Construcciones Yamaro: Managing compliance and risk on complex construction projects

MYOB Acumatica Construction provides a single system to manage operational, financial and compliance requirements. (Image: NVB Stocker/stock.adobe.com)

Compliance sits at the core of every major construction project. From bridge upgrades to hospital HVACR installations and multi-utility expansions, contractors now face closer scrutiny than ever. Public safety obligations, regulatory oversight and multimillion-dollar contract values mean small administrative gaps can quickly escalate into costly issues.

For general contractors, specialist subcontractors and civil engineering firms, each project demands accurate documentation, transparent reporting and clear audit trails. With compliance requirements tightening across Australia and New Zealand, manual systems are making it harder for project teams to keep pace.

MYOB’s construction-specific enterprise resource planning (ERP) platform is designed to centralise compliance and reduce the administrative load that slows project teams.

Rising compliance expectations

Regulators across the region are taking a more assertive approach. Safe Work Australia’s 2024–25 National Compliance and Enforcement Policy places a strong emphasis on construction site inspections and high-risk work licensing, requiring documentation to be available on demand.

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

For businesses operating across multiple sites or project entities, staying audit-ready is no longer something reserved for scheduled inspections – it is a daily requirement.

The cost of manual compliance

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

• Make it difficult to maintain accurate, centralised records across projects;
• provide no automated prompts for expiring licences or overdue tasks; and
• require extensive preparation before audits, tenders or insurer reviews.

Master Builders Australia’s submission to the Treasury Employment White Paper in December 2022 highlighted that excessive time spent on administrative and regulatory tasks hinders productivity and diverts leaders away from project delivery.

When compliance gaps hit the bottom line

Across Australia, insurers and brokers are demanding greater documentation and visibility from construction clients. Many rely on platforms such as Cm3, where contractors are required to upload licences, safe work method statements, safety plans and insurance documentation for assessment by WHS-qualified personnel.

Insurers also emphasise the need to disclose subcontractor involvement. Failure to do so can lead to coverage gaps or invalidate claims, particularly if subcontractors do not carry their own public liability insurance.

Without consistent documentation and communication, businesses risk denied insurance claims, disqualification during tenders and project delays or site shutdowns. On high-value civil and infrastructure projects, the financial and reputational impacts can be severe.

Software built for construction compliance

MYOB Acumatica Construction provides a single system to manage operational, financial and compliance requirements. Key features include:

• Built-in compliance tracking – safety plans, permits, incident reports and subcontractor records stored in one location, accessible anywhere, anytime;
• document version control – automated updates prevent outdated forms or inconsistent information entering circulation;
• role-based access and activity logs – clear audit trail showing who approved documentation and when;
• real-time reporting – audit-ready reports generated without chasing multiple teams;
• automated alerts – reminders when licences, insurances or safety documentation approach expiry.

“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,” says Michelle Thompson, finance manager at Thompson Construction and Engineering.

How integrated compliance strengthens delivery

When compliance processes are automated and integrated with broader project management systems, teams can reduce time spent on repetitive administrative tasks, keep documentation accurate and accessible, maintain project momentum during audit conditions and focus attention on delivery and decision-making.

The result is lower operational risk, fewer disruptions and more predictable margins, even as compliance expectations grow.

Supporting contractors across the sector

Civil engineering companies, HVACR specialists and head contractors use MYOB Acumatica to bring financial, operational and compliance data together. The platform adapts to workflows and scales with operations.

“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,” says Steven Roberts, chief financial officer at Mitchell Waters.

Building with compliance confidence

Regulatory demands will continue to increase. Contractors that move away from stand-alone spreadsheets and manual registers will have greater control, clearer visibility and faster response times when audits arise.

For businesses where compliance workloads are stretching teams or slowing tender preparation, adopting an integrated system can help safeguard project delivery and commercial performance.

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

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