances, or safety documentation expire, avoiding last-minute scrambles.

We're able to collect data from our vehicles — kilometres they've travelled, hours of operation — and that information gets fed straight into our projects, which gives us a timely collection of operational costs as they're charged.

Michelle ThompsonFinance Manager, Thompson Construction & Engineering

The impact on your teams and margins

When compliance processes are automated and integrated with your broader project management, your teams can:

  • Spend less time on repetitive admin

  • Avoid fines and disputes by keeping documentation accurate and accessible

  • Maintain project momentum even under audit conditions

  • Focus on delivery, not chasing paperwork

The result? Reduced stress, lower risk, and more time spent on productive work, even as compliance demands grow.

Real-world results for construction leaders

Whether you’re a civil engineering firm building transport infrastructure, an HVACR contractor delivering to hospitals, or a head contractor managing a multi-utility upgrade, MYOB Acumatica adapts to your workflows and scales with your operations.

It integrates financial, operational, and compliance data into one platform, giving you complete visibility and control, so you can stay ahead of regulatory requirements without slowing your projects down.

The level of information that I can spit out with a keystroke is phenomenal, and MYOB Acumatica Construction has made it possible for us to comply with some tight contractual requirements.

Steven RobertsChief Financial Officer, Mitchell Waters

Building with compliance confidence in 2025 and beyond

Compliance will only get more complex in the years ahead. The firms that thrive will be those that move from reactive to ready, shifting away from manual processes and towards systems that make compliance a natural part of daily operations.

If increasing regulatory demands are stretching your admin teams, slowing tenders, or putting margins at risk, it’s time to invest in a platform designed for the realities of large-scale construction.

Explore MYOB Acumatica Construction and see how integrated compliance management can help protect your projects, your people, and your profits.


Information provided in this article is of a general nature and does not consider your personal situation. It does not constitute legal, financial, or other professional advice and should not be relied upon as a statement of law, policy or advice. You should consider whether this information is appropriate to your needs and, if necessary, seek independent advice. This information is only accurate at the time of publication. Although every effort has been made to verify the accuracy of the information contained on this webpage, MYOB disclaims, to the extent permitted by law, all liability for the information contained on this webpage or any loss or damage suffered by any person directly or indirectly through relying on this information.

Contributors

Naomi Little

Senior Contributor