This article examines the link between financial accountability and service delivery. This has become apposite considering alarming ubiquitous service delivery protests in many provinces of the Republic of South Africa. As 2015 the target year for the millennium development goals draws closer a rethink of pragmatic principles that may propel desired service delivery is pertinent. The methodological approach is conceptually rooted in reviews that culminate in suggested policy measures toward accountability and service delivery. The article discovers that service delivery problems are not unique to South Africa but a characteristic dominant in developing nations. The article finds that financial accountability is the sine qua non of effective service delivery and uncovers a number of factors that may limit accountability and hence service delivery. These include inter alia obscured transparency in public financial management limited fi