Beaufort County has hired D. Allen Milburn as its chief financial officer (CFO), a position that’s been empty for nearly five months without explanation.
The CFO oversees the county’s financial operations, public funds and fiscal accountability. A big part of the job is preparing an annual county budget.
Milburn will begin work on Nov. 2. His annual salary will be $192,441.
Current job
Milburn is currently the CFO for Berkeley County government, which is just north of Charleston. He’s worked for the county for eight-and-a-half years, most recently as CFO.
Berkeley County’s 2027 general fund budget for day-to-day operations was $166 million.
In 2027, Beaufort County’s general fund budget is $203 million.
In a statement, Milburn said he would bring “a collaborative, transparent and stewardship-focused approach to financial management.”
“My goal is to help ensure that Beaufort County’s resources are managed responsibly today while positioning the organization for continued success in the years ahead,” he said.
Resignation cited for vacancy
Beaufort County had previously not said whether Milburn’s predecessor, Pinky Harriott, was fired or quit when she left her post unexpectedly in May, in the middle of the county’s crafting of the budget. Harriott had held the post since November 2024.
On Friday, Hannah Nichols, a spokesperson for the county, said Harriott “resigned as CFO with us to pursue other opportunities. I can’t comment beyond that”
Harriott’s tenure overlapped with former County Administrator Eric Greenway, who was terminated by the County Council in late July 2023 amid allegations of mismanagement, including failure to follow procurement statutes, a questionable relationship with a contractor-turned-employee and sexual harassment accusations.
Harriott said she learned about Greenway’s troubles through the news. In an interview with the Island Packet in 2024, Harriott said she knew her biggest task was to gain back public trust.
Early life
Milburn, an Alexandria, Va. native, grew up in a military family and had the opportunity to live in several states as well as Karlsruhe, Germany, while his father served as a noncommissioned officer in the U.S. Army, according to Beaufort County.
That upbringing, he said, instilled in him an early appreciation “for integrity, honesty, a strong work ethic and the importance of service to others.”
His family eventually settled in Georgia, where Allen completed high school and earned his college degree.
Work history
Allen began his career in 1993 with the Georgia Department of Audits and Accounts as a state external auditor before transitioning into local government finance as Finance Director for Bryan County Schools.
He completed South Carolina’s Certified Government Finance Officer (CGFO) program in 2021, reflecting his longstanding commitment to professional development and excellence in governmental finance.
In 2005, Allen relocated to the Charleston area to serve as budget director for Charleston County School District, a position he held for 11 years.
This story was originally published October 2, 2026 at 10:37 AM.
Karl Puckett covers the city of Beaufort, town of Port Royal and other communities north of the Broad River for The Beaufort Gazette and Island Packet. The Minnesota native also has worked at newspapers in his home state, Alaska, Wisconsin and Montana.
Source: www.islandpacket.com
