Robert (Robbie) E. Bittner, III was always strong at math. That skill initially had him on a path toward an engineering career. However, he also really wanted to be on the swim team at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill – which did not have an engineering program – so he decided to pursue accounting instead.
The four-year UNC Chapel Hill varsity men’s swimming diving team member turned auditor has spent the past decade creating quite a niche in the utilities space, specifically auditing municipal and nonprofit utility agencies in North Carolina and Georgia. His utility work has led to a thorough understanding of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s accounting method as well as the rules and regulations of the Rural Utilities Service.
Robbie is passionate about helping people and businesses grow and succeed, while helping governments be efficient stewards of public funds. In addition to his energy and utility focus, he also works with state and local governments, nonprofits and commercial manufacturing.
His experience includes conducting audits for governmental and nonprofit entities, including cities, towns, counties, boards of education, higher education institutions, solid waste authorities, commercial manufacturing and transportation authorities in North Carolina, Florida, Virginia, Georgia, and New Hampshire. His work has given him extensive knowledge on how to conduct federal grant audits in accordance with the Single Audit Act, Uniform Grant Guidance and OMB Circular A-133. Additionally, Robbie also has performed special purpose examinations and internal control reviews for governments and public utilities.
On top of that, Robbie played an integral role in implementing new Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) requirements for clients throughout North Carolina, Virginia, Florida, Georgia, and New Hampshire, giving him a deep technical understanding of the rules and requirements of the Yellowbook and Government Auditing Standards.
Before joining PBMares, Robbie worked with a national firm’s audit standards methodology group, which included developing overall audit policy and procedures to meet or exceed professional standards, performing inter-office audit engagement inspections, and developing and delivering firmwide national trainings to all levels of assurance professionals.
Not one to sit still, Robbie is also active in the community, serving as a board member for Morehead City County Club, a past treasurer for After Hours Rotary Club and a member of Coral Bay Club. The West Carteret High School Athletic Hall of Fame member has two children and is an avid fisherman.
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS:
- American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
- North Carolina Association of Certified Public Accountants (Government Audit and Accounting Committee)
- American Public Power Association
- National Society of Accountants for Cooperatives
- North Carolina Government Finance Officers Association
- Virginia Government Finance Officers Association
EDUCATION:
- Master of Accounting from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Master of Business Administration from East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina
- Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill