<ARTICLE> 5 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> OCT-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> MAY-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> JUL-31-1997 <CASH> 14,368 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 109,653 <ALLOWANCES> (3,439) <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 130,972 <PP&E> 36,061 <DEPRECIATION> (19,930) <TOTAL-ASSETS> 191,914 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 71,708 <BONDS> 45,813 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 106 <OTHER-SE> 72,248 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 191,914 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 100,196 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 58,813 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 35,053 <LOSS-PROVISION> 50 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 989 <INCOME-PRETAX> 5,291 <INCOME-TAX> 2,110 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 3,181 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 3,181 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.28 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.28