<PAGE>
 
     As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 18, 1998
                                                   Registration No. 333-________
================================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549
                         -----------------------------
                                    FORM S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                     UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                         -----------------------------
                        WALKER INTERACTIVE SYSTEMS, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
                         -----------------------------
            DELAWARE                                   95-2862954
    (State of Incorporation)               (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
                         -----------------------------
                               303 Second Street
                            San Francisco, CA  94107
                                 (415) 495-8811
         (Address and telephone number of principal executive offices)
                         -----------------------------
                 1992 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, as Amended
                     1994 Equity Incentive Plan, as Amended
                           (Full title of the plans)

                                 Leonard Y. Liu
          Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer
                        Walker Interactive Systems, Inc.
                               303 Second Street
                            San Francisco, CA  94107
                                 (415) 495-8811
 (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code,
                             of agent for service)
                          ----------------------------
                                   Copies to:
                            Alan C. Mendelson, Esq.
                               Cooley Godward LLP
                         One Maritime Plaza, 20th Floor
                         San Francisco, CA  94111-3580
                                (415) 693-2000
                                 ---------------
                        CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
================================================================================================================================= 
 TITLE OF SECURITIES TO        AMOUNT TO BE         PROPOSED MAXIMUM             PROPOSED MAXIMUM         AMOUNT OF REGISTRATION
 BE REGISTERED                REGISTERED(1)     OFFERING PRICE PER SHARE(2)  AGGREGATE OFFERING PRICE(2)           FEE
<S>                          <C>                <C>                          <C>                          <C>
Stock Options and               1,500,000               $14.06                      $21,090,000                 $6,221.55
 Common Stock (par
 value $.001)
=================================================================================================================================
</TABLE>

(1)  This registration statement is intended to cover the offering of up to
     300,000 shares and 1,200,000 shares of the Company's Common Stock pursuant
     to its 1992 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, as amended, and its 1994 Equity
     Incentive Plan, as amended, respectively.

(2)  Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the amount of the
     registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(c) under the Securities Act of 1933,
     as amended.  The offering price per share and aggregate offering price are
     based upon the average of the high and low price of Company's Common Stock
     on June 17, 1998 as reported on the NASDAQ National Market System.

================================================================================
  Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: As soon as
       practicable after this Registration Statement becomes effective.

                                                                     Page 1 of 7
                                                         Exhibit Index at Page 5
<PAGE>
 
                   INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE OF CONTENTS OF
                       REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-8


     The contents of Registration Statements on Form S-8, Nos. 33-87022 and 333-
02942 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 5, 1994 and
April 2, 1996, respectively, are incorporated by reference herein.



                                    EXHIBITS

EXHIBIT
NUMBER
------

 5.1    Opinion of Cooley Godward LLP

23.1    Independent Auditors' Consent

23.2    Consent of Cooley Godward LLP is contained in Exhibit 5.1 to this
        Registration Statement

24      Power of Attorney is contained on the signature pages

99.1    1992 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, as amended (1)

99.2    1994 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended (1)

____________________

(1)  Incorporated by reference to the attachments to the Company's 1998 Proxy
     Statement

                                       2
<PAGE>
 
                                   SIGNATURES


     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the
Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all
of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the City of San Francisco, State of California, on June 18, 1998.


                           WALKER INTERACTIVE SYSTEMS, INC.


                           By: /s/ Leonard Y. Liu
                               ----------------------------------------------

                           Name:   Leonard Y. Liu

                           Title:  Chairman of the Board, President and Chief
                                   Executive Officer



                               POWER OF ATTORNEY


     KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature
appears below constitutes and appoints Leonard Y. Liu and Thomas W. Hubbs, and
each or any one of them, his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with
full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place
and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including
post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement, and to file the same,
with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and
agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and
every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection therewith,
as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby
ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of
them, or their or his substitutes or substitute, may lawfully do or cause to be
done by virtue hereof.

