<ARTICLE> 5 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> OCT-31-1998 <PERIOD-END> JUL-31-1998 <CASH> 26,499 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 243,867 <ALLOWANCES> (11,860) <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 262,669 <PP&E> 83,737 <DEPRECIATION> (53,193) <TOTAL-ASSETS> 426,314 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 147,255 <BONDS> 100,397 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 150 <OTHER-SE> 156,227 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 426,314 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 207,484 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 130,262 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 62,816 <LOSS-PROVISION> 135 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 2,582 <INCOME-PRETAX> 11,689 <INCOME-TAX> 5,300 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 6,389 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 6,389 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.43 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.40