MONTREAL – CGI Group Inc. (TSX:GIB.A) says it earned $257.2 million in its latest quarter, up from $225.1 million a year ago.

The technology consulting firm says the profit amounted to 80 cents per diluted share in the quarter ended June 30, up from 71 cents per share a year ago.

Revenue in what was the company’s third quarter totalled $2.6 billion, down from $2.7 billion in the same quarter last year.

During the quarter, CGI booked $2.2 billion in new contracts.

At the end of June, the company’s backlog of signed orders stood at $19.7 billion, up $916.4 million compared with the same period last year.

In its outlook, CGI said it expects to take up to a $60 million pre-tax charge over the next six months as it works to reduce costs and improve productivity.

“A portion of the financial benefits arising from this action will be reinvested to accelerate our growth capabilities in IP based solutions, cyber security, and the digitization of client critical processes,” CGI chief executive Michael Roach said in a statement.

“The remaining benefits will be returned to shareholders through increased EPS performance in fiscal 2016.”