Ivanova graduated from foreign language high school Romain Rolland[1][failed verification] in her hometown where she studied French and English. In 1998 she graduated with a bachelor's degree in International Economic Relations from the Economic University in Varna.[2][failed verification] In 2004 Ivanova defended her master’s thesis in International Finance at the Thunderbird School of Global Management,[3][failed verification] Arizona.
As of the end of 2012, Ivanova has ceased all her political activities and affiliations.
Since 1 January 2013 Ivanova has been serving as a Member of the European Court of Auditors. Ivanova was rapporteur for 27 audit reports, including topics such as regional development, cohesion, the Youth Unemployment Initiative and the Youth Guarantee, the European Digital Agenda and innovations, digital skills, education, as well as the instruments for the initial EU response to the COVID-19 crisis.[6][failed verification] She was elected Dean of Chamber II, responsible for auditing structural policies, transport, for three consecutive mandates.[7][failed verification] Since November 2022, she has been serving as Chair of the Audit quality control committee, with particular responsibility to oversee quality control of all RRF tasks across the ECA.[citation needed]