Senior consultant - State Aid & EU Funds (m/f)

Job Description & Summary About the Team and Role Our State Aid & EU Funds team delivers consulting and advisory projects for both public and private sector clients – from designing state aid schemes and drafting applications for grant mechanisms (IPCEI, Innovation Fund, LIFE, CEF, HORIZON, RRF, ESIF) to notifications and compliance monitoring. We are looking for a Senior Consultant/Manager who will take over an established agenda, ensure quality and oversight, and strengthen our advisory and business development approach. Key Responsibilities - Lead a portfolio of projects in the area of state aid and EU funds – from scoping and solution design to implementation and quality assurance. - Take ownership of the agenda and streamline delivery – set clear delegation, control points, and standards to ensure no technical details or connections are missed (QA, peer review, checklists, methodologies). - Proactively identify issues and develop practical solutions to ensure the smooth progress of projects and client satisfaction. - Advisory leadership – create solutions with added value (schemes, aid intensity, instrument suitability, timing, compliance vs. business objectives). - Perform detailed market, financial, competitive, and regulatory environment analyses to support the design and evaluation of state aid schemes and grant applications. - Prepare, compile, and deliver high-quality outputs in the form of analyses, reports, or studies for use internally and by clients. - Support financial modeling and data analytics to underpin decision-making processes. - Regulatory expertise and application of rules: GBER, CEEAG, Regional Aid Guidelines; preparation of materials for European Commission notifications. - Grants and calls for proposals – design and evaluate applications (IPCEI, Innovation Fund, LIFE, CEF, HORIZON, RRF, ESIF), draft calls and guidelines for beneficiaries. - Reporting & monitoring – establish processes for compliance obligations, data collection, and data management. - Lead and develop the team – coach senior consultants and juniors, aiming for team independence rather than micro-management. - Business development & Sales – build pipeline, lead proposals and pitches, develop client relationships, and cross-sell within the firm. - Stakeholder management – collaborate with public authorities, corporate clients, and technology partners. - Effectively manage projects and communicate at the top management level of client organizations to align outputs with expectations. - Utilize data visualization and analytics tools such as Power BI, Tableau, alongside PowerPoint and Excel, to support data presentation and effective communication of analyses and results. - Travel – occasional visits to clients across Slovakia and CEE (team base in Bratislava). What We Expect - 5+ years of relevant experience, combining senior-level responsibilities with proven experience in managing people and/or projects. - Strong knowledge of EU and national state aid legislation (GBER, CEEAG, RAG) and proven experience with grant mechanisms (IPCEI, Innovation Fund, LIFE, CEF, HORIZON, RRF, ESIF). - Advisory mindset – ability to connect regulation, financing, and client business goals; design abstract technical solutions and strategic roadmaps. - Experience in preparing and interpreting market and financial analyses as well as working with visualization and data tools (Power BI, Tableau). - Proven capability to identify problems early and proactively propose efficient solutions. - Excellent project leadership and client communication skills, including interactions with senior and top management. - Education: economics/finance/law/technical fields; technical or engineering background preferred (ability to interpret technical project parameters and translate them into schemes and compliance). - Excellent analytical, presentation, and client-facing skills; proficiency in PowerPoint & Excel. - Languages: fluent English (written & spoken); Slovak strongly preferred for managerial level (advantage for direct work with public authorities). - Team player and partner – able to build trust, share responsibilities, and provide constructive feedback. - In today’s workplace, familiarity with AI tools like ChatGPT, GitHub Copilot, and Power BI is valuable. We seek someone who uses AI to enhance productivity, supports decision-making with AI insights, embraces continuous learning, and balances human judgment with data. No AI expertise required—just a willingness to embrace technology as an enabler, not a threat. Nice to have - Experience with financial instruments design/deployment (ESIF/EIB), product development for energy efficiency/climate, ESG expertise. Work Model - Hybrid (flexible), but regular presence in Bratislava and client visits is highly encouraged for effective project leadership and business development. What We Offer - Work on interesting projects with multinational teams and engage with top-tier clients and regulators. - Strong expert community and room for fast growth to (Senior) Manager/Lead. - Opportunity to lead high-visibility projects with regulators and top investors. - Support for BD (marketing, tender assistance) and a robust delivery ecosystem. Success in 6–12 Months - Fully taken over and stabilized portfolio with QA processes and no loss of detail. - Built pipeline (specific targets to be agreed internally). - Independent team handling routine delivery; you focus on advisory, key decisions, and quality. Benefits you can enjoy while working at PwC Financial Rewards: Benefit from regular salary reviews, performance bonuses and other special bonuses. Enjoy meal contributions and a cafeteria benefit system offering personalized choices. Flexibility & Work-Life Balance : Enjoy our hybrid working policy, flexible working hours, Sick-days. Every minute of your extra work is valued and compensated. Career Development: Engage in tailored internal and external training programs, benefit from a structured career development plan, and as an employee take advantage of discounts of up to 30% on internationally recognized certifications and qualifications from leading organizations through our PwC Academy. Health & Well-being: Access premium benefits such as physiotherapy consultations, Multisport card and medical center membership. Take advantage of our Well-being and Work-Life Coaching program. Supportive Culture: Participate in teambuilding activities and social events and join our employee referral program. Experience a culture with regular feedback and a supportive environment. Global Opportunities: Seize the opportunity for international assignments and work on diverse projects with international clients. Explore the world while working with the possibility of working from abroad. Extra perks: Use various discounts at partner companies such as cars, health care, beauty, culture or others. Transfer up to 4 telephone numbers at discounted rates. Additional Information Place of work: Karadžičova 2, Bratislava, Slovakia (Job with occasional home office) Contract type: Full-time Salary: starting from 2 150 € (The stated salary represents the minimum for this position. Final compensation is determined individually based on your experience, expertise, seniority, and overall profile. In addition, we offer a performance-based bonus linked to individual results and the company’s success.) Starting date: upon agreement If you'd like to apply for this position, please click on the "Send CV" button below. Data privacy announcement you can find here: We seek to hire people who are great at what they do and bring our behaviours to life in how they do it. Our PwC Professional framework guides us to work together to create a better tomorrow. Together, Trusted Leadership and Distinctive Outcomes are how we deliver on our purpose and strategy, serving our clients and living our values in every interaction, everyday. The PwC Professional framework defines the behaviours we’re all expected to demonstrate at PwC and what we look for in our future talent. Are you ready to be a PwC Professional? If the current position is not right for you but you have friends or acquaintances in your area who could also be interested in working with us at PwC, feel free to direct them to us. If we establish cooperation with a candidate recommended by you, you can receive a reward ranging from 300 to 1000 EUR, depending on the seniority of the candidate. You can find the referral form at this link: PricewaterhouseCoopers Tax, k.s.