<PAGE>
 
       As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 23, 
                                     1996

                             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.)
                         -----------------------------
                           Marathon Plaza Three North
                               303 Second Street
                            San Francisco, CA  94107
                                 (415) 957-1711
         (Address and telephone number of principal executive offices)
                         -----------------------------
           1993 Non-Employee Directors' Stock Option Plan, as Amended
   1995 Non-Statutory Stock Option Plan for Non-Officer Employees, as Amended
                           (Full title of the plans)

                                 Leonard Y. Liu
           President, Chief Executive Officer, Chairman of the Board
                        Walker Interactive Systems, Inc.
                           Marathon Plaza Three North
                               303 Second Street
                            San Francisco, CA  94107
                                 (415) 957-1711
          (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, 
                  including area code, of agent for service)
                          ----------------------------
                                   Copies to:
                            Alan C. Mendelson, Esq.
                    Cooley Godward Castro Huddleson & Tatum
                  

                                       1
<PAGE>
 
                             Five Palo Alto Square
                              3000 El Camino Real
                           Palo Alto, CA  94306-2155
                                 (415) 843-5000
                          ----------------------------

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
TITLE OF              AMOUNT TO BE           PROPOSED MAXIMUM         PROPOSED MAXIMUM        AMOUNT OF 
SECURITIES TO BE      REGISTERED (1)         OFFERING PRICE PER       AGGREGATE               REGISTRATION FEE
REGISTERED                                   SHARE (2)                OFFERING PRICE
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                  <C>                    <C>                     <C>                       <C>
Stock                  600,000                 $10.25                  $6,150,000                2,120.69
Options and
Common Stock                                                                          
(par value $.001) 
</TABLE>

   (1) This registration statement is intended to cover the offering of up to
   500,000 and 100,000 shares of the Company's Common Stock pursuant to its 1995
   Non-Statutory Stock Option Plan for Non-Officer Employees, as amended and
   1993 Non-Employee Directors' Stock Option Plan, as amended, respectively.

   (2) Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the amount of the
   registration fee. The offering price per share and the aggregate offering
   price are based upon the average of the high and low prices of the
   Registrant's Common Stock as reported on the Nasdaq National Market on July
   17, 1996, in accordance with Rule 457(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, as
   amended.


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

                                       2
<PAGE>
 
INCORPORATION OF THE CONTENTS OF REGISTRATION STATEMENTS ON FORM S-8

The contents of Registration Statements on Form S-8 Nos. 333-02942 and 33-64426,
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 2, 1996 and June 14,
1993, respectively, are incorporated by reference into this Registration
Statement.


EXHIBITS


EXHIBIT
NUMBER        DESCRIPTION
- ------        -----------

  5.1         Opinion of Cooley Godward Castro Huddleson & Tatum

 23.1         Independent auditors' consent

 23.2         Consent of Cooley Godward Castro Huddleson & Tatum is contained in
              Exhibit 5.1 to this Registration Statement

 24           Power of Attorney is contained on the signature pages.

 99.1         1993 Non-Employee Directors' Stock Option Plan, as amended

 99.2         1995 Non-Statutory Stock Option Plan for Non-Officer Employees, as
              amended

                                       3
<PAGE>
 
SIGNATURES

THE REGISTRANT.  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 July 22,
1996.


                                 WALKER INTERACTIVE SYSTEMS, INC.



                                 By: /s/ Leonard Y. Liu
                                     ----------------------
                                     Leonard Y. Liu
                                     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 Bruce C. Pollock, 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.

                                       4
<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.


SIGNATURE                       TITLE                          DATE

/s/ Leonard Y. Liu              Chairman of the                July 23, 1996
- -----------------------------   Board, President and 
     Leonard Y. Liu             Chief Executive 
                                Officer
                                (Principal Executive 
                                Officer)
 
 
/s/ Bruce C. Pollock            Chief Financial                July 23, 1996
- -----------------------------   Officer
     Bruce C. Pollock           (Principal Financial 
                                Officer)


/s/ Richard C. Alberding        Director                       July 23, 1996
- -----------------------------
     Richard C. Alberding


/s/ Tania Amochaev              Director                       July 23, 1996
- -----------------------------
     Tania Amochaev


/s/ William A. Hasler           Director                       July 23, 1996
- -----------------------------
     William A. Hasler


/s/ David C. Hodgson            Director                       July 23, 1996
- -----------------------------
     David C. Hodgson


/s/ David M. Saykally           Director                       July 23, 1996
- -----------------------------
     David M. Saykally


/s/ David C. Wetmore            Director                       July 23, 1996
- -----------------------------
     David C. Wetmore

                                       5
<PAGE>
 
EXHIBIT INDEX
 
 
EXHIBIT
NUMBER             DESCRIPTION                                   
- -------            -----------                                   
                                                                 
 5.1               Opinion of Cooley Godward Castro Huddleson &
                   Tatum                                         
23.1               Independent auditors' consent                 
23.2               Consent of Cooley Godward Castro Huddleson &
                   Tatum is contained in Exhibit 5.1 to this
                   Registration Statement                        
99.1               1993 Non-Employee Directors' Stock Option Plan,
                   as amended                                    
99.2               1995 Non-Statutory Stock Option Plan for
                   Non-Officer Employees, as amended              
 

