<ARTICLE> 5 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS <PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR <FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-30-1998 <PERIOD-START> OCT-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1998 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1 <CASH> 19,400 <SECURITIES> 13,577 <RECEIVABLES> 72,345 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 112,412 <PP&E> 9,018 <DEPRECIATION> 4,504 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 120,543 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 35,844 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 66,535 <OTHER-SE> 18,164 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 120,543 <SALES> 233,473 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 233,473 <CGS> 172,900 <TOTAL-COSTS> 172,900 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 37,454 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> (1,775) <INCOME-PRETAX> 24,894 <INCOME-TAX> 10,440 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 14,454 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 14,454 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.84 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.82