Denise M. Christmas serves as the Deputy Administrator and Chief Financial Officer for Dorchester County, bringing over 24 years of experience in South Carolina county government. In her role, she oversees critical financial operations and provides strategic leadership across multiple departments.

Before joining Dorchester County, Ms. Christmas was the Deputy County Administrator and Chief Financial Officer for Beaufort County, where she managed finance, procurement, payroll, grants, and other key functions. Her extensive experience includes preparing financial statements, managing budgets, and overseeing internal audits.

Ms. Christmas has also held the role of Deputy Administrator and Chief Financial Officer for Calhoun County, where she gained expertise in enterprise and special revenue funds, bond issuance, and audit preparation. Earlier in her career, she served as Accounting Manager for Orangeburg County, contributing to the county’s capital penny sales tax program.

A graduate of Limestone College with a bachelor’s degree in Accounting and Business Administration, Ms. Christmas is a Certified Government Finance Officer (CGFO). She is also a graduate of the South Carolina Association of Counties’ Institute of Government certification program and NaCO’s High Performance Leadership Academy. Her deep knowledge and commitment to public service make her a valuable asset to Dorchester County’s leadership team.

Oversees

This position provides coordinated leadership for the following departments:

• Assessor’s Office
• Delinquent Tax Office
• Business Services
• Information Technology
• Risk Management