<ARTICLE> 5
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                                                                                            
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR                   YEAR                   YEAR                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-1998             SEP-30-1997             SEP-30-1996             SEP-30-1999
<PERIOD-START>                             OCT-01-1997             OCT-01-1996             OCT-01-1995             OCT-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1998             SEP-30-1997             SEP-30-1996             DEC-31-1998
<CASH>                                          19,403                  11,006                   2,388                  18,945
<SECURITIES>                                    13,577                  40,869                   1,008                  68,484
<RECEIVABLES>                                   76,981                  48,164                  37,463                  86,189
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0                       0                       0                       0
<INVENTORY>                                          0                       0                       0                       0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               117,073                 107,097                  44,466                 181,507
<PP&E>                                          10,300                   8,602                   7,818                  10,835
<DEPRECIATION>                                 (5,433)                 (4,427)                   3,983                  (5,680)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 126,002                 113,884                  50,993                 190,602
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           38,595                  40,989                  18,752                  36,618
<BONDS>                                              0                       0                       0                       0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0                       0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0                       0                       0
<COMMON>                                        68,624                  66,783                       0                 129,741
<OTHER-SE>                                      18,163                   2,258                 (3,651)                  23,644
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   126,002                 113,884                  50,993                 190,602
<SALES>                                        244,114                 173,355                 140,492                  72,346
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               244,114                 173,355                 140,492                  72,346
<CGS>                                          181,403                 127,170                 106,258                  52,233
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  181,403                 127,170                 106,258                  52,233
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                34,909                  26,100                  20,584                  11,261
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0                       0                       0                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0                       0                      47                       0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 25,954                  13,634                  12,047                   9,246
<INCOME-TAX>                                    10,440                   4,104                     530                   3,653
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             24,131                  12,713                  12,094                   8,852
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0                       0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0                       0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                    15,514                   9,530                  11,517                   5,593
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.86                    0.67                    0.87                    0.29
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.85                    0.65                    0.87                    0.28