Crossword Genius

Accountant met firm before counterfeit racket (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

cacophony

'racket' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'accountant met firm before counterfeit' is the wordplay.
'accountant' becomes 'ca' (abbreviation for chartered accountant).
'met' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'firm' becomes 'co' (a firm is a company).
'before' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'counterfeit' becomes 'phony' (similar in meaning).
'ca'+'co'+'phony'='CACOPHONY'

(Other definitions for cacophony that I've seen before include "Terrible row" , "Din" , "Caterwauling" , "Harsh dissonant sound" , "Clamour" .)

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