Mohamad Ezzat Mohamed Yusoff, an alumnus of INTI International College Penang, has been recognised as the top scorer for the Southeast Asia and Australasia region in the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) Strategic Case Study examination for the November 2025 sitting.
Mohamad Ezzat Mohamed Yusoff, an alumnus of INTI International College Penang, achieved the highest score in the Southeast Asia and Australasia region for the CIMA Strategic Case Study examination.
The recognition came at the final stage of the CIMA professional qualification, where candidates are tested not only on technical knowledge, but also on how they analyse business issues, manage risks, and make strategic decisions in a simulated corporate setting. The November 2025 sitting recorded a global pass rate of 59 per cent.
For Ezzat, who is currently attached to S&P Global, a global provider of data, expertise, and technology, the achievement was also a test of discipline. Preparing for the examination meant studying after work while managing projects and deadlines.
“The toughest part was finding the mental energy and discipline to study after work while handling multiple projects and deadlines consistently. That experience taught me how to remain calm under pressure, stay focused, and become highly efficient with my time,” he said.
He approached the examination less as a test of memorisation and more as a business simulation.
“The Strategic Case Study tests how you think as a business decision-maker, not just your technical knowledge. I approached it as a business simulation rather than an examination. It required strategic synthesis, stakeholder management, and the ability to connect financial data to broader business outcomes,” he said.
Ezzat’s route to the final stage began with the academic foundation he built at INTI Penang.
He began pursuing the CIMA qualification in August 2025 through the A-Star Programme after graduating with First Class Honours in Accounting and Finance from the University of Hertfordshire programme delivered at INTI Penang. His academic performance earned him exemptions for the Operational and Management levels, allowing him to progress directly to the Strategic level.
He said he pursued the qualification to strengthen his strategic business capabilities after graduation.
“After graduating, I wanted a qualification that could complement my technical accounting background with high-level business strategy,” he said.
As finance roles continue to evolve beyond traditional accounting, professionals are increasingly expected to analyse business issues, manage risk, interpret data, and contribute to strategic decisions.
That exposure to applied learning, Ezzat said, helped shape the way he approached complex business problems.
“The programme moved beyond memorisation. Many assignments required us to think from a CFO-level perspective, analyse business cases, and recommend strategic solutions. By the time I sat for the examination, I was already accustomed to synthesising information and making high-level recommendations,” he said.
Christine Gan, Senior Lecturer from the School of Business at INTI International College Penang, said Ezzat consistently demonstrated qualities aligned with the future needs of the finance profession.
“Ezzat was not only technically strong, but also highly aware of global business and economic developments. He demonstrated strategic thinking and the ability to connect theoretical knowledge with real-world business realities,” she said.
The CIMA Strategic Case Study examination tested candidates on strategic leadership, business analysis, risk management, and commercial decision-making in a simulated business setting.
She added that the Accounting and Finance (3+0) programme emphasises management accounting, corporate finance, advanced financial management, and applied business analysis to help students evaluate business scenarios and justify strategic recommendations.
Chief Executive of INTI International College Penang, Hemalatha Murugiah, said Ezzat’s achievement was a proud moment for the institution as it showed how alumni continue to build on the foundation developed during their time at INTI Penang.
“We are proud to see Ezzat continue to grow beyond graduation. His achievement shows how important it is for graduates to think critically, apply knowledge, and make sound decisions in complex business situations,” she said.
For Ezzat, the recognition is one step in a longer professional plan. He hopes to complete his CIMA qualification and pursue an MBA as he works towards leadership roles that connect finance, operations, and global business strategy.
“My goal is to build a multi-dimensional competitive advantage by combining strategic finance expertise with broader business management knowledge. I want to position myself for leadership roles that bridge financial operations and global business strategy,” he said