<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
EXHIBIT 27

This  schedule  contains  summary  financial   information  extracted  from  the
consolidated statement of financial condition, consolidated statement of income,
and consolidated statement of cash flows included in the Company's form 10-K for
the period ending August 31, 1998, and is qualified in its entirety by reference
to such financial statements.

</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

       
                                         
<PERIOD-TYPE>                               12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                           AUG-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                AUG-31-1998
<CASH>                                      37,631
<SECURITIES>                                     0       
<RECEIVABLES>                               11,121
<ALLOWANCES>                                   672 
<INVENTORY>                                      0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                            54,240
<PP&E>                                      14,680
<DEPRECIATION>                               6,557
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              70,556
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                       19,061
<BONDS>                                          0 
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                            0 
<PREFERRED>                                      0 
<COMMON>                                        97
<OTHER-SE>                                  50,928
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                70,556
<SALES>                                     78,911
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                            78,911
<CGS>                                            0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                               58,028
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                 0    
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                 0 
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                             22,439
<INCOME-TAX>                                 9,830
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                         12,609 
<DISCONTINUED>                                   0 
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                242
<CHANGES>                                        0 
<NET-INCOME>                                12,851
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                 1.33<F1>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                 1.17

<FN>
<F1> FOR PURPOSES OF THIS STATEMENT, PRIMARY MEANS BASIC.
</FN>