                                       3
<PAGE>
 
     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SIGNATURE                                                          TITLE                                    DATE
<S>                                                 <C>                                                <C> 
/s/ Leonard Y. Liu                                  Chairman of the Board, President and               June 18, 1998
-----------------------------------------------     Chief Executive Officer (Principal
Leonard Y. Liu                                              Executive  Officer)

/s/ Thomas W. Hubbs                              Senior Vice President and Chief Financial             June 18, 1998
-----------------------------------------------    Officer (Principal Financial Officer)
Thomas W. Hubbs

/s/ Barbara M. Hubbard                            Vice President and Corporate Controller              June 18, 1998
-----------------------------------------------        (Principal Accounting Officer)
Barbara M. Hubbard

/s/ Richard C. Alberding                                          Director                             June 18, 1998
-----------------------------------------------
Richard C. Alberding

                                                                  Director                             June 18, 1998
-----------------------------------------------
Tania Amochaev

/s/ William A. Hasler                                             Director                             June 18, 1998
-----------------------------------------------
William A. Hasler

/s/ John M. Lillie                                                Director                             June 18, 1998
-----------------------------------------------
John M. Lillie

/s/ David C. Wetmore                                              Director                             June 18, 1998
-----------------------------------------------
David C. Wetmore
</TABLE>

                                       4
<PAGE>
 
                                 EXHIBIT INDEX


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXHIBIT                                                                                           SEQUENTIAL
Number                                      DESCRIPTION                                           Page Number
<C>          <S>                                                        <C>
  5.1        Opinion of Cooley Godward LLP                               6
 23.1        Independent Auditors' Consent                               7
 23.2        Consent of Cooley Godward LLP is contained in Exhibit
             5.1 to this Registration Statement
 24          Power of Attorney is contained on the signature pages
 99.1        1992 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, as amended (1)
 99.2        1994 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended (1)
</TABLE>
____________________

(1)  Incorporated by reference to the attachments to the Company's 1998 Proxy
     Statement

                                       5
[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "description": "FORM S-8", "secsgml_size_bytes": 10310}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "WALKER INTERACTIVE SYSTEMS INC", "cik": "0000883983", "assigned-sic": "7372", "irs-number": "952862954", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-57199", "film-number": "98650558"}, "business-address": {"street1": "MARATHON PLZ THREE NORTH", "street2": "303 SECOND ST", "city": "SAN FRANCISCO", "state": "CA", "zip": "94107", "phone": "4144958811"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "MARATHON PLAZA THREE NORTH", "street2": "303 SECOND STREET", "city": "SAN FRANCISCO", "state": "CA", "zip": "94107"}}
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 18, 1998
                                                   Registration No. 333-________
================================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549
                         -----------------------------
                                    FORM S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                     UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                         -----------------------------
                        WALKER INTERACTIVE SYSTEMS, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
                         -----------------------------
            DELAWARE                                   95-2862954
    (State of Incorporation)               (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
                         -----------------------------
                               303 Second Street
                            San Francisco, CA  94107
                                 (415) 495-8811
         (Address and telephone number of principal executive offices)
                         -----------------------------
                 1992 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, as Amended
                     1994 Equity Incentive Plan, as Amended
                           (Full title of the plans)

                                 Leonard Y. Liu
          Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer
                        Walker Interactive Systems, Inc.
                               303 Second Street
                            San Francisco, CA  94107
                                 (415) 495-8811
 (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code,
                             of agent for service)
                          ----------------------------
                                   Copies to:
                            Alan C. Mendelson, Esq.
                               Cooley Godward LLP
                         One Maritime Plaza, 20th Floor
                         San Francisco, CA  94111-3580
                                (415) 693-2000
                                 ---------------
                        CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
================================================================================================================================= 
 TITLE OF SECURITIES TO        AMOUNT TO BE         PROPOSED MAXIMUM             PROPOSED MAXIMUM         AMOUNT OF REGISTRATION
 BE REGISTERED                REGISTERED(1)     OFFERING PRICE PER SHARE(2)  AGGREGATE OFFERING PRICE(2)           FEE
Stock Options and               1,500,000               $14.06                      $21,090,000                 $6,221.55
 Common Stock (par
 value $.001)
=================================================================================================================================
(1)  This registration statement is intended to cover the offering of up to
     300,000 shares and 1,200,000 shares of the Company's Common Stock pursuant
     to its 1992 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, as amended, and its 1994 Equity
     Incentive Plan, as amended, respectively.

