Elma Carrera Bio

Elma Carrera is the Assistant Program Director for Fiscal Operations and Chief Financial Officer with Hidalgo County Head Start Program.  Before joining this amazing Program in 2004 as the Finance Director, she was employed with Hidalgo County as an Internal Auditor.   Her auditing experience positioned and prepared her for this challenging role.  Developing and implementing internal control procedures for the Head Start Program’s Finance Department is her focus and continues today.  Every year, the Program undergoes a Financial Audit and a Single Audit.  The audits cover all processes including payroll, accounts payable, federal reporting, cash management, cash drawdowns, fixed assets, quarterly reports and so much more.  Head Start has been able to secure over 14 consecutive years of Unqualified Independent Auditors Reports/Opinions, meaning that the Program’s Financial Reports are appropriately presented without any identified exceptions and in compliance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). 

She graduated from the University of Texas-Pan American, Edinburg, Texas, with a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree in Accounting.  As Assistant Program Director for Fiscal Operations, she also oversees the Food and Nutrition Program and the Family Services Department responsible for ERSEA (Eligibility, Recruitment, Selection, Enrollment, and Attendance) and Parent Engagement.

She feels blessed to work alongside great leaders, great staff, and a great Program that changes the lives of so many families and children most in need.

In her spare time, she enjoys traveling with her loving family and her favorite country music singer is the one and only, George Strait!   Thank you Head Start!