<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANACIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM FORM 10-K FOR YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1996 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS </LEGEND> <PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR <FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-30-1996 <PERIOD-START> OCT-01-1995 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1996 <CASH> 3,841 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 24,364 <ALLOWANCES> 879 <INVENTORY> 62 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 34,037 <PP&E> 8,167 <DEPRECIATION> 5,884 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 40,046 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 22,687 <BONDS> 2,079 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 5,535 <OTHER-SE> 9,717 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 40,046 <SALES> 115,718 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 115,718 <CGS> 105,254 <TOTAL-COSTS> 105,254 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 387 <INCOME-PRETAX> 1,213 <INCOME-TAX> 497 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 703 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 703 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.49 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.49