                                       6
[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "description": "EMPLOYEE STOCK OPTION PLAN", "secsgml_size_bytes": 9794}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "WALKER INTERACTIVE SYSTEMS INC", "cik": "0000883983", "assigned-sic": "7372", "irs-number": "943151052", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-08629", "film-number": "96597775"}, "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 July 23, 
                                     1996

                             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.)
                         -----------------------------
                           Marathon Plaza Three North
                               303 Second Street
                            San Francisco, CA  94107
                                 (415) 957-1711
         (Address and telephone number of principal executive offices)
                         -----------------------------
           1993 Non-Employee Directors' Stock Option Plan, as Amended
   1995 Non-Statutory Stock Option Plan for Non-Officer Employees, as Amended
                           (Full title of the plans)

                                 Leonard Y. Liu
           President, Chief Executive Officer, Chairman of the Board
                        Walker Interactive Systems, Inc.
                           Marathon Plaza Three North
                               303 Second Street
                            San Francisco, CA  94107
                                 (415) 957-1711
          (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, 
                  including area code, of agent for service)
                          ----------------------------
                                   Copies to:
                            Alan C. Mendelson, Esq.
                    Cooley Godward Castro Huddleson & Tatum
                  

                                       1
Five Palo Alto Square
                              3000 El Camino Real
                           Palo Alto, CA  94306-2155
                                 (415) 843-5000
                          ----------------------------

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
TITLE OF              AMOUNT TO BE           PROPOSED MAXIMUM         PROPOSED MAXIMUM        AMOUNT OF 
SECURITIES TO BE      REGISTERED (1)         OFFERING PRICE PER       AGGREGATE               REGISTRATION FEE
REGISTERED                                   SHARE (2)                OFFERING PRICE
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stock                  600,000                 $10.25                  $6,150,000                2,120.69
Options and
Common Stock                                                                          
(par value $.001)
(1) This registration statement is intended to cover the offering of up to
   500,000 and 100,000 shares of the Company's Common Stock pursuant to its 1995
   Non-Statutory Stock Option Plan for Non-Officer Employees, as amended and
   1993 Non-Employee Directors' Stock Option Plan, as amended, respectively.

   (2) Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the amount of the
   registration fee. The offering price per share and the aggregate offering
   price are based upon the average of the high and low prices of the
   Registrant's Common Stock as reported on the Nasdaq National Market on July
   17, 1996, in accordance with Rule 457(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, as
   amended.

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

                                       2
INCORPORATION OF THE CONTENTS OF REGISTRATION STATEMENTS ON FORM S-8

The contents of Registration Statements on Form S-8 Nos. 333-02942 and 33-64426,
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 2, 1996 and June 14,
1993, respectively, are incorporated by reference into this Registration
Statement.

EXHIBITS

EXHIBIT
NUMBER        DESCRIPTION
- ------        -----------

  5.1         Opinion of Cooley Godward Castro Huddleson & Tatum

 23.1         Independent auditors' consent

 23.2         Consent of Cooley Godward Castro Huddleson & Tatum is contained in
              Exhibit 5.1 to this Registration Statement

 24           Power of Attorney is contained on the signature pages.

 99.1         1993 Non-Employee Directors' Stock Option Plan, as amended

 99.2         1995 Non-Statutory Stock Option Plan for Non-Officer Employees, as
              amended

                                       3
SIGNATURES

THE REGISTRANT.  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 July 22,
1996.

                                 WALKER INTERACTIVE SYSTEMS, INC.

                                 By: /s/ Leonard Y. Liu
                                     ----------------------
                                     Leonard Y. Liu
                                     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 Bruce C. Pollock, 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.

                                       4
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                July 23, 1996
- -----------------------------   Board, President and 
     Leonard Y. Liu             Chief Executive 
                                Officer
                                (Principal Executive 
                                Officer)
 
 
/s/ Bruce C. Pollock            Chief Financial                July 23, 1996
- -----------------------------   Officer
     Bruce C. Pollock           (Principal Financial 
                                Officer)

/s/ Richard C. Alberding        Director                       July 23, 1996
- -----------------------------
     Richard C. Alberding

/s/ Tania Amochaev              Director                       July 23, 1996
- -----------------------------
     Tania Amochaev

/s/ William A. Hasler           Director                       July 23, 1996
- -----------------------------
     William A. Hasler

/s/ David C. Hodgson            Director                       July 23, 1996
- -----------------------------
     David C. Hodgson

/s/ David M. Saykally           Director                       July 23, 1996
- -----------------------------
     David M. Saykally

/s/ David C. Wetmore            Director                       July 23, 1996
- -----------------------------
     David C. Wetmore

                                       5
EXHIBIT INDEX
 
 
EXHIBIT
NUMBER             DESCRIPTION                                   
- -------            -----------                                   
                                                                 
 5.1               Opinion of Cooley Godward Castro Huddleson &
                   Tatum                                         
23.1               Independent auditors' consent                 
23.2               Consent of Cooley Godward Castro Huddleson &
                   Tatum is contained in Exhibit 5.1 to this
                   Registration Statement                        
99.1               1993 Non-Employee Directors' Stock Option Plan,
                   as amended                                    
99.2               1995 Non-Statutory Stock Option Plan for
                   Non-Officer Employees, as amended              
 

                                       6