(2)  Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the amount of the
     registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(c) under the Securities Act of 1933,
     as amended.  The offering price per share and aggregate offering price are
     based upon the average of the high and low price of Company's Common Stock
     on June 17, 1998 as reported on the NASDAQ National Market System.

================================================================================
  Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: As soon as
       practicable after this Registration Statement becomes effective.

                                                                     Page 1 of 7
                                                         Exhibit Index at Page 5
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE OF CONTENTS OF
                       REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-8

     The contents of Registration Statements on Form S-8, Nos. 33-87022 and 333-
02942 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 5, 1994 and
April 2, 1996, respectively, are incorporated by reference herein.

                                    EXHIBITS

EXHIBIT
NUMBER
------

 5.1    Opinion of Cooley Godward LLP

23.1    Independent Auditors' Consent

23.2    Consent of Cooley Godward LLP is contained in Exhibit 5.1 to this
        Registration Statement

24      Power of Attorney is contained on the signature pages

99.1    1992 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, as amended (1)

99.2    1994 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended (1)

____________________

(1)  Incorporated by reference to the attachments to the Company's 1998 Proxy
     Statement

                                       2
SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the
Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all
of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the City of San Francisco, State of California, on June 18, 1998.

                           WALKER INTERACTIVE SYSTEMS, INC.

                           By: /s/ Leonard Y. Liu
                               ----------------------------------------------

                           Name:   Leonard Y. Liu

                           Title:  Chairman of the Board, President and Chief
                                   Executive Officer

                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

     KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature
appears below constitutes and appoints Leonard Y. Liu and Thomas W. Hubbs, and
each or any one of them, his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with
full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place
and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including
post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement, and to file the same,
with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and
agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and
every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection therewith,
as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby
ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of
them, or their or his substitutes or substitute, may lawfully do or cause to be
done by virtue hereof.

                                       3
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.
SIGNATURE                                                          TITLE                                    DATE
/s/ Leonard Y. Liu                                  Chairman of the Board, President and               June 18, 1998
-----------------------------------------------     Chief Executive Officer (Principal
Leonard Y. Liu                                              Executive  Officer)

/s/ Thomas W. Hubbs                              Senior Vice President and Chief Financial             June 18, 1998
-----------------------------------------------    Officer (Principal Financial Officer)
Thomas W. Hubbs

/s/ Barbara M. Hubbard                            Vice President and Corporate Controller              June 18, 1998
-----------------------------------------------        (Principal Accounting Officer)
Barbara M. Hubbard

/s/ Richard C. Alberding                                          Director                             June 18, 1998
-----------------------------------------------
Richard C. Alberding

                                                                  Director                             June 18, 1998
-----------------------------------------------
Tania Amochaev

/s/ William A. Hasler                                             Director                             June 18, 1998
-----------------------------------------------
William A. Hasler

/s/ John M. Lillie                                                Director                             June 18, 1998
-----------------------------------------------
John M. Lillie

/s/ David C. Wetmore                                              Director                             June 18, 1998
-----------------------------------------------
David C. Wetmore
4
EXHIBIT INDEX
EXHIBIT                                                                                           SEQUENTIAL
Number                                      DESCRIPTION                                           Page Number
5.1        Opinion of Cooley Godward LLP                               6
 23.1        Independent Auditors' Consent                               7
 23.2        Consent of Cooley Godward LLP is contained in Exhibit
             5.1 to this Registration Statement
 24          Power of Attorney is contained on the signature pages
 99.1        1992 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, as amended (1)
 99.2        1994 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended (1)
____________________

(1)  Incorporated by reference to the attachments to the Company's 1998 Proxy
     Statement

                                       5