CCSD welcomes new finance leader

Charleston County School District (CCSD) is delighted to announce and welcome Jessica Carraher as Executive Director of Financial Services. Carraher joins the district from Dorchester County where she served as Director of Business Services.

Jessica Carraher Executive Director of Financial Services

Carraher began her finance career in 2003 at the Medical University of South Carolina where she worked as an accountant/fiscal analyst. Over the next five years, Carraher grew her skill set in the private sector first as an accounting specialist, followed by three years as a controller. In 2009, she returned to public service in Dorchester County as an internal auditor.

An innovative and driven leader, Carraher was selected to serve as Budget Officer in November 2013. In this capacity, Carraher developed and administered $55 million in annual operation and capital budgets. Additionally, she prepared financial forecasts and projections for all funds during the budget process for administrative and Council review. Among her numerous accomplishments in this position, Carraher most notably developed a financial forecasting model to assist in multi-year financial planning, developed the County’s first Revenue Manual to aid in analyzing annual revenues for major funds, and was a four-year recipient of the Government Finance Officers Association Distinguished Budget Award.

Having made significant positive impacts in her short tenure, Carraher was promoted to Dorchester County’s Director of Business Services in 2017. Over the last seven years, Carraher has directed the daily operations of the Business Service Department, ensured compliance with federal programs, managed the County’s multiple tax programs and procurement activities, as well as led the fiscal oversight and administration of the Transportation Sales Tax program in accordance with SC Department of Revenue guidelines. She was instrumental in overhauling the County’s twenty-six-year-old Business License Ordinance, developing the County’s first Annual Comprehensive Financial Report, and assisting the Chief Financial Officer in the consolidation of various County capital planning documents into one Capital Improvement Plan.

“Ms. Carraher is a dynamic thinker with an eye for detail,” said Chief Financial Officer, Daniel Prentice. “Her accomplishments in the profession speak volumes about her talent, work ethic, and ability to efficiently and effectively steward public resources in the immediate and long-term future.”

Carraher earned a Bachelor of Science in Accounting with a minor in Business Administration from the College of Charleston. She also holds an Associate in Arts from Trident Technical College. She is a member of the national and state Government Finance Officers Association.

For more information, contact the Office of Communications at (843) 937-6303.

About the Charleston County School District

Charleston County School District (CCSD) is a nationally accredited school district committed to providing equitable and quality educational opportunities for all its students. CCSD is the second-largest school system in South Carolina and represents a unique blend of urban, suburban, and rural schools spanning 1,300 square miles along the coast. CCSD serves approximately 50,000 students in 88 schools and specialized programs. CCSD offers a diverse portfolio of educational options and specialized programs delivered to the students of CCSD through neighborhood, magnet, IB (international baccalaureate), Montessori, and charter schools and programs. Rich educational opportunities for students include programs in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM); music and other creative and performing arts; career and technical preparation programs; military; dual credit; and many more.