Our Management Team

In dealing with our network of recruiters, our employer clients appreciate that we actually come from an accounting and consulting background also. Our team has decades of experience in recruiting and staffing as well as tenures at major national brand names such as Price Waterhouse Coopers, Robert Half International and more.

Thomas Goar – CFP, RIA, Managing Partner

Thomas Goar is the founder and managing partner of Matrix Finance and Accounting and Viri Technology.  He has 15 years of recruiting experience in the fields of finance and accounting.  Prior to founding Matrix, Tom spent six years as the top regional producer for a publicly traded, international recruiting firm.  He started his professional career with Price Waterhouse Coopers (Tampa and Atlanta offices) where he worked in accounting and consulting. He also worked for the prestigious consulting firm Index based out of their Cambridge office.  Tom’s consulting experience was focused on Fortune 500 clients in the public utility industry. Additionally, Tom has experience as a registered investment advisor, financial planner and money manager.

Tom attended both the University of Florida and Florida State University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting.  He and his wife Emma have three children.  He is an avid Florida Gator fan and enjoys boating with his family.

Elbe Tsuchimoto – Partner & Senior Recruiting Manager

Elbe Tsuchimoto, Partner, began his career in recruiting in 2003 and has been dedicated to the industry ever since. He started with a prominent international recruiting firm, where he quickly earned recognition for his exceptional performance, receiving multiple awards for both production and client service (Chairman’s Club 3 consecutive years).

Over the years, Elbe has successfully placed hundreds of accounting and finance professionals in both contract and direct hire roles, consistently delivering outstanding results for his clients and candidates. Known for his tireless work ethic, he takes pride in matching the right talent with the right opportunities, ensuring that both parties are set up for long-term success.

A graduate of Washington State University with a degree in Organizational Psychology, Elbe combines his academic background with years of hands-on experience to bring a personalized, strategic approach to every placement.

Elbe is a true foodie and loves traveling to new destinations. Originally from Hawaii, he and his family also enjoy going back to visit loved ones and relaxing on the beach.

Erik Johnson – Partner & Senior Recruiting Manager

Erik Johnson, partner, brings 20+ years of experience in the management and recruitment of finance &accounting professionals in the Pacific Northwest. He collaborates with clients to recruit talent that aligns with their core business values. His vast experience helps clients shape their search with detailed market information. Erik strongly believes in developing lasting relationships with his candidates and is committed to providing opportunities that align with their long-term career goals. Erik hails from the Midwest and graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Minnesota State University. He enjoys being active in the great outdoors and spending time with his family.

Emma Goar – MBA, Senior Account Manager

Emma Goar, MBA, is Matrix’s Senior Account Manager, with nearly 20 years of recruiting experience in the fields of finance, accounting, and technology. Emma started her career with a publicly traded, international recruiting firm where she won awards for production and customer service. She was also the recruiting manager for a well-respected, Seattle-based management consulting firm. In that role, Emma built and managed the recruiting department. Emma has an MBA in Finance from California Lutheran University and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of California, Irvine. She is a former Miss Seattle and Miss Washington Teen USA. On the weekends, you will find Emma and Tom on the soccer field or golf course cheering on their kids!

Scott Mertens – Partner & Senior Recruiting Manager

Scott Mertens is a Partner at Matrix Finance & Accounting on the direct hire (permanent placement) team. He joined Matrix Finance & Accounting in 2020 as a Sr. Recruiting Manager. After five successful years in direct hire recruitment (120+ successful placements), Scott was promoted to Partner. He has nearly eight total years of full-cycle agency recruiting experience within accounting & finance. He has made hundreds of successful candidate placements, with positive testimonials from both job seekers and employers.

Scott is an active CPA and spent the first four years of his career in accounting here in the Seattle area. He started his career at Deloitte in the Seattle audit practice. After two busy seasons, he transitioned to GL accounting where he spent time at software companies Apptio and Avalara. In both cases, he assisted with the pre-IPO ramp up as both successfully transitioned from private to publicly traded companies. After realizing accounting was not a long-term passion, Scott transitioned into accounting/finance recruiting at a large international recruiting firm where he spent nearly three years in the permanent placement group based in the Seattle office. Scott performed full-cycle recruiting as he assisted job seekers and employers with over fifty successful candidate placements. As a result, he was promoted to a team manager after two years. Scott graduated from Washington State University with an MAcc and BA in Accounting. He is a native of the Seattle area, a sports fan, and is always cheering for the Seattle Seahawks and Washington State Cougars (he is hoping for a Seattle NBA team sometime soon!).

David Stenger – Senior Recruiting Manager

David Stenger is a Senior Recruiting Manager at Matrix Finance and Accounting, specializing in temporary placements for clients in the greater Seattle area. David started his career in agency recruitment in 2016 and never looked back. Throughout his time in staffing, he has held positions in recruitment, sales, and leadership supporting clients and candidates across many different industries. David prides himself on looking at every placement situation through the lens of what is best for the candidate and client. Beyond making successful placements, David finds the greatest fulfillment in fostering a thriving, motivated team at Matrix.

David is a Washington native who grew up in Tacoma, WA and attended Pacific Lutheran University where he graduated with his bachelor’s and master’s degree. He is an avid Seahawks fan and enjoys fishing and crabbing in the Puget Sound. In addition to this he loves simply hanging out with his wife, family, and friends.