<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AND CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME FILED AS PART OF
THE ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO
SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
<S>                             <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-1996             SEP-30-1995
<PERIOD-START>                             OCT-01-1995             OCT-01-1994
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1996             SEP-30-1995
<CASH>                                             377                  13,650
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   56,878                  49,189
<ALLOWANCES>                                    10,137                   1,236
<INVENTORY>                                          0                       0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                52,052                  61,634
<PP&E>                                          18,035                  15,281
<DEPRECIATION>                                  11,576                   8,453
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  78,804                  76,444
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           48,089                  27,547
<BONDS>                                              0                       0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                         21                       0
<COMMON>                                           116                     114
<OTHER-SE>                                      29,916                  48,324
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                    78,804                  76,444
<SALES>                                              0                       0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                96,943                 117,180
<CGS>                                                0                       0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   58,334                  44,638
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                73,563                  62,515
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                10,158                     773
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                 802                     701
<INCOME-PRETAX>                               (45,266)                   8,807
<INCOME-TAX>                                  (13,684)                   3,655
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                           (31,582)                   5,152
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                  (31,582)                   5,152
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                   (2.76)                    0.45
<EPS-DILUTED>                                   (2.76)                    0.45
        

</TABLE>