Departs before inspector is unravelling accounts (12)

I believe the answer is:

descriptions

'accounts' is the definition.
(an account is a description or explanation)

'departs before inspector is unravelling' is the wordplay.
'departs' becomes 'd' (common abbreviation e.g. train timetables).
'before' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'unravelling' is an anagram indicator.
'inspector'+'is'='inspectoris'
'inspectoris' anagrammed gives 'escriptions'.
'd'+'escriptions'='DESCRIPTIONS'

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.

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