Countplus chief executive Phil Aris has his work cut out convincing the market the listed accounting and financial services aggregator is not another Crowe Horwath in the making, after first-half revenue in its accounting and property division contracted and the company was forced to write down $1 million on the value of a Canberra acquisition.

It comes as listed law firm Slater & Gordon delivers a harsh lesson to investors on the dangers of being sucked in by the story.