Consulting group Accenture has defied the current economic climate by reporting its best-ever financial performance.

The business posted revenue before reinbursements of $6bn (£3.2bn) for the period ending 31 August, compared with $5.11bn (£2.7bn) in the fourth quarter a year ago, representing an increase of 17 per cent in US dollars and 10 per cent in local currency.

Consulting net revenue reached $3.61bn (£1.9bn), an increase of 19 per cent in US dollars and 11 per cent in local currency over the same period a year ago, and outsourcing revenue before tax totalled $2.39bn (£1.2bn), up 15 per cent in US currency and nine per cent in local money on the same period in 2007.

"We had record bookings and maintained our focus on operating discipline," said Accenture's chairman and chief executive William D. Green.

"With the uncertainty in the economic environment, we are even more focused on closely managing our business through careful planning, operational discipline and superior execution to ensure that we continue to perform and deliver value to our clients and shareholders."

For the first quarter of 2009, Accenture hopes to report net revenue ranging from $6.15bn (£3.3bn) to $6.35bn (£3.4bn), which assumes a foreign exchange impact.

The company, which derives almost a fifth of its revenue from financial services clients, is expecting new bookings for that period in the range of $26bn (£14bn) to $29bn (£15.7bn).